THE Bahamas has been added to MasterCard Worldwide’s ‘Priceless Cities’ global platform, with the credit card company annoucing its ‘Find Your Way’ programme had evolved into ‘Priceless Bahamas’.

The new initiative, which will become part of MasterCard’s global platform, Priceless Cities, will continue to offer card holders travelling to this nation unique experiences and exclusive benefits through a series of special offers designed to enhance their experience.

  “We are very excited to continue growing our destinations programme, ‘Find Your Way’, as it extends throughout 2012 and evolves into Priceless Bahamas,” said Rafael Puebla, head of marketing for Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and the Caribbean for MasterCard Worldwide’s Latin America and Caribbean region.

“This means that not only is this fantastic destination programme continuing, with even more merchants and offers to maximise the tourist’s experience in the Bahamas, but also that now this fantastic city joins a slew of global destinations – part of MasterCard’s Priceless Cities platform.”

   MasterCard’s Priceless Cities programme was born from its desire to create unique, priceless experiences in the most exciting cities in the world.

It has the goal of creating a destinations platform that goes beyond borders, and beyond just offering discounts. The Bahamas will join other elite cities that are already part of the programme, such as New York, Beijing and Toronto.

 During 2012, MasterCard cardholders visiting Nassau and Paradise Island will continue to enjoy exclusive offers when they use their MasterCard cards to shop at 53 participating merchants throughout the island (restaurants, retail stores, car rentals, hotels, limited tours and entertainment).  

At a Nassau reception, Rafael Fuentes, MasterCard Worldwide’s Latin America and Caribbean region chief, thanked the Bahamas Tourism Ministry and the programme’s participating merchants for their continuous support.

“Since we created the programme in 2008, our goal has always been not only to maximise the visit of the tourists that visit the island, but also to support local merchants from the tourism industry, as this is a key sector of the Bahamian economy.”

  The 2012 programme currently includes 53 participating merchants in over 70 locations, an increase of 57 per cent since the programme’s inception in 2008.

At the reception, MasterCard announced a total of $64.5 million sales from participating merchant categories in 2011, which represents an increase of 7.5 per cent since 2010 - despite the recent economic challenges suffered by the tourism industry.

During 2012 the participating merchant satisfaction level exceeded programme targets, reaching a 97 per cent score.

    Obie Wilchcombe, minister of tourism, added: “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with MasterCard in 2012, in our joint effort to make the Bahamas the top destination in the Caribbean by offering enriching experiences to the tourists that visit the island.

“The success that the programme experienced in 2011 is a perfect example of true partnership between MasterCard, the merchants and the Tourism Ministry, and it shows how together, we can achieve great results. We fully support the programme and are excited that our island is now ‘Priceless’.”