Major Hotels Report A Decline In Occupancy During Slow

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Here at home, this season brings a grim reality for the hotel sector as two major resorts report a decline in numbers this year when compared to last year, and while the situation is expected to improve in the next few months, it still seems to be trending downward when compared to 2024.

Two of the major resorts in New Providence are reporting a decline in occupancy as they move into the slow season.

Baha Mar president Graeme Davis says they are seeing the drop when compared to last year, as the resort sees 30 percent occupancy in September, which he says is expected to decrease.

Graeme Davis – President, Baha Mar 

“The year so far to date, we certainly have been down slightly, probably about 4 or 5 percent year on year, and what we’re looking at in September here, we’re at occupancy at around 30 percent, it’s quite low, and we’re expecting that to be down about 20 percent year on year for September.”

Fortunately, things are expected to ramp up to about 50 percent occupancy in October, but Davis says that is still low as we head into the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Davis says the numbers are below the resort’s expectations.

Graeme Davis – President, Baha Mar 

“For the total year, 2025, we’re looking to be down around 4 percent year on year. ya know we had higher expectations for our budget purposes for 2025. we’re certainly disappointed with the decrease year on year. we still have significant availability throughout the year.”

Back in June, Tourism Minister Chester Cooper forecasted a possible slowing down of the industry due to the Trump administration policies, which could plunge the United States into recession.

Key policies included the changing immigration rules and the impact of taxes and tariffs.

And the Atlantis resort is reporting a similar message.

Atlantis Vice President Jackson Weech is telling a Bahamas hotel and tourism association meeting Thursday morning that August occupancy is down when compared to 2024.

Jackson Weech – Vice President, Atlantis Resort 

“We’re currently in the slowest period of the year, which certainly continues and will continue until mid-November.”

But the Paradise Island resort is expecting a strong fourth quarter 

As for the Lynden Pindling International Airport, NAD CEO Vernice Walkine told us that during the summer months the airport welcomed 1.145m passengers, but still they too saw a decline.

Vernice Walkine – CEO, Nassau Airport Development Company 

“There’s been an overall slight decline of just over 2 percent across all sectors, but most of that decline actually came from the us, which doesn’t surprise anyone here. The decline on a monthly basis from the us range from 3.7 percent to 5.1 percent each month compared to the same month the previous year.”