In respect to the questions on Occupancy. Occupancy is stated in terms of "Available" rooms at any given time that can be "Occupied" by a guest. 100 rooms available to sell, you sell 50, your at 50%. Further, while indeed there is obviously a daily occupancy, it doesn't mean much in way of context for a measurable statistic that one can evaluate. So, hotels are more concerned with their monthly and annual year to date Occupnacy. Clearly based on arrival and departure patterns of guest certain days of the week are much lower than others but this is already identified as a trend and anticipated as such. So, you can't go into a hotel on any given night and say it's a ghost town so it's not 50% that's not what they were insinuating but rather Its 50% over a measurable time frame which most likely stated from back in April when they opened and their rolling average from there.

Next, Very simple point. Melia is not part of Baha Mar and is run and managed as its own entity, while it's the same owner, one has nothing to do with the other, not marketed as such, and no associated benefits, nor measurable numbers are related. Melia runs on its own business model being all inclusive. It's like any other hotel owner who owns separate hotels.

Talking about SLS and Rosewood at this point in regards to Occupnacy is irrelevant. It's not part of the measurable rooms as they aren't open and hence not available to sell.

So, in conclusion, the 50% referenced is only in regards the the available rooms the Hyatt has to sell, which not all are on line yet as part of the phased opening. As and example, the Hyatt will eventually have 1,800 rooms, but let's say only 700 are available to sell at this point, 50% Occupancy would imply that on average over a rolling measurable timeframe 350 are sold. Obviously some days more and some days less.

I ask this question as I don't know the answer. Is it indeed true (and even possible/acceptable) that in a free democratic country with freedom of the press and the right of the people to have access to information and hold their elected government accountable, that the press secretary who reports to the PM and hence he blesses the actions, can really set a in advance a specific number of press conferences he will give which in this case has said above that is only four times a year. Aside from this being ludicrous if it is true, what about any "Pop-up" activities happen between the press conferences, will the administration not address this in a public forum and/or to the press for further questioning? This alone is grounds for civil unrest

OMG, the selective use of number for self gratuitous positioning is amazing. The 25% is relative to total rooms of the the Grand Hyatt being 1,800 rooms once fully open, currently on 200 and change are open based on soft opening and it's a lie to say that only 50rms per night are occupied, its more like 90% and many nights are 100%.

Very short reply, his questions and request for answers to such have not changed for 6 years of which he has been envolved in Baha Mar. the "Concern" of "Canibalism" was a question before the previous opening and he defended it and the positioning statements nothing has changed and the Marketing Plan remains the same, so why is he Now concerned and interested? Absolutely a conflict of interest.

There is sooo much wrong with this post, now I understand it's an editorial so factual commentary is not implied. Let me make some corrections:

- I'll give you the "Average Person" statement in the second paragraph, all people in the industry know what a soft/preview opening is and that is what is was. Further,!n the same paragraph, talking about open being relative to "Paying" customers be "Invited" ones, PLEASE define open! F&B outlets, golf, spa rooms, work out facility Pools and pool bars, beach etc is open. I've mentioned befor in there post that nobody would expect these workers to show up one morning and check in in 2,000 guests! The reason it's called a preview is so that those who are checked in can fill in comment cards and help with constructive critisism.

Again, in issuing paragraphs, the statement continues to speak to "Officially Opening" and when You can book reservations. Yes, the stay date is 5/29 but again, anybody can go there today and "Pay" for many different amenities. A "Resort" isn't just about rooms.

The straight up lies stated in the following paragraph are comical. I was there and the outlets and retail were not open and not ready for business.in 2015. One of the main reasons for bankruptcy filing is because Sarkis was trying to press the opening o meet the final payment of the note and they were nowhere close to being able to open and support any type of guest demand! I have no clue where this writer is getting his facts but speaks 100% to fake news. I will say it again, 100% no where near opening in 2015, there is a reason the opening was delayed 4 times.

Another huge lie/misquotes was Sarkis' intent to open the resort in multiple phases, this could not be further from the truth. 100% of the marketing and differentiation from Atlantis was the fact that they would be single phase, I.e. All open at once and for what was to be 4 hotels at the time, was vertualy impossible and yet another reason it was financially not viable. And another reason why they went bankrupt. Please show he pictures referenced, they don't exist!

First of all, all people and the opposition parties need to get over themselves and let go this idea of a fake, illusion of an opening and as said by The PM above as "Mirage and misleading/misrepresentation" it is very common practice within the industry to have soft/preview openings. It's not a mirage and a lie of an opening if anybody can walk in off the street and eat at the restaurants, gamble in the Casino, play golf and go to the spa, as well as walk the pool decks down to the beach and have a lovely adult beverage at one of the many pool bars.........how is that a fake or mirage opening? Those that are checked in have the responsibility to leave constructive observations for both the physical property as well as for the training of the staff, basically they are all "Shoppers@ as they are called that go into establishment to review them and insure they are up to standards. Only difference is they are usually anonymous and report back to leadership on their findings. What would those nay Sayers and apparent "Hospitality Experts" do in way of an "Official full opening" without any real time/life training with interaction with customers, just not be open one day and the next show up and start checking in 1,800 rooms!!?? Since most would be at least double occupancy, your looking at least at 3,000 people, ya right, there is a recipe for customer service, success and business model.

Now, having said that, I think Mr Christie has gone way to far and is being self gratuitous by saying that "It's the most significant and impactful economic development event to ever occur in the country and the Caribbean region". If I were Atlantis not only would I feel insulted and take issue with that statement as clearly at its opening it was just as impactuful, if not more being the first, in regards to overall economic impact for the country. Further, it's extremely in bad blood saying this with all the good philanthropy and good will that Atlantis has had in the community. On top of this, the PM contradicts himself big time when he mentions in the same paragraph that it's the largest single phase opening.......this is comical and a talking point from the previous ownership and preopening marketing when it was to be single phase specifically meaning all is open at once! The PM and all other cronies have consistently called this a soft preview opening which will be in several phases with additional hotels F&B outlets, shops etc coming on board in later phases...........the very definition of a contradiction. This "Phased" opening is no different than Atlantis was (Another reason why the nay Sayers need to shut up because clearly this is a best practice with such a large development) so the PM is talking out of both sides of his mouth when it suits him to paint a prettier picture when convenient.

Mr. D'Aguilar really needs to not speak if he doesn't know the business. He is NOT a hotelier and should stick to Dry Cleaning. People only look like fools and double talkers and yet he want to run for public office, oh my God. He is Absolutely wrong saying "Most people in the hotel business don't open a hotel until it is absolutely ready" well that is the exact opposite of the truth, almost all hotels do soft openings and he is not in the hotel business so why would he even suggest and comment on what they would do. Oh and by the way, Sarkis isn't a Hotelier either which everybody seems to forget for all the commentary he and/or his proxies make on what Hoteliers would or wouldn't do and how to open and run hotels.

If you're going to print something AND apparently bias, you may want to get the facts right. He is not the GM (General Manager) of Baha Mar, which by the way isn't even a hotel el but rather a company/resort. He is the President of Baha Mar on behalf of the owners in Hong Kong. Each hotel has its own Managing Director (GM) and there are 3 hotels (4 if you count the Melia)

Generally speaking in a hiring process of this size and complexity one would have to not only start MUCH earlier to Gtd the best qualified and those with most potential and quality along with time for appropriate training. If you are not looking for top tier service levels to attract tourist, ok and so be it and you will not offer the hospitality that the Bahamas professes to have. That being said, one can also account for 60-65% attrition of the applicants for so many reasons so yes, the number is very low.

Quick question then I'll let those with more legal and constitution experience weigh in. This conversation on VAT and any other fees keeps poping up and seems to be a main focus of the deal (which I agree needs to be sorted out) simple question for clarification. Haven't all the concessions, tax abatements, land tile issues (and if in affect at the time which weren't, sales tax/VAT) all included in the original deal back when Izmarlian cut the deal? It's seams like reverse double dip so give a new investor even more concessions. The deal is what it is "X" is how much is owed or in back log and it seams to be a hard figure that all talk about $3.5 bill it what ever is left on the note. SO, why are any additional back tax/VAT etcetera being conceded to when it should be a pure flat buy out? Again, it seems like a double dip reverse on concession Na to multiple owners. If this deal indeed moves forward, then falls apart in 3 Months and there is a third buyer, will they yet again get more concessions? The deal should be, pay the money and take over the project why more concessions????