What's new in The Islands Of The Bahamas
Recent awards, in both Condé Nast Traveler and Scuba Diving magazine’s Readers Choice Awards as well as Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards, prove The Bahamas hasn’t missed a beat.
NEWS
The Bahamas Launches BEATS - The Islands of The Bahamas announced its new Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) program, a one-year residency permit designed to allow professionals and students to pack their laptop and their swimwear as they march to the beat of their own island drum, remotely, from The Bahamas. For more information on BEATS, please visit www.bahamasbeats.com. To apply to be the WFH envy of your office/classroom, visit https://portal.immigration.gov.bs/.
Bahamian Hotels Reopening for the Holidays – Warwick Paradise Island – Bahamas is set to reopen to travelers November 21, 2020. Nassau Paradise Island’s Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is scheduled to reopen December 17, 2020. The reopening is part of the resort destination’s phased reopening, which will later include Rosewood Baha Mar and SLS Baha Mar.
New Diving Ambassador Program - The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is hand selecting dive professionals to represent the country as official Diving Ambassadors. The ambassadors will work with the Ministry’s communications and dive vertical teams to further position the country as the ideal dive destination. The selected ambassadors will be fully trained on the destination and its offerings before representing The Bahamas at dive trade shows and FAM trips.
PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS
For a complete, up-to-date listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com/deals-packages.
Out Island Air Credit - The Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board is offering U.S. and Canadian residents a $250 air credit when booking a vacation package of four nights or more at a participating hotel or resort. Book by November 16, 2020 and travel by April 30, 2021. Blackout dates apply.
Graycliff Workcation – The Graycliff Hotel in Nassau is offering guests a Workcation special, with a 50% discount on hotel rates when staying for 14 nights or more.
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
DEMA Show (November 17 - 20) - The Islands of The Bahamas will be participating in the virtual DEMA Show November 17 – 20, 2020. The annual trade show is the largest trade-only event for those in the scuba diving, ocean water sports and adventure/dive travel industries.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards Recognizes The Bahamas’ Still Rockin’ Campaign – The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation’s Still Rockin’ campaign was awarded the best destination advertising/marketing campaign. In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the campaign highlighted The Bahamas’ 14 major islands unimpacted by the storm, which contributed to the country’s record-breaking year of 7.2 million visitors in 2019.
The Bahamas Awarded in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards – Four Bahamian hotels were recognized by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Kamalame Cay, Rosewood Baha Mar, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar and SLS Baha Mar were included in the Top 15 Resorts in the Atlantic Islands category.
The Bahamas Takes Home 13 Awards in Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers Choice Awards – The Islands of The Bahamas has been recognized in this year’s Scuba Diving Magazine’s Readers Choice Awards, with placements highlighting the destination’s vast dive offerings across 700 islands and cays. The country was voted number one for Best Big Animals, placed in the top five for Best Overall Destination, Best Cave Diving, Best Snorkeling and Best Value and in the top ten for Best Wreck Diving, Best Wall Diving, Best Advanced Diving, Best Photography, Best Shore Diving, Best Macro Life and Best Health of Marine Life.
ABOUT THE BAHAMAS
With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly away escape that transports travellers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram to see why It’s Better in The Bahamas.
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PRESS INQUIRIES
Anita Johnson-Patty
General Manager, Global Communications
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
ajohnson@bahamas.com
Weber Shandwick
Public Relations
Bahamas@webershandwick.com