A prominent family is poised to break ground on an upscale, boutique hotel in western New Providence.
The 30-room resort, a first for the western side of the island, will rest on a 10-acre piece of land beside Mahogany House, one of the most high-end restaurants in the capital. Led by the Holowesko family, the hotel is now in the design and development phase, according to Lauren Holowesko, the project manager. She said the hotel should break ground in the second or third week of May.
“We want this hotel to not just be for tourists, but the local community as well,” she told Guardian Business yesterday. “From a residential and corporate perspective, there is so much going on in the west. I think it will be a great opportunity for an intermediary space. We want to incorporate conference space for meetings and really be a hub for the growing community.”
She added that the hotel will include squash courts, tennis courts, a gym and full spa facility. Up to 40 Bahamian jobs should be created at its opening, Holowesko said. Lauren is the daughter of Mark Holowesko, the owner of Mahogany House.
Holowesko Partners Limited, a financial investment firm headquartered in Nassau, reportedly handles accounts worth in excess of $2.71 billion.
George Damianos, the president of Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty, said the hotel comes as welcomed news as there are few options for accommodation on that side of the island.
While the west is home to a number of high-end communities such as Lyford Cay, Old Fort Bay and Albany, the closest hotel options are the Sheraton and Wyndham on Cable Beach. A hotel near Mahogany House is being seen as yet another big step for this up-and-coming side of New Providence.
“There is definitely a market or it,” the top realtor said. “There are a lot of people that come in to meet these fund managers in the Lyford Cay area. Some of them, they put up at the Lyford Cay Club or Atlantis. This hotel though would offer something nearby that’s upscale.”
Mahogany House, tucked into a quiet corner of western New Providence, opened approximately two years ago. It offers a high-end bar and dining room experience. There is also an upscale market selling a number of specialty items.
Holowesko told Guardian Business that the hotel won’t be attached to
the restaurant, although guests will likely enter through the same general area. The distinct boutique resort is planning a large lobby space open to both tourists and residents, serving as a meeting ground and community center.
“The area is very residential, so we’re [hoping] to break that divide in terms of making it local with a tourist side. I also think it will be good for the business community,” according to Holowesko.
The hotel’s management is in talks with a number of Bahamian artists to contribute authentic works to the hotel. There are also plans to incorporate a small theater for independent films in the region.
Prime Minister Perry Christie and other Cabinet ministers are expected to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony.
By Jeffrey Todd
Guardian Business Editor
