Construction Site Work Scheduled to Commence. Approximately 400 Construction Jobs and 200 Permanent Resort Positions to be Available to Grand Bahama Residents.
Grand Bahama – November 8, 2024 – Weller Development Partners and Pegasus Capital Advisors, developers of Six Senses Grand Bahama, hosted a public community meeting yesterday to discuss the development timeline, environmental and community-focused initiatives, and the significant job opportunities that will result as project construction commences.
The community meeting was well-attended by Grand Bahama residents eager to learn more about the project’s progress, impact on the local community, and upcoming employment opportunities. It was announced at the meeting that the Six Senses Grand Bahama development will create a substantial number of employment opportunities for the local community, with approximately 400 construction jobs soon to become available.
Additionally, more than 200 permanent positions at the resort will be filled as the project approaches completion, offering long-term career opportunities ranging from general manager to guest experience managers, and reception, kitchen and spa staff. The developers also discussed plans for world-class training programs to ensure local community members are equipped with the skills necessary to excel in the luxury hospitality industry.
“As we begin construction on one of the most unique resort communities in the world, we couldn’t be more excited to partner with the incredible people of Grand Bahama over the next several years,” said Marc Weller, Founding Partner of Weller Development. “We are committed to the surrounding community and to building this project sustainably, and we look forward to bringing meaningful career opportunities and economic prosperity to the island.”
The community received an update on the design of the project and was made aware that the property will be closing imminently for site work. In addition, the developers reassured residents that public beach access will be maintained throughout the construction process and after the resort’s completion, as required by Bahamian law. During construction, for safety reasons, Fortune Bay Road leading into the site will be closed. The developers are committed to working with the community to ensure convenient pedestrian access to the beach for all residents during and after construction.
Sustainability and resiliency are the cornerstones of Six Senses Grand Bahama, and the development team is committed to undertaking abundant sustainability initiatives with a focus on low-density development. In the short term, construction will commence by clearing the site of invasive casuarina pine trees, installing construction fencing and project signage, building viewshed platforms and a temporary boat dock for site tours, and prepping the site for vertical construction.
Six Senses Grand Bahama targets LEED Silver certification and will incorporate numerous sustainability and resiliency measures, including the use of locally sourced construction materials, energy conservation efforts such as passive shading and high-efficiency MEP systems, and significant beach restoration and reinforced dune systems. A key focus is on hurricane preparedness, building foundations that raise the Finished Floor Elevation (FFE) substantially, and a reinforced, structural dune system will be implemented along the property’s sea-side coastline to block storm surge. Native plant species will take the place of invasive casuarina pine trees.
The developers confirmed that construction is slated to begin imminently, with an anticipated resort opening in Q4 2026. They reiterated their commitment to keeping the community informed about the project’s progress and any potential impacts throughout the development process.
Six Senses Grand Bahama will comprise a 50-acre eco-conscious resort community that will feature 70 resort guest rooms, 38 of which are villas, and 28 branded residences, designed by award-winning architecture firms Gensler and Olson Kundig, respectively. The property will focus on sustainability, resilience, and wellness and will immediately establish a vibrant community and hospitality offering that will redefine luxury living and tourism in The Bahamas and the Caribbean.
For more information on Six Senses Residences Grand Bahama, visit: grandbahamaresidences.com
About Weller Development Partners:
Weller Development Partners is a dynamic and innovative full-service development firm focused on luxury hospitality, residential, experiential placemaking, and large-scale mixed-use projects. Led by Founding Partner and President Marc Weller, our leadership team offers a wide range of expertise and experience to tackle the most complex real estate developments. At the heart of the company ethos is a triple-bottom-line approach to development, designing strategies that are financially viable and provide returns to investors while also providing benefits to the surrounding communities and the environment. With an extensive portfolio of luxury hospitality properties, distinctive mixed-use development projects, and a proven track record of successful and celebrated ventures, Weller Development Partners delivers value and results, no matter the complexity or odds.
About Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.:
Pegasus Capital Advisors is a leading global private markets impact investment manager. As the first U.S. private equity fund manager accredited by the Green Climate Fund, the company is dedicated to fostering sustainable and inclusive growth while providing attractive returns for its investors. Founded in 1996 by Craig Cogut, Pegasus has invested over $2 billion across five private equity funds.
About Six Senses:
Six Senses, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, operates 27 hotels and resorts in 21 countries and has signed a further 43 properties into the development pipeline.
Six Senses serves as a changemaker and maintains a leadership commitment to community, sustainability, emotional hospitality, wellness, and crafted experiences, infused with a touch of quirkiness. Whether an exquisite island resort, mountain retreat, or urban hotel, the vision remains the same: to reawaken people’s senses so they feel the purpose behind their travels and ultimately reconnect with themselves, others, and the world around them.
Six Senses Residences offers all the unique amenities of a resort life community while retaining the privacy and personal touches of a beautifully appointed private villa or apartment. Each is an appreciating long-term investment to be cherished for generations to come with immediate benefits and exclusive status at other resorts worldwide.
Six Senses Spas guide guests on their personal path to well-being in all resorts as well as a handful of standalone spas. The high-tech and high-touch approach goes beyond ordinary beauty treatments to offer holistic wellness, integrative medicine, and longevity.
About IHG:
IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.
With a family of 19 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programs, IHG has more than 6,500 open hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of over 2,200 properties.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 375,000 people work across IHG’s hotels and corporate offices globally.