By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

SANDALS Royal Bahamian saw a "fairly healthy May and June", its general manager, Patrick Drake, telling Tribune Business that the all-inclusive resort was running at 90 per cent occupancy - a level it expects to hold until about mid-August.

Mr Drake said the recently-restored Manor Building had helped the resort to hold its rates. He added that room rates were increasing gradually, but were nowhere near what they were three to four years ago.

Mr Drake said: "So far, we have had a fairly healthy May and June. We are looking good through July. September is the traditional slowdown period, not any worse than last year. Things are going well with bookings. Obviously we have to be doing a lot of marketing in the marketplace; it's not easy.

"Right now we are running at about 90 per cent occupancy. Our wedding business is not back to our usual levels, but we are making some progress. We expect that to hold through mid-August, but it falls thereafter unfortunately."

Nearly $21 million was invested into the restoration of the 145-room Manor Building which, according to Mr Drake, has allowed the resort to hold its rates.

He said: "What it has done is allowed us to hold our rates. That's what we are really focusing on, holding our rates and trying to sell up a little bit. For the destination as a whole, the room rates have been down, that's a reality. I think we are inching back up; we are able to do that with the new rooms."

Mr Drake added: "What we are seeing is a gradual increase in the rates. We are nowhere close to the rates of three and four years ago. Rates have been down for the last three or four years, and we're trying now to inch them up gradually. It has to be a gradual process because the consumer will resist, since there are so many deals in every destination now. People want to get bodies in beds; you can't blame them."