Bahamas News

The $700 million Rum Cay Resort Marina will be managed by the luxury hotel company RockResorts as it begins its three-phase process of building up the biggest marina that The Bahamas has ever housed.

The joint venture will bring the Rockefeller family businesses back to where it began: in the West Indies. The management of Rum Cay Resort Marina (RCRM) will be the first international addition to the brand since the company was purchased by another resort called the Vail Resorts, back in 2001.

“Rum Cay will be a unique, industry-leading project in The Bahamas, and RockResorts’ and Vail Resorts’ expertise not only in managing luxury hotels but also in consulting on development phases,” said John Mittens, CEO of Montana Holdings Limited (MHT), the Nassau-based development company of RCRM.

After the development is completed, it is projected to create up to 400 job opportunities on the island with a population of roughly 80 people. The director of construction at MHT said the company was prepared to build enough residences for the large number of employees it would take to operate the resort thoroughly.

The Resort has employed all Bahamian contractors and companies for the construction part of the development so far and many of these workers encourage more Bahamians to come down to Rum Cay for the opportunities. “We have had a few problems down the line finding skilled Bahamians, but it is a good opportunity for Bahamians to make some money,” said Sean Bowe, Project manager of the Marina excavation project that is ongoing. “You know the out island projects are where the money is at.”

The RCRM is expected to attract even more people to the country for great fishing experiences as well as enhance the fishing and diving resources in The Bahamas by adding a number of amenities including a mega-yacht marina, a luxury hotel, elegant residential choices, fine dining and shopping, plus spa and fitness facilities to this “spectacular natural playground ringed by powder-white beaches. Rum Cay has an amazing development plan, and we are thrilled to be providing a number of services for a resort that will offer world-class amenities and luxury in an unforgettable setting,” said CEO of Vail Resorts, Rob Katz. “The addition of Rum Cay to the RockResorts portfolio reflects our commitment to grow our luxury hotel brand in select locations with unique, exceptional resorts.”

The brand of RockResorts was originally created in 1956 by Laurence Rockefeller when Caneel Bay on St. John was developed and now it is returning to the tropics with the development of RCRM. There will be three phases to the RCRM and it is now in the first phase of construction, which began three months ago in July. The first phase consists of an 80-slip Blue Flag marina, the Port Santa Maria Marina Village, and a variety of residential offerings from ocean estates to ridge villas.

Phase two is expected to include additional residences, private membership clubs and the RockResort hotel and Spa while the last phase of the three step process will include the completion of resort development and even more residences and other amenities.