Planning a trip to Freeport? Big hotel discount here!

The four-star Pelican Bay Resort at Lucaya in Freeport, Grand Bahama, is offering City residents and City employees a 40 percent discount on its Waterside and Waterside State rooms, thanks to Mayor Thomas A. Masters.

The offer is another plus for us from our City’s sister-city relationship with Freeport, which was originally pitched by Mayor Masters and approved by both City Councils in 2012. Groups of educators, politicians and student-athletes from each city have since met and, in February 2015, Freeport teachers are planning to visit Riviera Beach. Mayor Masters arranged the hotel deal on a trip there in March.

To be eligible, all you need is a picture ID at check-in showing proof of City residency or City employment. Sample price: Waterside rooms are $108.48 per night plus taxes (discount applied)If you need a Freeport event to attend for that big discount, consider the 19th annual Grand Bahama Regatta, a sailboat race and heritage festival weekend that runs July 17-20. Besides the two-day race on July 18-19, there will be beach parties, networking with island officials and other events. Discount travel packages are available—including cruise, air and car rental—as well as dockage discounts for boaters. Advertising packages are also available.

For information on the hotel discount, call 242-373-9550; on the Regatta, 561-628-5835 or email GBR2560@gmail.com. Visit www.pelicanbayhotel.com to view the hotel and its offerings.