Above: the Baha Mar

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Baha Mar project in the Bahamas is being built in partnership with China. That’s led many to speculate whether the resort can court long sought-after tourists from the Far East.

That’s exactly what it plans to do.

On Wednesday, the project announced that it had named Gregory Djerejian to head the company’s Asia business development operations, which will be based in Hong Kong.

Djerejian is currently an executive vice president at Baha Mar.

“Baha Mar is truly a global development, and Greg has been an integral part of the team since the project was first conceived more than 10 years ago,” said Sarkis Izmirlian, Baha Mar’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, in a statement.  “In his expanded role, he will oversee Baha Mar’s Asia development interests, including travel and tourism partnerships; working with our gaming partner Global Gaming Asset Management on developing Baha Mar’s Asian clientele; as well as with our other brand and strategic partners in Asia.”

The project’s offices will be set in Hong Kong’s central business district, with the aim of courting Asian tourists and expanding business relationships in the region.

“Chinese and Asian outbound tourism will be one of the defining industry trends of our time,” Djerejian said. “We are extremely keen to establish Baha Mar as a ‘China- and Asia-friendly’ destination in close collaboration with our many hospitality, governmental and strategic partners active in the region.”