Event Recap: Highlights from the Chamber's Power Brunch Onboard Symphony of The Seas

On Tuesday, May 27th, 2025, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce hosted a successful Power Brunch aboard the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. The event brought together a distinguished group of attendees, including The Haitian Ambassador, Exantus Asboun, The Chinese Ambassador, Jiarong Yan, UK Deputy High Commissioner, Geoffrey Roberts; representatives from the US Embassy; Grand Bahama Port Authority representative Derick Newbold; and Shirley Gayle from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), among Chamber members and the business community.

Introductions made by Timothy Ingraham, BCCEC Chairman:

Chairman Timothy Ingraham opened the brunch by emphasizing the crucial role of partnerships. He highlighted Royal Caribbean's sponsorship as an example of collaborations that create such opportunities, stating, "Royal Caribbean is a chamber sponsor and we partner with our sponsors to bring opportunities like this." He also proudly detailed the Chamber's recent achievements, including the highly successful trade mission to India. This initiative, a significant win for both the Chamber and the Bahamian business community, was made possible by CEO Dr. Leo Rolle's exceptional networking. Dr. Rolle skillfully connected Bahamian business owners with Indian-based supply companies, facilitating beneficial deals for both parties. Ingraham commended Dr. Rolle's outstanding work, noting his instrumental role in significantly increasing Chamber memberships and driving overall growth.

Remarks from Philip Simon, President of Royal Caribbean (RC):

Simon provided an update on the construction of RCI’s first Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island, confirming that the project is on schedule and approximately 50 percent complete. He reiterated RCI's commitment to a December 2025 opening. Simon also discussed the ongoing work with the government to finalize the shareholder agreement, which will allow Bahamians to acquire a 49 percent equity share in the project, with RCI retaining 51 percent. He anticipates presenting this equity offering to Bahamians in the third quarter of this year. Furthermore, Simon announced that a vendor for the ferry service to transport guests from the cruise port to the Royal Beach Club has been identified, with the contract pending finalization. During the presentations, Captain Cameron Gibson, Harbormaster for the Royal Beach Club, showcased designs for the fit-for-purpose double-deck catamarans that will transport guests, featuring colorful motifs reminiscent of The Bahamas. Simon concluded by stating that RCI is actively recruiting an all-Bahamian staff and vendor complement for the beach club, and he introduced recently appointed key personnel: Alphonso Bowe (Director of Technical Maintenance), Simmone Bowe (Director of Human Resources), and C. Jillian Gray (Head of Communications).

Remarks from Latia Duncombe, Director General of Tourism, Investments and Aviation: 

Duncombe spoke about the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to explore destination options in farther-flung Bahamian islands for boutique cruise lines. She explained that the ministry's cruise and maritime unit is curating experiences with smaller, more intimate cruise lines (carrying 200-400 passengers) to bring visitors to the Family Islands. This initiative aims to provide economic opportunities for these islands, similar to the successful all-Bahamas cruise launched by Crystal Cruises during the COVID-19 pandemic, which generated income for residents on San Salvador, Exuma, and Long Island through shore excursions. Duncombe emphasized that this approach focuses on "curated experiences" and "not mass tourism or over-tourism," ensuring the preservation of the pristine nature of these islands while allowing visitors to enjoy them and locals to benefit. She highlighted that each of the 16 islands offers something unique and that this strategy will balance cruise line access across the Bahamian archipelago, extending beyond the traditionally frequented northern islands.

Vote of Thanks - Don Williams, BCCEC Vice-Chairman:

Chamber Vice Chairman Don Williams delivered the vote of thanks. He expressed gratitude to the distinguished guests and spoke briefly about the importance and benefits of Chamber membership.

The Power Brunch served as a valuable platform for fostering partnerships, updating stakeholders on key developments in the tourism and cruise industries, and highlighting the Chamber's commitment to creating opportunities for its members and the broader Bahamian economy. The insights shared by the speakers underscored the ongoing efforts to enhance the visitor experience, create sustainable economic growth, and ensure broad participation in the country's development.

Visit the event's photo album here >>> https://bccec-power-brunch-o.thebahamaschamber.com/