Baha Mar redefines Cable Beach
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Baha Mar’s CFO doesn’t dabble in finances.
Rather, the job stands for Chief Flamingo Officer, a very real position tasked with taking care of the resort’s resident flock of flamingos.
Guests staying at the Cable Beach property can not only admire the lanky species, but learn about the national bird of The Bahamas, who do indeed turn pink over time due to the natural pink dye (canthaxanthin) found in their diet of shrimp and blue-green algae.
As a new twist, yoga classes are also being offered alongside the feathered creatures for visitors seeking to think pink, while doing the downward dog. Picture the trending goat yoga, but with flamingos instead.
“Our flamingos are so naturally social,” says Baha Mar president Graeme Davis. “They just love our guests.”
Following a US$4.2-billion investment and more than 15 years in the making, Baha Mar has turned into a success story with three oceanfront hotels: Rosewood, SLS and Grand Hyatt. The integrated resort, casino, and residential development now accounts for a whopping 12% of the country’s GDP.
Baha Mar is also home to a large display of Bahamian art showcasing 3,500 pieces, a Performing Arts and Convention Center with 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and events spaces and a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.
The resort complex is currently undergoing a US$300 million expansion, which will see the addition of a major water park including a lazy river, surfing experience and entertainment development known as Baha Mar Bay.
Davis says the area will be exclusive to Baha Mar guests, so travellers don’t feel bombarded by an influx of passengers from the busy cruise port.
And for couples and friends looking for a more intimate getaway, he suggests a day trip to Long Cay, a private island exclusive to guests of Baha Mar featuring waterside bungalows, a private beach, luxury catering, a salt-water natural pool and massage treatments.
For clients considering a holiday at Baha Mar, here are the options for where to stay:
Rosewood Baha Mar
Upon arrival at Rosewood Baha Mar, guests are greeted with a welcome drink called Sky Juice, a take on the popular Bahamian drink made up of gin and coconut milk. With a lounge at the airport, visitors can check-in and receive their room keys before even setting foot on the grounds. The resort boasts 237 guest rooms, suites and beachfront villas and has its own signature scent. The lobby is referred to as the living room, and the hotel features hand-painted murals depicting scenes from The Bahamas. The property features two pools exclusive to Rosewood guests.
SLS Baha Mar
As SLS stands for style, luxury and service, the SLS Baha Mar delivers on all those fronts with sleek and contemporary rooms, suites and pools. The 299-room property marks the first SLS resort in the Caribbean. Even those staying elsewhere can frequent Skybar, the only rooftop lounge in New Providence, offering a scenic lookout from the 20th floor. Dining options include restaurants like Fi’lia by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz, and Carna, a contemporary Steakhouse by butcher Dario Cecchini.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
The two-towered Grand Hyatt Baha Mar defines the skyline of Cable Beach with 1,800 rooms, including 230 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury suites, and six pools. Often described as having a Vegas meets Bahamas feel, the hotel has a nightly water fountain show and the Baha Mar Casino is the largest in the country. Another sprawling space is the ESPA at Baha Mar, spread across 30,000 square feet with 24 private rooms for guests to enjoy treatments like the signature Seashell Massage.
Meliá Nassau Beach
For those looking for an all-inclusive getaway, consider the 694-room and 32-suite resort Meliá Nassau Beach, which is adjacent to the three staple Baha Mar properties. One of a handful of all-inclusive options in Nassau and Paradise Island, the hotel is owned by Baha Mar, but managed by Meliá Hotels International. Set on a 1,000-foot-stretch of beach, the property is family-friendly complete with a kids’ club, three pools, and more. For guests seeking a more personalized experience, opt for Meliá’s Level offering, with a private check-in, lounge and beach area and access to other private areas reserved for The Level guests.