Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s executive vice-president of administration and public relations, said developers will spend an additional $50 million to renovate the Radisson Cable Beach Resort.
Mr Sands said that $15 million was slated for the initial upgrades of the Nassau Beach Hotel, the Wyndham Nassau Resort and Crystal Palace Casino. He explained that $12 million had already been used for casino upgrades, principally at Crystal Palace.
“Those renovations are almost complete, and most of the $15 million has already been invested,” he said.
Mr Sands said that initially the money was intended mainly for upgrades of the Radisson and Wyndham properties.
“We intended a smaller sum for the Nassau Beach, since this will be the only one not standing sometime after 2008,” he said.
Mr Sands said that Baha Mar had originally planned to give the Radisson only a “superficial facelift”, but had since decided to overhaul the hotel completely.
“The building’s infrastructure is very sound, so we have made the decision to give the hotel an extensive renovation, including the upgrades of rooms, conference rooms, everything really,” he said.
Following the refurbishment, the Radisson will then become the 700-room Westin hotel, with the Wyndham being transformed into the 700-room Sheraton.
Both the Westin and the Sheraton will be a part of the Baha Mar Resorts, which earlier this week signed a letter of intent with Harrah’s Entertainment and Starwood Hotels for developments estimated to be worth $1.6 billion.
The agreement is expected to lead to Cable Beach becoming an icon of tourism in both the Caribbean and the world.
Source: The Tribune – Nassau, Bahamas
