A $3 million pledge to help Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Bahamas has been made by mega resort Atlantis, Paradise Island.
The hotel and its owner Brookfield Asset Management also instigated a range of fundraising and relief initiatives following the widespread destruction across the island chain.
The pledge is in addition to the grass roots efforts started prior to and immediately after the storm.
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Funds will go towards supporting organisations on the ground providing aid and assistance to local people.
The latest financial support follows cruise lines donating millions of dollars to help relief efforts.
The initiative came as hotels and resorts joined with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) to launch an online auction to help support the long-term recovery of the north-western islands of the Bahamas.
‘Caribbean Hotels Unite for The Bahamas’ is a joint fundraising initiative between CHTA and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association.
CHTA director general and CEO Frank Comito admitted: “The recovery will be long and painful.”
Meanwhile, Carnival Corporation announced yesterday that operations had resumed at Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, with the first cruise ship – Carnival Ecstasy – on track to be received in early October. The yard, which carries out ship repairs and refits, is backed by Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Atlantis, Paradise Island president and managing director Audrey Oswell said: “All of us here at Atlantis are deeply saddened by the devastation of our sister islands Abaco and Grand Bahama.
“We are thankful that Hurricane Dorian did not directly impact Nassau and Paradise Island and we are in a position to help our fellow Bahamians.
“Now our focus is on how we can contribute to the rebuilding of lives and communities in the affected areas.”
CHTA president, Barbados-based hotelier Patricia Affonso-Dass said: “We are thankful for the contributions of our hotel and resort partners to assist the people of the Bahamas during this very difficult period.”
