By FAY SIMMONS 

Tribune Business Reporter 

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

SANDALS yesterday confirmed that some of the 425 staff impacted by its Emerald Bay property’s closure have already been redeployed to its Nassau and Turks & Caicos resorts.

Jeremy Mutton, the Exuma resort’s general manager, told Tribune Business that the hotel chain has dispatched several of the displaced workers to fill roles at Sandals Royal Bahamian and Beaches Turks and Caicos while others were helped to find alternative employment at last month’s job fair.

He reiterated that Emerald Bay staff will be given priority for positions once the Exuma resort re-opens as a family-friendly Beaches brand, which Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister, has said will need more employees than the previous workforce because of the anticipated increase in visitors and amenities.

Some Emerald Bay staff have also been retained during the temporary closure to manage and secure the facility. Mr Mutton previously told Tribune Business that Sandals plans to begin the 12 to 15-month upgrade into a Beaches brand once it obtains all the required permits and approvals this fall.

He said the start date for the rebrand will commence once all labour agreements and permits have been finalised by the Government. “We do plan the project commencing in the fall of 2024, but that is really contingent on the Government’s co-operation in terms of the necessary labour agreements and permits,” said Mr Mutton.

“Assuming that we could start in the fall of 2024, we then anticipate, based on our previous experience, between 12 and 15 months for that project.”

Howard Thompson, the Government’s director of labour, also confirmed to Tribune Business that a number of Emerald Bay employees were given the option to be redeployed to Sandals Royal Bahamian or other hotel properties but was unable to give a final number for how many chose to take this.

Mr Mutton had anticipated that airlift to Exuma will decrease during the transition period, as Sandals Emerald Bay accounts for 40 percent of air traffic to Exuma, but is confident it will rebound.

“Sandals is the main driver as far as the international airlift is concerned, so during a period of closure I have no doubt that that is going to negatively impact the airlift,” said Mr Mutton.

“That’s why it is important that we reach those agreements with the Government, because it’s in everyone’s interest that we start this project as quickly as possible. The quicker we can start it the quicker we can open as a Beaches Exuma.

“Certainly, I do believe once we do open as Beaches Exuma, the airlift will bounce back, and I’m sure that will actually be greater than what it is now, but it is going to have a negative impact in the meantime.”

Despite concerns over reduced airlift to Exuma during Sandals’ temporary closure, Mr Cooper, who is also minister of tourism, investments and aviation, voiced optimism that short-term rentals will support existing airline service.

He said there are over 3,000 short-term rental listings in Exuma compared to the 245 rooms offered by Sandals Emerald Bay. And, as a result of the alternative accommodations tourists will have other places where they can stay.

“The last record we had was Airbnb had about 3,000 listings in Exuma, and to put that in context, Sandals has 245 rooms,” said Mr Cooper.

“This is huge, and this is why we feel confident that we had the kind of diversification and accommodations in Exuma to be able to carry on smartly, as you will, supporting the tourists that come, supporting the airlift and ensuring that we keep Exuma as a vibrant destination for tourism.

“So, I only make that point to say that Airbnbs and vacation rentals play a critical role in the overall economy. I want to do all that we can to encourage more.”