NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Carnival Corporation will kick off a series of free workshops today, offering the Grand Bahama business community a valuable opportunity to learn more about developments at Celebration Key, particularly the opportunities available to small businesses, whether established or in their early stages.
The free workshop series, beginning on August 22, is designed to help local entrepreneurs and business owners understand what is happening at Celebration Key and explore the various opportunities open to them.
Carnival’s four-month Supplier Readiness Workshop series, which runs through November 14, will equip participants with the knowledge needed to compete in the bidding process for the project and provide insights into the sourcing and selection process.
Speaking at a press conference about Carnival’s “Big Opportunities for Small Businesses” workshop at the Grand Lucayan Resort, Javonte Anyabwele, Carnival Corporation’s VP of Strategic Sourcing, noted: “For now, some of the things we’re looking for include transportation, housing, and landscaping. In the future, we will continue to look at our marketplace and how that will evolve. There will be space available for retailers broadly, and the list will continue to grow. We have over 50 active projects right now, and that list will continue to expand. We do have some opportunities still for retailers. Later this year, we will be launching a larger RFP for a significant portion of what we are trying to obtain.”
Celebration Key is set to open next year, and we’re going to need suppliers.
The Supplier Readiness Workshops are scheduled for August 22nd at the Grand Lucayan, followed by sessions on September 12th, September 24th, October 17th, and November 14th.
With its recently announced $100 million pier extension, the $600 million Celebration Key destination is poised to significantly impact the Grand Bahama community. At least 75 percent of outlets will reportedly be owned and operated by Bahamians, with up to 70 restaurants and retail outlets of various sizes expected to be established.
In addition to opportunities as onsite retail or F&B vendors, there are numerous potential employment opportunities for Bahamians in tours and shore excursions, transportation, subcontracting services, and more. Already, more than 180 Bahamians are employed in the construction of the Celebration Key site. Overall, the project is expected to generate over 700 permanent local jobs, including approximately 400 Bahamians hired directly by Carnival Corporation, to help welcome 2.2 million guests each year to Grand Bahama starting in 2025.
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