By the Caribbean Journal staff

The venerable Peace & Plenty hotel on Great Exuma in the Bahamas has been sold, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Miami-based boutique hotel owner-operators, Jesper & Gustaf Arnoldsson of SMS Lodging, have partnered with long time Exuma real estate investors, Steve & Patrick Harrington and prominent Bahamian entrepreneur, Burton Rodgers, to acquire the property, which was first built in 1958.

The hotel was first built by Lawrence Lewis, grandnephew of railroad tycoon Henry Flagler and has long been an iconic property in the Bahamian Out Islands.

SMS Lodging is a hospitality firm that specializes in “securing underperforming assets and bringing them to profitability,” according to the company’s Web site.

Peace and Plenty has long been considered one of the historic gems among Bahamas hotels.

“Burton, Patrick, myself, and our families have been enjoying Peace and Plenty for over two decades and we are extremely honored to be taking over such an important and beloved property,” said Steve Harrington. “We recognize Peace and Plenty as the heart and soul of Exuma and plan to carry on the best of its traditions for many decades to come.”

The Peace & Plenty hotel in downtown George Town, Great Exuma

The boutique hotel features 35 waterfront rooms, a pool, restaurant, two bars, and dock along Elizabeth Harbour.

In a statement, the new owners said they would “work to pay homage to the property’s history, while simultaneously revitalizing the hotel with a noticeable top-to-bottom refresh, including the addition of all the modern conveniences that today’s travelers have come to expect.”

Peace & Plenty, home to perhaps the most legendary bartender in the Bahamas, is slated to reopen in mid-December after the update process.

“In addition to Peace & Plenty’s iconic status and central location, the destination itself is easy to get to with incredible airlift flying direct to Exuma from Toronto, Charlotte, Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami,” said Jesper Arnoldsson, CEO of SMS Lodging.  “SMS has a strong presence and proven track record in South Florida and the Florida Keys, and we’ve been keen to expand our presence into the Caribbean – and the Bahamas was a natural stepping stone of growth for our company. We’re excited to be a part of this project.”