NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The 18th Annual Exuma Business Outlook will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Grand Isle Resort & Residences under the theme “Future Exuma: Branding the National Identity, Planning for Success.”
Delivering the keynote address at the highly anticipated event hosted by the Counsellors Ltd will be the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Minister of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation, and Member of Parliament for the Exuma and Ragged Island constituency. Ehren Hanna, Manager at RBC and Director of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce, Emmett Saunders, Executive Director of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce and Kerry Fountain, Executive Director of the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board will serve as moderators for the event.
Other speakers at the Outlook will include Chantelle Sands, Head of SME & Family Islands Business Innovations, Aliv Business; Lauren Campbell, Director of Engineering at Aliv Business; Toni Seymour, Chief Executive Officer at BPL; Cyprian Gibson, Deputy General Manager of Water & Sewerage Corporation; Kerry Fountain, Executive Director of the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board; Joe Eustice, General Manager at Grand Isle Resort and Residences; Natajia Miller, Owner and General Manager of Embrace Resort on Staniel Cay; Patrick Harrington, Owner and Executive Manager of Peace & Plenty Beach Club and Kahari Resort; Ian Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Development Corporation; Philip Galanis, Chairman of the Bahamas Trade Mission; Dr. Janette Martin, Director of Obesity and Diabetes Education at Doctors Hospital Health System; Sonia Brown, PE, Principal of Graphite Engineering; Tracy Cooper, Managing Director of Bahamasair; Sarah Swainson, Private Charters & Business Development Manager at Makers Air/Ascend; Ricardo Wilson, General Manager of Western Air; Esmond Johnson, Regional Manager for the Bahamas at Silver Airways; and Nathan Burrows, District Sales Manager for Southern Bahamas at Kanoo.
Charity Armbrister-McKenzie, Director of Authentic Events at Exuma’s Ministry of Tourism, stated, “We are excited for the 18th Exuma Business Outlook on October 17, 2024, where we will discuss the strategic vision for the island. We look forward to hearing from various private sector professionals and government officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. I. Chester Cooper.”
She added, “We can expect to learn about upcoming developments and progress on roads, the airport, and other infrastructure that will not only drive our growth but also create lasting value for our stakeholders and the community at large. And of course, there’s a big buzz in Exuma about the recent launch of the Tourism Development Corporation Initiative, encouraging Bahamians to own a piece of the tourism industry and venture into the short-term rental business.”
At the recent Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation National Conclave of Chambers of Commerce, Emmett Saunders, Executive Director of the Exuma Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged the surge in visitor arrivals to the island over the past decade, noting that the Exumas continue to attract foreign direct investment with high-end resort developments.
Saunders stressed the need for infrastructure to keep pace with Exuma’s economic growth, citing challenges with internet service and a shortage of skilled labor. He also noted the recent closure of Sandals Emerald Bay, which will be replaced by an all-inclusive Beaches resort, emphasizing the economic impact of this move.
Kerry Fountain, Executive Director of the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board stated: “This Business Outlook is crucial for Exuma stakeholders, especially those in the Business of Tourism. To date, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation has been successful in securing the same level of airlift – when compared to the past season – with key partners like American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Makers Air, and Silver Airways. And, of course, Bahamasair and Western Air will continue to provide service via Nassau. How will our hoteliers, second-home rental companies, local tour operators, and vendors respond to Sandals now being closed for its planned transformation to Beaches Exuma?”
Fountain added, “We have the seats; the challenge now is filling them with the room inventory we currently have on Exuma. What are the challenges and the low-hanging fruit opportunities? For Exuma, at least for the next twelve to fifteen months, it will not be business as usual. These are all reasons to come out to the Exuma Business Outlook to learn, be heard, and decide on the needed action steps to keep the Exuma train moving in the right direction.”
