WEST END, Grand Bahama Island -- Reflecting "an edgy new attitude,"
the Lucayan Resort at Grand Bahama Island introduced its new name:
Our Lucaya.
"Our Lucaya is our way of sharing with you our story about our
island," said Marco Nijhof, senior vice president and general
manager.
The 1,350-room resort will relaunch Dec. 1 after pumping more
than $400 million into the property.
Our Lucaya, which has had 550 rooms open since April 1999, is
owned by Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Whampoa Ltd.
According to Nijhof, the hotel is "not just bricks and mortar. We
are trying to bring the Caribbean inside the hotel, into everything
we are offering."
Nijhof hired a staff known to dance during dinner, serenade
guests from below the balconies and deliver "uncompromising
service."
Our Lucaya sits on 372 acres of beachfront property. It is
decorated with colorful wind ribbons along the shore and seaside
huts in shades of bright island fruits, such as the guava berry and
banana.
The plantation-style Manor House acts as the main arrivals area
for all guests.
Other island-inspired attributes are an authentic lighthouse
serving a private dinner for two at sunset, "coconut bowling" at
the children's Camp Lucaya and treatments at Senses Spa derived
from local bush medicine.
"The resort isn't just in Grand Bahama -- Grand Bahama is in the
resort," said Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, the Bahamas' director
general of tourism.
When the property fully opens in December, it will have two
18-hole golf courses; the 13,000-square-foot Senses Spa; 14
restaurants; Camp Lucaya, a children's center; the Village Market
Promenade, and the 80-outlet Port Lucaya Marketplace.
A 30,000-square-foot casino will be launched in late spring.
Lighthouse Pointe, with 221 rooms and suites, and the 10-story
Breakers Cay tower, with 579 rooms and suites, will join the Reef
Village, which has 550 rooms and suites.
The building of Our Lucaya is part of a plan developed by the
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to "create a world-class tourist
destination," said Cornelius A. Smith, minister of tourism.
The goal includes building new hotels, adding airlift and
revamping programs.
"We want the public to start thinking of Grand Bahama," Nijhof
said.
"They already think of Nassau. Now we want them to think of
us."