A boutique resort now under construction on Staniel Cay plans to hire up to 20 Bahamians when it opens its doors in December. EMBRACE resort, located on a tiny cay in Exuma, is hoping to capture the corporate retreat market in one of the most stunning locations in the country. The destination is constructing a corporate event center, seven cottages, poolside cabana, spa and restaurant on just one acre of property. Natajia Miller, marketing director for EMBRACE, said Staniel Cay currently benefits from essentially 100 percent employment.
Unlike other tropical locations, she said the Exuma cays have remained prosperous since the 2008 financial crisis. This relatively unknown part of The Bahamas is often a second home to a number of celebrities and high-net-worth individuals. EMBRACE will become the second largest employer on the two-square-mile cay after the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. "We will have to look elsewhere for employment. We will need people from some of the closer islands," she said. "There are also people interested in Nassau."
The name EMBRACE was inspired by the Family Islands, Miller added, and serves as an acronym for Exuma, Mayaguana, Bimini, Ragged Island, Andros, Cat Island and Eleuthera. Each villa will have a specific theme and decor geared towards those islands. "We are trying to attract weddings and corporate events. There are no other meeting rooms available in the Exuma Cays," she told Guardian Business.
"It is a niche market for us to break in to. A lot of companies want to have getaways. We are ideal for that." Over the years, Staniel Cay has benefited from consistent referrals from loyal guests. While the island does very little marketing, the yacht club generally requires reservations up to six months in advance, according to Miller. Guests on Staniel Cay must take a boat from the protected Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Watermakers Air also offers direct flights from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida. The island has a population of around 80 Bahamians and lies 75 miles south of Nassau.
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