Destination luxury

There’s no question that The Bahamas is one of the most breathtaking places on the planet. For many, it’s a bucket list destination, which has also given The Bahamas the feeling of unattainability.

That shouldn’t be the case, says Graeme Davis, President of the Baha Mar luxury resort in Nassau, the Bahamian capital.

“It’s so easy to get to The Bahamas from the United States and Canada,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “It’s incredibly safe, there’s a multitude of luxury experiences and culinary options and, of course, there’s the amazing hospitality we and our associates provide each and every day.”

“Happy employees equal happy guests.”

A US$4.2 billion venture, Baha Mar is unique among Bahamian resorts. Its sheer size means Baha Mar is able to offer a wide variety of experiences to guests of all kinds, from couples and families to corporate conventions and intimate celebrations.

The site consists of a resort, casino, water park, marine sanctuary, a private island and even a residential development set on the beautiful Cable Beach.

“What we’ve done here at Baha Mar is certainly unique for the region, and I’d say in some cases unique in our industry,” Davis says.

Happy times

It’s a dramatic turnaround from where Baha Mar found itself in 2016. The company was in receivership until it was purchased by Rosewood Hotels and Resorts.

“When I was given the opportunity to take on this project and set new benchmarks in luxury integrated resorts, I couldn’t pass it up,” Davis says.

“Since then, we’ve opened three beautiful resorts here at Baha Mar – the Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood – with a fourth on the way. We’re still growing and ever enhancing the Baha Mar experience for our guests.”

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“Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), has serviced The Bahamas for over 85 years, and Turks and Caicos Islands since 2013. As the market leader for non-alcoholic beverages, our products are easily found across both archipelagos. When Baha Mar offered us the opportunity to service its property in 2015 we gladly accepted the challenge, and the property has remained a Coca-Cola client since inception.” – Karla Wells-Lisgaris, Chief Commercial Officer, Caribbean Bottling Company

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Davis, a longtime veteran of the hospitality industry, started his career as a front desk agent in New Hampshire.

“I’ve worked my way up through the industry, and honed my leadership skills along the way by observing great leaders that have inspired me, but also leaders that have not,” he says.

Learning what not to do is just as invaluable as an effective example, he explains. “For myself, it’s been important never to veer from being humble and consistent and always ensuring I’m motivating my associates. Bottom line, happy employees equal happy guests,” he says.

The high profile of The Bahamas as a top-flight holiday destination means there’s no room for error in that regard.

A supersized experience

“We have world-class brands starting with Grand Hyatt, which is at a price point for our entry level guests such as families or corporate groups. Then the next level is SLS, our lifestyle resort, and then Rosewood, our crown jewel and one of the premier ultra-luxury hotel companies in the world,” Davis says.

All three have access to the village of Baha Mar, which is home to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Royal Blue 18-hole golf course, a 300-seat jazz club, the largest casino in the Caribbean and 45 restaurants, bars and lounges. Davis says the village is always growing.

“One of our most magnificent experiences is Baha Bay, a US$200 million luxury water park,” he says. “It features incredible slides with no lines, a 465 square-meter games room, great food and beverages and the world’s only casino within a water park.”

Green credentials

For all the size and scope of Baha Mar, the resort works closely with government and the NEPCon Rainforest Alliance to prioritize sustainability.

“It goes beyond taking care of the environment,” Davis says. “We work to eliminate human trafficking and we have a full foundation that focuses on the three pillars: culture, community and conservation. All of our guest encounters with wildlife are sustainably certified. We don’t allow guests to swim with animals, for instance.”

“What we’ve done here is, I’d say, unique in our industry.”

Baha Mar also works closely with the National Gallery of The Bahamas and the Bahamas National Trust to showcase local culture and art, as well as the Caribbean Bottling Company to make sure Baha Mar is plastic-free.

“It’s so critical for the success of any business to ensure you have solid, trusted and reliable suppliers and partners, and we do,” Davis says.

The unity of these partnerships creates a soul and positive spirit that runs in the DNA of Baha Mar, Davis believes.

“It’s our heart. It’s what makes us stand out as an exceptional employer and destination,” he says. “We have one of the most exceptional world-class integrated resorts in the world, and it’s a tribute to the hard work, dedication and incredible spirit and joy our people have for each other and our guests.”