It’s one of the wider region’s most popular destinations, and the Bahamas remains a tourism power in the Caribbean. That’s because the Bahamas isn’t just a single destination — it’s a multitude of destinations from the urban appeal of downtown nassau to remote, exotic getaways like Cat Island and Andros. So with our inaugural Bahamas Travel Awards, we’re celebrating the best and brightest in the 700-island destination’s travel industry, from the best hotels to the hotelier of the year. Here are the first-ever Bahamas Travel Awards.
Hotel of the Year: One & Only Ocean Club
This Paradise Island standout is one of the Caribbean tourism industry’s signature hotels, and thanks to its recent renovations, it’s better than ever. From its famous Versailles Gardens to its perch on spectacular Cabbage Beach to its simply stunning service, the One & Only continues to set a standard for hotels in the Bahamas — and the world. This is the Bahamas Hotel of the Year and the continued leader among Bahamas hotels.
Small Hotel of the Year: Island House
The upstart Island House is set at the far western end of New Providence — and while it’s not on the beach, it’s become a destination in its own right; and that’s what makes it so special. The boutique 30-room hotel is a luxurious but relaxed Bahamian hideaway, run with a creative, forward-thinking philosophy that marries the chic with the playful (yes, it’s a 30-room hotel with its own cinema).
New Hotel of the Year: Resorts World Bimini
When the highly-anticipated Hilton at Resorts World Bimini debuted this year, it set a new benchmark for Bahamian hotels, with an ultra-modern, sleek design, from its swim-up rooms to its rooftop bar. But, more importantly, it’s helped make Bimini into a hip, millennial-friendly place that’s become legitimately cool.
All-Inclusive of the Year: Tiamo
The Out Island of Andros is a different kind of destination, raw, mysterious, adventurous. And it calls to a different kind of traveler. That’s why Tiamo is so perfectly situated there; this boutique Bahamas all inclusive escape is a bold, thoughtful property that takes the meaning of all-inclusive to a totally different level.
Destination of the Year: The Exumas
Perhaps no area of the Bahamas has done more to help promote the wider Bahamas than the Exumas, which has become one of the world’s most sought-after getaways and a global celebrity hotspot, too. And its pristine natural environment continues to make it a paradise for boaters and anyone aquatically inclined.
Hotelier of the Year: David Hocher
It’s a Bahamian classic: the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, that signature maritime outpost at the far northern end of the Exumas. It’s remarkable what this tiny island resort has been able to develop, and how it’s become one of the region’s top destinations for boaters. It’s thanks to Hocher and his family, who have proven to the Bahamas how to turn a small island hotel into a destination.
The CJ Palm Award: Paolo Garzaroli
Our CJ Palm Award honors the Caribbean’s difference-makers in the tourism industry. And right now, we’re celebrating Paolo Garzaroli of Nassau’s Graycliff Hotel, who is helping to transform much of the heart of historic Nassau with the Graycliff Historical Village, a thoroughfare close to Nassau’s heavily-trafficked cruise port that is all about authenticity, from restored buildings to a full-fledged artists’ colony (above). In short, it’s a new kind of urban destination in the region and a welcome boost for an important tourism city.