After 53,000 votes were cast by experts on Caribbean travel, namely, Caribbean Journal readers, and deliberations were made, the beautiful Islands of The Bahamas secured 2 wins out of 20 nominations for this year’s Caribbean Journal Travelers’ Choice Awards. The Bahamas won Best Caribbean Golf Destination and Best Caribbean Meetings Destination. The Bahamas also takes great pride in the fact that Atlantis Paradise Island received Caribbean Journal Travelers’ Choice Award for Best Family Resort in the Caribbean.
The Atlantis resort is a large complex, with everything from luxury accommodations to cost conscious room rates. Over the years, Atlantis has catered to the spectrum of experiences guests are looking for. Atlantis Paradise Island is truly a paradise for families, with a multitude of family friendly facilities such as, Aquaventure water park, beaches, swimming pools, and open-air marine habitat. Programs crafted for kids and teens aged 1-17, such as the 3-day introductory fishy fun swimming lessons for kids, junior ultimate trainer for a day program, and gamers reef shows the resort’s passion for creating a fun and unforgettable experience for families.
“This is an extremely proud moment for The Bahamas and our tourism sector, as we continue to provide travelers with the best in class in hospitality, facilities and relaxing environments,” said Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. I Chester Cooper, Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation. He added, “The award of these two prestigious destination accolades and resort distinction is a true testament to the hard work and stellar service delivery by our tourism professionals.”
Having been selected as host venue for high caliber international events ranging from sporting tournaments to conferences, The Bahamas, undoubtedly, has been one of the most sought-after host destinations for events in 2021.
Golf tournament bookings this year have garnered favorable promotion for The Islands of The Bahamas. The return of the White Sands NCAA Golf Invitational brought 19 collegiate teams, from across the United States, to the capital alone. The Bahamas is also host destination for the highly anticipated return of the Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge, which will field 15 of the world’s top 20 golf players, and will be held at Albany December 2 – 5.
The Bahamas is known for its beautifully constructed golf courses, across the islands, from Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Abaco to Sandals Emerald Bay Golf Course in Exuma, and the golf courses of Nassau and Paradise Island. The tourist hub of Nassau and Paradise Island boasts three world-class golf courses: the Ocean Club Golf Course, on Paradise Island, where White Sands NCAA Invitational was recently held, is. an 18-hole par 72 championship course that extends over 7,100 yards. At Albany, on the southwestern end of New Providence, the par-72, 7,309-yard Ernie Els designed championship golf course is where the Hero World Challenge is hosted annually. The Royal Blue Golf Club at Baha Mar in Cable Beach features an 18- hole, 72 par Jack Nicklaus designed Signature Golf Course that is suitable for recreational or championship play with a unique “two courses in one” design. The Bahamas continues to be one of the top spots for major golfing events.
The Bahamas has not only been a major host destination for golf but also one of the top spots for meetings. The Bahamas’ win of Caribbean Journal Travelers’ Choice Award for Best Meetings Destination in the Caribbean was based on a variety of criteria, including the quality of hotels, the number and quality of meeting spaces, restaurant offerings, local activities and more. It is no surprise that The Bahamas made the top of the list with hotels such as Atlantis being the most renowned meeting venue in the region. The Paradise Island resort features 21 outdoor venues measuring 500,000 sq. ft. These venues provide meeting opportunities, pairing business with pleasure for all potential guests. Moreover, major sporting events such as the famous Battle 4 Atlantis College Basketball Tournaments, which have been held at Atlantis on Paradise Island since 2011, are indicative of The Bahamas’ continued standard of host excellence.
Baha Mar Resort has also made a name for itself, particularly this year, hosting a major celebrity chef experience with live performance by international music artist, John Legend, and this year’s Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference & Operations Summit (CHICOS).
The Ministry of Tourism, Investment & Aviation and the destination’s key tourism stakeholders will continue to work diligently to ensure The Bahamas maintains its reputation as a leading vacation destination in the region.
For more information on The Bahamas’ achievement, visit caribjournal.com
