The first proper day of ILTM North America, at Baha Mar – ‘shallow waters’ – in Nassau was back-to-back meetings. But what a setting! Baha Mar’s convention centre is not only huge but a kaleidosope of riotous colour. Above, for instance, Daniel Scott, MD ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA, and Lucy Clifton, MD SpotL1ght Communications, stand in front of a permanent display of art flowers, each bloom at least 30cm diameter.
But the complex does have some more subdued areas. Two minutes walk leads to Waterside Chapel. How lovely to be married in such a soothing place, its all-white wood and leather interior complementing views, through big windows, of Roussesau greenery. During ILTM, the chapel is desantified as the Media Centre. Take your pew and listen.
The first morning kicked off with a media welcome from Baha Mar President Graeme Davis. A presentation from Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board was an update on ATLANTIS and its one-time little sibling, now THE OCEAN CLUB, A FOUR SEASONS RESORT. Japan National Tourist Office JNTO had an impressively detailed cast that included the YTL-owned RITZ-CARLTON NIKKO, two hours from Tokyo, whose GM, Alex McBride, is married to a charming Japanese lady.
After Japan, media ‘went’ to West Hollywood, followed by Portugal, and then it was time to hear how Preferred Hotel Group is refreshing some of its offerings. The morning continued in other rooms, back in the conference centre. Speed-dating it was, truly. Every nine minutes it was rush from one table to another, switching concentration from Galapagos to Rome to Santa Monica. Move, carrying goods and chattels and attempting to eat a much-appreciated and delicious flank steak sub.
It seemed, and was, hours since Hyatt’s elegant media breakfast. Atop a two-floor tower ten minutes walk from GRAND HYATT BAHA MAR, this open-sided venue is Marcus, a hotel-run Marcus Samuelsson restaurant, a perfect venue for help-yourself fruits, smoothies and good tasty Bahamian bacon steaks. Work hard, network with results and eat (and drink) divinely, messages from ILTM North America.
