| WEST END, Grand Bahama Island - May 23, 2001-- Combining Bahamian charm
and luxury, The Inn at Old Bahama Bay in West End Grand Bahama Island,
officially opened its doors, Thursday, May 17, 2001, with over 200 in attendance
including Bahamian Officials, local dignitaries and international guests.
Set on the lawn of The Inn at Old Bahama Bay, the official opening ceremonies
began at 11AM with The Hon. Orville "Tommy" A. Turnquest, MP, Minister
of Tourism as the keynote speaker.
| Ken Olson, CEO of the Old Bahama Bay, with his
wife Pam, welcomed the guests while Reginald (Reg) Smith, Director of Sales
of Old Bahama Bay presided as the Master of Ceremonies. "We at Old Bahama
Bay are delighted to be bringing not only a new resort community to Grand
Bahama Island but we are proud to contribute a new stream of tourism to
the historic village of West End", stated Kenneth Olson.
Sash A. Spencer, Founder of West End Resorts, Ltd., the developer of
Old Bahama Bay and President of Holding Capital Group, requested a moment
at the podium to relate his pride and appreciation of the residential community.
He stated that this is his favorite place on earth while warmly speaking
of the dedication of the staff and local services of West End.
|
Danilo Checcucci Named
General Manager at Old Bahama
Bay
Previously with the Radisson Hotel Company, Mr. Checcucci
comes to Old Bahama Bay with an extensive hotel background and international
expertise in opening resorts. He was based for the past two years
in San Salvador, Central America where he successfully converted a 270-room
property into a Radisson Plaza and prior, he was at the Bogota Royal
Hotel, a five star de luxe member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Mr. Checcucci also has ample experience in the Caribbean
as General Manager of the Sonesta Beach Hotel and Casino in Aruba and the
Sonsesta Beach Resort and Casino in Curacao, Netherland Antilles. In addition,
he was the Managing Director for five years at the Golden Tulip Hotel and
Casino, also in Curacao.
He is a graduate of the Italian Hotel Management School
and has also studied at Cornell, Holiday Inn Inc. University, Academic
Accor and various other certification institutions. Mr. Checcucci is fluent
in five languages including English, Italian, Spanish, German and French. |
|
Mr. Spencer proclaimed from the heart, "Without the great staff and people
at this property, we would not be here...it's the people that make the
place." Mr. David Wallace, MP of West End, was grateful to Old Bahama Bay
for the resurrection of tourism in West End after a 20-year dormant period
subsequent to the closing of the Jack Tar Resort. He also recognized the
founders of the original property and equated the rebirth of this once
very famous Caribbean resort destination to the Phoenix rising from the
ashes even more beautifully.
West End, Grand Bahama Island has undergone many major changes in positioning
this destination for tourism. The British holiday camp tycoon, Billy Butlin,
began development in West End in 1951 on what was to become the most lavish
resort property in Grand Bahama, and ultimately evolved into the Jack Tar
Resort. Thus marked the birth of the first Caribbean all-inclusive property.
The project included an airfield, marina, a complex of canals, commercial
dock, a 424-room hotel, 16 tennis courts, 27-hole golf course and the largest
freshwater swimming pool in the western hemisphere.
The resort prospered in it's hey day during the 1950s and 1960s, but
then eventually began a slow decline until the resort finally closed in
the late 1980s. In the new millennium, West End Resorts Ltd. created Old
Bahama Bay, reawakening the spirit of the Jack Tar Resort, and presenting
Grand Bahamas' newest residential, marina and resort community in West
End.
Now, The Inn at Old Bahama Bay, an official Bahamas Small Treasures
property, is a self contained resort set in a gated residential community
comprising 24 hotel/condominium suites in two-story seaside beach houses.
In addition the hotel features, tennis courts, small boat and sailfish
rentals, non-motorized water sports, beach volleyball, bicycle rentals,
nature trails and one of the most extensive snorkel trail programs in the
Caribbean. Scheduled to open at the end of 2001 are 23 additional suites,
infinity pool, gym and meeting space. The entrepreneurial visions the Old
Bahama Bay developers have provided include a community tailored to a barefoot
elegance experience in a beautiful and tranquil out-island setting where
single hotel/condominium owners can purchase their own piece of paradise.
Old Bahama Bay, set on 150-acre paradise, boasts a 72 slip full-service
marina and is an official Bahamian Port of Entry. With 24 oceanfront home
sites, 49 channel home sites, each with its very own private dockage, this
residential community is a haven for those searching for the ideal island
lifestyle. |
