Top-10 Baha Mar numbers to know

28 February 2011

By Dan Igo

NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Baha Mar resort is slated for completion in late 2014, and is expected to be a major tourist destination not only in the Caribbean, but in the Western Hemisphere. To borrow a poker term, Baha Mar is going "all-in" with its vision of the development. Here is Casino City's top-10 facts and figures associated with the Bahamian destination resort.

10. 18 holes of championship golf

One of the amenities of Baha Mar will be an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus "Signature" golf course. "Signature" courses are the top tier of Nicklaus-designed golf courses, and when completed will be the only championship golf resort in Nassau. Other Nicklaus-designed courses include Muirfield Village Golf Club and Valhalla.

9. $400 million in Bahamian contracts

Bahamians weren't pleased when it was reported that Baha Mar would be bringing in outside contractors for some of the major design aspects of the project. So at least $400 million in design contracts have been set aside strictly for Bahamians.

8. 50,000 square feet of retail space

The resort will contain a 50,000 square-foot retail village that will include upscale shopping, chef-branded restaurants and entertainment venues. The village will also feature local Bahamian arts and crafts.

7. 430,000 stopover visitors

It is estimated that Baha Mar will attract 430,000 stopover visitors in its first year, a 30 percent increase from current levels. This coincides with a $400 million redevelopment project at the Lynden Pindling Airport. Last week Phase One of the project, the completion of the U.S. departures terminal, was finished at a cost of $190.8 million.

6. 3,000 feet of beach

Cable Beach is called the "Bahamian Riviera" for a reason. The views are simply breathtaking. Baha Mar is taking full advantage of its scenic location by offering 3,000 feet of continuous beachfront.

5. 3,800 hotel rooms

The Baha Mar resort will feature 3,800 hotel rooms spread across six properties. Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, Morgans Hotel Group and Hyatt Hotels Corporation have signed on to the project and will manage hotels at the resort. Baha Mar has already acquired the Wyndham Nassau Resort, Radisson Cable Beach and Golf Resort and the Nassau Beach Hotel.

4. 200,000 square-foot convention center

A major attraction of the Baha Mar resort will be a 200,000 square-foot convention center. When completed, it will be the largest convention center in the Caribbean. It can also double as an entertainment or sports venue.


3. 12,000 jobs

The Bahamas currently has 15 percent unemployment rate. The Baha Mar project will secure 12,000 jobs. Out of those 12,000, 8,000 are permanent jobs and 4,000 are for the construction phase. According to Baha Mar, this development will add approximately $1 billion in new spending within the first year of completion. It will also raise the average annual income for a Bahamian family from $29,000 to $33,500.

2. 100,000 square-foot casino

The centerpiece of this resort, at least for Casino City readers, will be the 100,000 square-foot casino. It will be the largest casino in the Caribbean and will be twice the size of nearby Atlantis at Paradise Island Resort and Casino. Baha Mar does not have a casino partner at this time, but executives have said they've already been contacted by companies who are interested in a partnership.

1. $3.4 billion (and counting)

The total cost of the Baha Mar project is estimated to be $3.4 billion. Last year, the project was estimated to be $2.8 billion. These major construction developments tend to go over budget, as evidenced by the CityCenter complex in Las Vegas. It was budgeted at $4 billion and ended up costing $11 billion after it was completed. So don't be surprised if that $3.4 billion number increases in the coming months and years.