NASSAU, Bahamas -- The long-delayed Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas is expected to welcome
its first guests on April 21, when the 1,800-room Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is due
to open its first 200 rooms.
The remaining rooms will open in phases, according to Graeme
Davis, president of Baha Mar.
The 300-room SLS Baha Mar will open in phases between
September and November to be followed by the 200-room Rosewood Baha Mar in
December.
"Our plan is to have all three hotels open and
operational by winter season 2017-2018," Davis said.
The fourth hotel, the 694-room Melia Nassau Beach, has been
open for three years and operates as an adults-only, all-inclusive property.
Originally, Baha Mar was to have five hotels, with the anchor property being the Baha Mar Casino Hotel. Now, Grand Hyatt is branding the anchor property in addition to the original space allotted for the Grand Hyatt, creating an 1,800-room hotel.
The 100,000-square-foot casino with 1,100 slot machines and
125 gaming table will debut this spring; the convention center will host its
first event in mid-February, and the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Royal Blue
golf course will open in March.
The casino, which is situated between the two wings of the
Grand Hyatt, will be operated by the Grand Hyatt.
The Grand Hyatt is not taking reservations yet. "We
will open thoughtfully. We want to be 100% sure we are ready and that every
detail is working," said Scott Allen, Baha Mar's general manager.
"We will start marketing and promotion sometime in
March and will be taking reservations about 30 days before the first rooms open
in April."
Baha Mar will launch its website in the next few weeks.