“Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry G. Christie has announced full government support, HEA approvals and start of vertical construction phase for a 100% Bahamian owned & operated boutique hotel located at Schooner Bay Village, South Abaco – slated to open in December of this year, one that will employ more than 20 persons and generate more than $3 million alone in economic activity for south Abaco.”
Schooner Bay Village began development in 2007 and now with the project services all completed in 2013 and the existence of more than 30 houses and businesses around a viable harbour, the visitation has grown, real estate sales are rising and the overall tourism activity is expected to blossom into 2015.
In 2013 Schooner Bay won the urbanism award from the Institute of Classical Architecture in a field of formidable design entries – a first for a Bahamian project.
On Friday the 31st the Prime Minister met with the Bahamian owner and principal investor and his partner the Sandpiper VP & Managing Director – James A. Malcolm, also a Bahamian – to reaffirm the government’s support for this locally owned & operated boutique hotel operation coming on line in south Abaco at Schooner Bay. The PM commented on the genuine importance of Bahamians partnering and investing in such ventures – in their own country, in the largest economic sector (tourism)
The PM was also briefed on business plans for The Sandpiper Inn & Cottages – one that follows the time tested model for Out Island hotels – seen at such places as Pink Sands & The Dunmore in Harbour Island and Hope Town Lodge and Green Turtle Cay Club in The Abacos.
The Sandpiper Inn & Cottages began construction in December 2013 and will open to the public in December of this year offering refined rooms & suites in the main Inn property and vacation cottages spread through the village for a total inventory of more than 40 bedrooms.
The Sandpiper Inn & Cottages is expected to be Schooner Bay’s first full-service inn and restaurant on the harbour front – seating up to 50 – serving the village residents, boaters, visitors and the general public. The design is inspired by the lovely architectural patterns one sees in both Harbour Island and Charleston and comprises a two-and-half story traditional Bahamian verandah house accompanied by two duplex garden cottages – all with views to the water. The 10 village cottages are lovely mix 2 & 3 bedroom waterfront units some with docks. Please see www.dsbbahamas.com/cottages for more.
With its restaurant, bar, other inn services and central location, it is expected The Sandpiper Inn & Cottages will become a popular meeting place in the heart of Schooner Bay.
The main inn will offer seven rooms (three in the main building and four, one-room cottages in the back garden) and the restaurant will seat guests in the indoor dining room and outside on the classical wraparound verandah. The culinary experience for The Sandpiper Inn is being created by a Bahamian born, but Cordon Bleu and Swiss-trained master chef – incorporating many of the locally grown and regionally caught products available from The Commons at Schooner Bay and South Abaco.
The inn will offer a variety of different rates packages such as B&B and modified American plans to allow flexibility in catering to a diverse clientele.
The Sandpiper’s ambiance will evoke the real character of the Bahamas – elegant, but simple – and will complement in scale and design the eclectic mix of vernacular styles found along Schooner Bay’s Bay Street corridor.
Interiors by acclaimed designer, Amanda Lindroth, will complete the effect of “understated sophistication”, helping to make The Sandpiper Inn & Cottages a charming, inviting staple of the Schooner Bay waterfront in the tradition of other iconic Amanda designs such as Old Fort Club, Dunmore Beach Club and The Balmoral.
VP & Managing Director – James A. Malcolm – has been part of the Schooner Bay project for over 5 years and originally hails from Harbour Is. – where his great uncle (Herbert Malcolm) and grandfather (Allen Malcolm) founded and started The Pink Sands Hotel in 1949 and ran it as the family business for more than 39 years. In 1995 James was hired by Chris Blackwell/Island Outpost as General Manager when Pink Sands reopened after a 3 year closure as result of Hurricane Andrew. James was an Account Executive with Maritz Travel Company from 1997-2005 and then Executive Director of Group Travel for Min. of Tourism from 2005-2008.
For more information and advance bookings, please contact James Malcolm at james@sandpiperabaco.com or 1-242-376-9858. Please also see www.sandpiperabaco.com
