Terrence Roberts, director of business development, public relations and events in the Ministry of Tourism, said the Disney production has brought more than 300 employees who occupy hotel rooms and spend money on the island.
Foreign workers reportedly occupy 258 rooms at the Sheraton at Our Lucaya.
According to Earnestine Moxyz, communications manager for Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya, the Disney production has been great for the hotel.
“We’ve had over 30,000 room nights for almost a year,” Ms. Moxyz said. “The experience has been fantastic and the relationship a very good and fruitful one.
“They would have spent millions of dollars in food and beverage, in room revenue, transportation and on local employees as crew members. There is a lot of spin off from Disney.”
Ms Moxyz said the benefits will include public relations that will come as a result of the recent visit of 11 journalists.
She said the journalists work at The Boston Herald, New York Resident Magazine, Metro Source Magazine, the Washington Times, the Clarion Ledger, The Hartford Guardian, the Tennessee Tribune, Caribbean Guide, the Pathfinder’s Travel, Buffalo News, and OK Magazine.
The Ministry of Tourism hosted the journalists, who were in town mainly due to the film production, to a dinner and native show and they experienced native tours, including visiting Israel “Bonefish Folley” Rolle.
“These persons are going to go back to their various markets sharing their experiences through their publications, and of course, we will get further spin offs from this in the months and years ahead,” Ms Moxyz said.
The media houses with their large publications will reach millions of persons through their readership, providing exposure for the Bahamas before and after the release of the movie, she said.
Mr. Roberts said these journalists’ “primary interest” was to write reports about “Pirates of The Caribbean II and III” being filmed on Grand Bahama Island.
The Disney production required a great deal of construction where workers and supplies were needed.
The first phase of construction was a special tank to facilitate Disney’s shoot of the Pirates sequels. The second phase included the studio offices, and the prop, wardrobe and production space.
Alcott McIntosh, a local supplier, said his company has benefited from business as a result of construction associated with The Bahamas Film Studios, which is facilitating the Disney shoot.
“We are pleased with the business we’ve received from Disney,” Mr. McIntosh said. “We look forward to maintaining a good relationship with them.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Roberts said more than 200 Grand Bahamians have been employed with the Disney production.
Bahamians have been reportedly hired as extras, in production, transportation, construction and telecommunication services.
One Grand Bahamian employed as an IT onsite specialist said he has worked with the production from the beginning and it continues to be a good experience.
“I have worked with them from March of last year,” Kriston Culmer said. “It is pleasant, not different from any other job that I’ve had.”
Commenting on Disney’s Production on Grand Bahama, Craig Woods, who heads the Bahamas Film Commission, said The Bahamas Film Studios at Gold Rock Creek continues to be “a marvelous resource for us, arguably boasting the world’s largest open water tank.”
“It will provide production companies with state-of- the- art production facilities to satisfy the most demanding project,” Mr. Woods said.
Talking recently about further opportunities for the Bahamas, Mr. Woods said in a newsletter at the end of the year that the film commission is presently working to bring proposed film incentive legislation to the country by the second quarter of 2006.
“The Bahamas is a tax-free jurisdiction with no sales tax, excise tax and capital gains taxes; this alone is a tremendous incentive for film, television and commercial producers to consider our location,” Mr. Woods said.
By: Daphne McIntosh, The Bahama Journal
