Dave Barlyn, a principal in the development company which owns and operates Tippy’s Restaurant, the Banks Road Deli, and Pineapple Fields in Central Eleuthera – recognized on TripAdvisor.com as one of the 2015 top 25 hotels in the Caribbean – shares some insight into the secrets of the property’s success to date, and the qualities that set it apart from so many others in the region, and in the country – as it was the only Bahamian resort to make the exclusive list.
Highlights:
Exquisitely situated on 5 acres of lush gardens, beside a gorgeous coral sand Eleuthera beach, Pineapple Fields, a 32 unit condo hotel, has experienced double digit performance growth for the past several years, and says Barlyn, “Last fiscal year we increased our gross revenue by another 10% and this year we are poised to increase by that much again so far, and what’s great is to see other businesses starting to thrive as well.
“This is as busy as I’ve seen the island since I’ve been here, and you talk to taxi drivers at the airport and you see the planes coming in and then you see the extra airlift that has been added on. Things are looking good; the real estate sales, the quality of people that are coming to the island. The word’s back out.”
Now in its 10th year, Barlyn attributes the longevity of the property’s operation to its resilient condo hotel structure, which he opines, is a successful formula which can be replicated on other islands and in Eleuthera, saying, “We’ve been on a couple rolls that were thwarted by 9/11, and 2008, and we are very fortunate in that the model that we developed Pineapple Fields upon, was able to carry us through the bad times. The homeowner’s fees were able to cover our fixed costs. If it weren’t for the structure of a condo hotel, we would not be sitting here talking. What’s interesting now though is that where the homeowners were supporting the hotel through the tough times, they are now seeing a return. So they see a physical property that is in as good if not better shape than when they first purchased, they are seeing a return on their investment, and they are getting to enjoy their investment. It’s a pretty good equation, and again there is no reason that can’t be replicated by other hotels.”
Ideally Positioned:
Commenting on what puts Pineapple Fields in such a strong competitive position within the region, Barlyn shares that its location on the island of Eleuthera, the physical property, the level of service through their staff, and the world class amenities which surround the hotel, create a truly special experience that set them apart.
“There are so many things that differentiate Eleuthera from not only other islands within the Bahamas, but destinations all over the world, and I think that’s why we are one of the top 25. We are unique! We know what’s out there, and the reason we decided to park it in Eleuthera is because we truly believe that it has the best of what you find on many other islands, and it is what I would consider, one of the best islands in the Caribbean”, says Barlyn.
“Part of it [our success]has to do with the level of product we purvey, and to our staff…”, he continues. “We’ve exceeded people’s expectations in terms of both the physical property and the level of service. We have incredible staff and they take a lot of pride in everything they do.
“We have a total of 25 employees at Pineapple Fields and Tippy’s, and all of our management at the hotel, from the Housekeeping Manager to the Chief Engineer, to our Accountant, are all Bahamian, and wages are above industry average on island… and I’m really proud of that. We have very little turnover between the restaurant and the hotel, and I think that stems back to a sense of ownership. There is buy in… In essence, our staff is marketing our property. It costs me a third of what it costs me to get someone here the first time, to get them to come back, and at the end of the day, it’s all about trying to get people to come back.”
In addition to its hotel offerings, Barlyn, highlights the fabulous amenities nearby, saying, “The fact is that it [Pineapple Fields] really is a defacto resort. They are not all under the same ownership structure, but you do have a world class riding stable on one side, a world class restaurant across the street, a world class nature preserve on the other side of us. It makes a difference, and everything here is within walking distance.”
“We have people from all over the world who have been exposed to what would be considered some of the finest hotels around the world, and vacation destinations. But here they are off the grid. They understand what the best is, and they are looking for the same level of product and service, but in a much more relaxed setting, where they can let their hair down. You might have someone at Tippy’s who is worth $100 million sitting next to somebody who saved up all year to come bone fishing. You can’t tell who is who. It’s disarming, and they both get it. That’s the beauty of Eleuthera too. There is commonality in appreciation of the people, and the topography”, adds Barlyn.
Upcoming:
“We’ve started working on a retreat behind the Resort that is going to cater to Yoga retreats, Continuing Education retreats and more,” reveals David. “We are also going to use that as a model for using sustainable building materials, and techniques. We’re catering to an emerging market. Last year in the United States, over a billion dollars was spent on yoga, so that’s perfect for us.
“The aesthetic I would describe as five star Robinson Crusoe. A lot of the aesthetic will be based on the sense you get when you walk into Tippy’s, – something that looks like it could have been there for years – inviting, Bahamian – not a walled off resort that’s been plunked down in Eleuthera. That gets back to why I think Pineapple Fields is successful – I think it exudes an aesthetic that is truly Bahamian. It has a sense of place. It’s not something that we tried to import, but rather evolved out of what’s here, and I think that’s important. People want to go to a place where – and especially the kind of clientele we deal with – they want to go to a place where they can learn about the culture and experience the people.”
