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Last Updated: Apr 7, 2017 - 11:21:33 PM |
The Right Honourable Perry Gladstone Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas speaks at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Warwick Paradise Island, Bahamas Hotel. He affectionately recalled his younger days at the property almost 40 years ago, dancing at the night club in the original hotel. The property is now the new Warwick hotel Paradise Island that has received $40 million in renovations and is an all-inclusive, adult, 4-star hotel in The Bahamas. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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NASSAU, The Bahamas -- At the Official Opening of the Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas on March 31, 2017, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Rt. Hon. Perry Christie said the nation is becoming more and more “an exciting, transformative” destination with the resurgence of tourism featuring new, upscale properties, some with global grown brands.
“We’ve all seen the transformation in Western New Providence with properties such as the Island House, Ocean West and Albany, which have led the way in defining a new paradigm in almost every hotel product category, and the soon-to-open mega resort, Baha Mar, which is bringing economic revitalization to the Cable Beach area with the global investor CTF Enterprises, and new brands, including Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS as well as world class casino, convention, golf, spa, restaurant and shopping facilities," Prime Minister Christie said.
Transformation of the downtown city area is also well underway with the multi-faceted $200 million Pointe project, he added.
On Paradise Island, the Ocean Club and Atlantis Resort are carrying out major upgrades to maintain primacy of place and now another iconic brand is being introduced to the destination, Prime Minister Christie pointed out.
"The Warwick Hotels and Resorts are a collection of privately-owned, exceptional properties known for their distinctive locations, upscale quality and service excellence that promote their destination’s cultural and local traditions in each locale," he said.
The Chui family received guests at the official opening of the 4 star all inclusive, adult only Warwick Hotel Paradise Island, Bahamas hotel on March 31, 2017. From left to right are: Warren Chiu, VP, Richard Chiu, president Warwick Hotels and Resorts, Ann Chiu, wife of Richard Chiu, Hon. Obediah Wilchombe, Minister of Tourism, Amanda Chiu and Richard Pan. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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The property, “re-branded as the Warwick Paradise Island, recently underwent a soft opening," he said. "I am advised that a subsidiary company, Silver Autumn Limited (SAL), has hired 40-50 core management employees and has entered into an outsourcing agreement with H.R. Business Solutions and Marketing Company Limited for the hire of 125 line staff on the property."
Prime Minister Christie said that the company has been working in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and the National Training Agency to ensure that employees are trained and ready to deliver "levels of service representative of the brand."
Prime Minister Christie spoke in greater detail about the brand by stating that the Warwick International Hotels Group is owned by Richard Chiu, whose family’s investments in large commercial development projects in Indonesia inspired him to strike out on his own as a hotel developer.
The world famous Royal Bahamas Police Force band entertained guests at the official opening of the Warwick Paradise Island. In the background is the newly refurbished 240 room, 3 suite-hotel. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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"Beginning over 40 years ago with his first hotels in Bali and Fiji, Mr. Chiu crafted each of the properties as emblematic representations of a bygone era of timeless elegance married with modern technological innovation to assure delivery of customer convenience and satisfaction," Prime Minister Christie said.
He added that Mr. Chiu then purchased the flagship New York Warwick in Manhattan, founded by William Randolph Hearst, and subsequently acquired all of the independently-owned Warwick properties in the USA, with the exception of one, and assembled his "eclectic" collection under the brand Warwick International Hotels (WIH) Group.
"Today the Warwick International Group owns properties globally, operating six hotels and 1146 rooms in the USA and Caribbean, 29 hotels and 3036 rooms in Europe, eight hotels and 980 rooms in Africa and the Middle East and eight hotels and 1489 rooms in Asia and the Pacific," Prime Minister Christie said. "The brand is actively seeking expanded worldwide presence and currently has projects underway in Tonga and Samoa."
Bahamian Ministers attended the official opening of the Warwick Hotel on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Shown from left to right are Daniel Johnson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Prime Minister Perry Gladstone Christie, Philip Brave Davis, Minister of Works and Urban Development and Obediah Wilchombe, Minister of Tourism. Missing is Khallis Rolle, Minister of State for Investments. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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Prime Minister Christie said that the company has developed its own distribution network powered by its proprietary global distribution system (GDS) and website which are supported by call centres and sales and marketing offices in the USA, Europe, Asia and Pacific regions. The Warwick Group also now operates within its enterprises a WIH Affiliate Programme comprising more than 30 independent, family-owned and operated hotels of similar standard.
Together with its recent acquisition of the successful Capital Group’s hospitality assets in London’s elegant Knightsbridge district and the company’s 15 owned and operated hotels and others soon to come on stream, Prime Minister Christie noted, the Warwick International Hotels Portal will soon encompass a portfolio of some 50 hotels marketed and distributed through its private network.
"I take this opportunity to congratulate the company’s president, Richard Chiu and his team on completion of the full-scale renovation of this property, including infrastructure and back of house areas, 250 guest rooms and public areas and the expansion to four restaurants" Prime Minister Christie said. "The resort now showcases a new entertainment complex, an on-site, full-service spa and its signature Warwick Sea Terrace Restaurant and Terrace, overlooking the marinas where guests can enjoy panoramic views of Nassau Harbour.”
Bahamas Hotel Association (BHA) executives and hoteliers attended the opening of the 4-star Warwick Hotel on Paradise Island Bahamas. Shown in the photo from left to right are Carlton Russel, president of the BHA, Stuart Bowe, IPP BHA and VP Operations, Atlantis, Robert “Sandy” Sands, IIPP BHA and SVP, Baha Mar and Jermaine C. Wright, director, BHA and GM Comfort Suites, Paradise Island. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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The Prime Minister said, given the resort brand’s reputation and its robust global network, he had confidence in the continued success of Warwick Paradise Island Bahamas in the years to come.
"I wish to thank the owner for this investment and the confidence manifested in my Government and the people of The Bahamas," he said. "I pledge my continuing support and that of the Bahamas Government."
Guests are shown enjoying the official opening of the Warwick Paradise Hotel on the newly renovated deck area. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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Warwick Paradise Island General Manager (left) is greets guests arriving to their official opening with Hon Obediah Wilchombe, Minister of Tourism (right). (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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Ann Chiu, wife of Warwick President Richard Chiu and the Right Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie, Prime Minister of The Bahamas as seen having cut the official ribbon for the opening of the Warwick Paradise Island Hotel on March 31, 2017. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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Ed Fields, SVP Atlantis and Ferron Bethel, Partner at Harry B. Sands Lobosky & Co., attended the opening of the Warwick Paradise Island hotel in The Bahamas. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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Bahamas Weekly contributor and PR/Marketing consultant, Azaleta Ishmael-Newry (left) chats with Warwick Hotels and Resorts President Richard Chiu at the dessert tent. The Warwick Paradise Island Hotel recently had a $40 million renovation to the property boasting new decks, pools, and restaurants as well as completely renovated rooms. (Photo:Azaleta Ishmael-Newry /thebahamasweekly.com)
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