NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The first group of entrepreneurs have officially signed contracts to operate retail and food and beverage outlets at Carnival Corporation & plc’s highly anticipated flagship cruise destination, Celebration Key, set to open this July in Grand Bahama.
Celebration Key is expected to welcome more than two million guests annually, with projections rising to up to four million by 2028. The development promises a wide variety of economic opportunities for Bahamians, with the majority of businesses being fully locally owned. So far, 26 Bahamian companies have secured contracts to operate at Celebration Key, 18 of which are owned by Grand Bahamians.
“We’re so thrilled to bring so many talented Bahamian business owners together who will enhance the guest experience at Celebration Key. It was a thorough and rewarding exercise, getting to meet so many talented Bahamians showing an interest in partnering with us,” said Bertrand Piller, Director, Destination Third Party Partnerships & Business Development at Carnival Corporation. “We wish we could have accommodated more of the proposals submitted but there are only so many spots. We have selected an excellent roster of vendors who will provide a varied offering showcasing The Bahamas in general, and Grand Bahama in particular.”
Among the first wave of signees are entrepreneurs from restaurants such as Mini Donut King, Fowl Play Wing Co., Pineapple House, Bahama Mama Seafood Pit, and Flippin Fritters. Retail outlets include Bahari, Surfing Turtle, Caribbean Lighthouse, Sand Dollar Freeport/Bahamia, Baha Gala, Island Treasures by Sharkeez Freeport, Bahamian Bliss, Del Sol, and Cariloha.
“I am so pleased to have been selected to showcase authentic handcrafted, Grand Bahamian-made jewelry at Celebration Key,” said Tenisha Elkins-Carey of Baha Gala. “I feel that this is a unique opportunity, not only in terms of economic empowerment for Grand Bahamians, but also to represent our culture to the world.”
Jody Butler of Flippin Fritters said, “There is nothing quite like Bahamian cuisine anywhere else. We are very glad that Celebration Key chose to highlight so many local restaurants and food stalls so that we can bring the authentic flavors of these islands to a larger audience than ever before.”
“Many cruise ports in the region operate their own businesses within the port,” said Sandy Ann Flowers-Saunders of Bahama Mama Seafood Pit. “Celebration Key is an amazing opportunity and a welcome breath of fresh air. It is now up to us vendors to get ourselves organized and ready to succeed and make our country proud.”
The contract signing stage followed a rigorous selection process, which included a Request for Proposals (RFP) listed on the Celebration Key website, social media, and other platforms to ensure as many Bahamians as possible could apply, ask questions about the application process, and receive timely responses.
After the application deadline, the Carnival Corporation team reviewed and evaluated all proposals based on their full completion, on-time submission, and merit according to the RFP parameters. Following this, in-person or digital interviews were conducted with shortlisted candidates to select successful vendor partners and negotiate contract terms.
Opportunities for local vendors are just one facet of Celebration Key’s partnership with the Grand Bahama community. With its already announced $100 million pier extension, the $600 million world-class cruise destination is poised to significantly impact the island’s economy in many ways.
The development is expected to create numerous employment opportunities for Bahamians in tours and shore excursions, transportation, subcontracting services, and more. Overall, the port is expected to generate approximately 700 permanent local jobs, with approximately 400 Bahamians hired directly by Carnival Corporation.
