NASSAU, The Bahamas – A Bahamian family has invested some $40 million on a luxury boutique hotel in the western district steps away from Lyford Cay. The newly opened Island House is a ‘dream come true’ for the Holowesko family who welcome this opportunity to make a contribution to the tourism sector. Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Perry G. Christie led a delegation of Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials to take a tour of the new hotel facilities on Monday, May 11. He said that he believes that the future of the hospitality industry in The Bahamas is “very promising.”
Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Perry G. Christie led a delegation of Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials on tour of The Island House facilities on Monday, May 11. The Prime Minister is pictured, right, with Principal of The Island House, Mark Holowesko, left, and Minister of Tourism the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe. (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)
Said Prime Minister Christie: “Currently our hotel plant stands at some 8,000 rooms in Nassau/Paradise Island, with about 1800 more rooms on Paradise Island than Nassau. In addition, there are several thousand private homes being offered for rental to the travelling public, which are of considerable economic benefit to the local construction industry, employees and suppliers.”
With the opening of Baha Mar and The Island House he projected inventory numbers in the capital will increase to almost 11,000 rooms by end of year, with most of that inventory based in Nassau.
Mr. Christie said that as a result of the scope of developments that have received government approval, other islands in The Bahamas will undergo similar transformations which will have significant economic impact on the lives of Bahamians, particularly those living in the Exumas, the Abacos, Bimini, Eleuthera and San Salvador.
He said he believed that the country is moving into an era of boutique hotel development, with Bahamians such as the Holowesko family leading the way.
“I hope that in the not-too-distant future other Bahamians will take the plunge and discover how truly rewarding it is to own and operate properties that integrate Bahamian culture because we know it, live it and wish to share it with the world, and because it presents the winning formula for attracting repeat customers.”
The Holowesko Family invested over 40 million dollars developing the 10-acre, Island House property, which is considered a five-star, one-of-a-kind, intimate retreat, catering to international and local travelers. The hotel features six rental apartments, lap pool, a first class gym, Bamford spa, squash courts, a yoga movement studio, coffee bar, an 80-seat meeting room and a 48-seat theatre. There are also two restaurants on property: Shima, which features Asian cuisine, and the family-owned Mahogany House restaurant. The hotel currently has 128 employees, with only three holders of work permits on staff.
