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Nassau-born recording artist Lady E releases new single “Live for Da Road” remix and announces the launch of “Let’s All Dance”, an online invitation to fans worldwide to dance to the rhythms of the Bahamas

caribpr — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 14:13:41 +0000

NASSAU, Bahamas, April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Bahamian Lady E, Sony Music recording artist, is excited to announce the release of her new single “Live for Da Road” remix, a hit produced and remixed by Latin Grammy^® winner, DJ Buddha. “Live for Da Road” evokes the feelings of marching a road fever parade of music, dance and spectacular costumes through the neighborhoods of Nassau. Now available on all platforms, you can listen to it clicking here.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/485394/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Lady_E_Live_for_Da_Road.jpg

“As the song says, ‘I live for this’. I am proud of our Junkanoo, our dance, our spirit, and our contagious happiness. You can’t listen to this song and stay quiet. “Live for Da Road” and Junkanoo are for dancing and we will prove it. Let’s All Dance!” said Lady E. “The song is filled with energy so even if you have two left feet, it’s going to make you dance!” she added.

To celebrate the launch of her single, “Live for Da Road” remix, which dropped on Friday, March 31^st, Lady E will show fans around the world how her music makes everyone in the Bahamas dance. Every time someone visits her website and plays the song, someone in the Bahamas will dance. Lady E invites music lovers everywhere to join in the fun and post videos on their own social media platforms showcasing their best moves to the Junkanoo beat of “Live for Da Road.”

About Lady E
Lady E is an acclaimed Bahamian recording artist, known as The Road Fever Queen. Lead vocalist of popular bands such as Visage and Ting um Dem, before she formed her own band “High Tide”, Lady E jumped at the opportunity to return to the music scene as a solo artist at the introduction of the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival organized by the Bahamas National Festival Commission. She landed a recording contract with Sony Music Latin for her single “Live for Da Road” after winning the Music Masters Competition during the 2016 Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. She travels extensively representing The Bahamas at multiple carnivals and festivals around the world. For more information, please visit www.ladyeofficial.com.

Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited to Own and Operate Baha Mar Resort

caribpr — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 23:02:03 +0000

Leading, Global Conglomerate to Create Thousands of Jobs for Bahamians

Phased Opening Planned for Resort Beginning April 2017

NASSAU, Bahamas, Dec. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE), a leading Hong Kong-based global conglomerate with a diversified business portfolio – including extensive hospitality experience with resort and mixed-use developments worldwide – today announced it has signed an agreement to own and operate Baha Mar Resort. The signed share purchase agreement (SPA) allows for the acquisition by CTFE of all issued capital from Perfect Luck Assets Limited (Perfect Luck), including those Baha Mar Resort assets previously transferred to the company.

Said Graeme Davis, President, CTFE’s Bahamas subsidiary, “CTFE will dedicate significant, ongoing investment and resources towards the pre-opening and opening of Baha Mar Resort. We will also ensure that the Bahamian people and the region benefit fully from the project, which will create tremendous job and economic stimulus opportunities. Further, by combining our global hospitality expertise with the vibrant and authentic Bahamian culture, we will create a memorable, unmatched experience for guests of which all Bahamians can be proud.”

CTFE is in discussions with several globally recognized hospitality brands to be luxury hotel operators at Baha Mar including Grand Hyatt, SLS Hotels, and CTFE subsidiary, Rosewood Hotel Group.

To prepare for the opening of the casino hotel and casino, CTFE is onboarding a leadership team of executives from internationally recognized brands. It plans to begin recruiting employees for the casino in the New Year and is also in discussions to form marketing alliances with leading global gaming companies.

CTFE Brings Vast, Global Expertise with a Diverse Portfolio Including Tourism and Hospitality

CTFE has a diversified, international business portfolio across the commercial real estate, hospitality, retail and transportation industries that includes property holding and development; hotel investment and management; jewellery retailing and department store interests; and transportation and infrastructure investment. Among the publicly listed companies controlled by CTFE are New World Development Company Limited, a property developer with a market capitalization of over US $10 billion; NWS Holdings Ltd, an infrastructure and transportation company with a market capitalization of over US $6 billion; and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, one of the largest jewellery retailers in the world with a market capitalization of over US $8 billion.

Within the tourism and hospitality arena, CTFE’s expertise is extensive, in part through its ownership of Rosewood Hotel Group, which owns and/or operates 55 hotels in 18 countries under three different brands. These include some of the world’s most iconic hotel properties including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York), Rosewood London and Rosewood Beijing. Rosewood Hotel Group also operates three Caribbean resorts: Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort in Antigua, Rosewood Tucker’s Point in Bermuda, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands (re-opening 2017).

In addition, the expertise of CTFE and its affiliated companies includes large-scale investment and development projects such as the US $10+ billion Greenwich Peninsula development project, one of the largest investments in London’s history, which is expected to include more than 15,000 new residences; the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, a US $2.3 billion integrated resort development project in Australia; and a deluxe casino hotel development in Metro Manila, in the Philippines.

CTFE Committed to Phased Opening of Baha Mar Resort Beginning April 2017 and the Creation of Thousands of Jobs for Bahamians

CTFE is dedicated to the successful and timely opening and operation of Baha Mar Resort. Upon completion of the project by China Construction America (CCA) and EXIM Bank, the company intends to quickly establish Baha Mar as one of the world’s finest destination properties. CTFE plans to open the resort in phases, beginning with phase one in April 2017, which will include the casino hotel, casino, convention center and golf course. The company estimates that more than 1,500 jobs will be generated for Bahamians within this first phase. Once fully operational, Baha Mar Resort will employ thousands more.

Davis continued, “The Bahamas is one of the most iconic and popular destinations in the Caribbean. As we build on the foundation that has been established thus far, a critical part of our vision for Baha Mar Resort is to showcase the extraordinary beauty of the island in addition to its culture. In partnership with the Bahamian people, we look forward to delivering future guests a resort that is distinctive not only for the Bahamas but for the entire Caribbean.”

CTFE has plans to invest an additional US $200 million in the project to support pre-opening activities as well as the redevelopment of the prime beachfront Crystal Palace Casino Hotel site, and the development of additional family-friendly amenities, entertainment venues and offshore island facilities.

Bahamian Prime Minister and EXIM Bank Support CTFE in its New Role

“We are delighted to have CTFE join Baha Mar Resort as the owner and developer, leveraging its expansive network and resources to open new markets and opportunities for The Bahamas that will deliver great benefits to the island and our people,” said the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Perry G. Christie. “The Government is confident that CTFE has the precise capabilities and track record to successfully complete and operate Baha Mar Resort from both a lodging and casino perspective. We look forward to having such a renowned and experienced company turn the vision for Baha Mar Resort into reality.”

EXIM Bank said in a statement, “While there have been challenges with the project along the way, The Government of The Bahamas and EXIM Bank have been steadfast in bringing this project to fruition. Now, with a supremely qualified, world-class owner and operator in place, we look forward to working together with CTFE to bring the already stellar reputation of the Bahamas as a leading tourism destination to a new level.”

About Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited

Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) is a leading Hong Kong-based conglomerate owned and controlled by the Cheng Family with a diversified global business portfolio. Principal activities of CTFE and the Cheng Family include commercial real estate, hospitality, retail and transportation industries that includes property holding and development; hotel investment and management; jewellery retailing and department store interest; transportation and infrastructure investment. Among the publicly listed companies controlled by CTFE are New World Development Company Limited, a property developer with a market capitalization of over US $10 billion; NWS Holdings Ltd, an infrastructure and transportation company with a market capitalization of over US $6 billion; and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, one of the largest jewellery retailers in the world with a market capitalization of over US $8 billion.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Civil Rights and Rule of Law Under Attack in the Bahamas

caribpr — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:12:37 +0000

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Less than 100 miles from Florida, in the island democracy of the Bahamas, politicians and the police are harassing environmentalists, illegally hacking and publicly releasing their private communications and other confidential information. And, when the Supreme Court ordered several cabinet members to stop violating the conservationists’ constitutional rights, they threatened to jail the judge.

These startling events are laid out by environmental attorney and activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., chairman of Waterkeeper Alliance, in a new story in EcoWatch, one of America’s top environmental news sites.

Why are civil rights and the rule of law under attack? As Kennedy explains, some Bahamian officials are allied with one of the island’s worst unregulated developers. [See the full story and a video here: http://www.ecowatch.com/bahamas-nygard-bacon-kennedy-2128498516.html]. He notes that a well-connected billionaire developer who donated millions of dollars to members of Bahama’s government, Canadian apparel manufacturer Peter Nygard expanded the buildings on his private residence by filling Clifton Bay without government permission, damaging its world-famous marine area.

Shortly after a feisty environmental group, Save the Bays, sued Nygard, undercover police raided the home of Nygard’s neighbor, Louis Bacon, a philanthropist who co-founded the Save the Bays. In March, Bahamian cabinet ministers disclosed Save the Bays’ private emails and financial records during an open session of parliament.

Responding to a legal action by Save the Bays, the Bahamian Supreme Court ruled that the ministers had violated the environmentalists’ constitutional rights to privacy. But instead of backing down, the ministers doubled down. They appealed the ruling, arguing that parliamentary privilege trumped personal rights to privacy, and that the Supreme Court lacked power to enforce the constitution against parliament. The ministers have launched a process to hold the lawyer who argued the case and the judge who decided against them in contempt of parliament.

The developer-friendly cabinet ministers are attacking the rule of law, stomping on privacy rights, and savaging judges, lawyers and environmental and human rights organizations, Kennedy’s story says, adding: It is time for level-headed leaders in the Bahamas to step in and fix this fiasco before permanent damage is done to the country’s natural environment and international reputation as a scenic destination and secure financial haven.

Opening Baha Mar: Another Step Closer

caribpr — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 23:49:10 +0000

Press Release from Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited

NASSAU, Bahamas, Oct. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) is pleased to announce that it has entered into negotiations in connection with the ownership of Baha Mar. CTFE, a world-class developer with immense experience in global hospitality and mixed-use development, has applied to the Government of The Bahamas for approval as a proposed investor and acquirer of the Baha Mar Resort, by way of acquisition of Perfect Luck Assets Limited (Perfect Luck), the company to which certain assets of the Baha Mar Resort have been transferred.

Not only does CTFE have a vast and diverse portfolio of global business operations, but one of the company’s subsidiaries, Rosewood Hotel Group, has had a relationship with Baha Mar since 2011. CTFE has significant experience in tourism/hospitality, in part, through Rosewood Hotel Group, which manages 55 hotels in 18 countries under three different brands. Some of CTFE’s most iconic owned properties include The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (New York); Rosewood London; The Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel (Beverly Hills); and the Grand Hyatt (Hong Kong). Rosewood Hotel Group also operates three resorts in the Caribbean: Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort in Antigua, Rosewood Tucker’s Point in Bermuda, and Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands (re-opening 2017).

CTFE also has extensive experience with large-scale integrated developments. For example, one of the largest investments in London’s history, the over US$10 Billion Greenwich Peninsula development project, as well as the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, a US$2.3 Billion integrated resort development project in Australia, are both CTFE and affiliated company projects.

“CTFE is looking forward to having Baha Mar join its portfolio of world-class integrated resort development projects,” said Dr. Henry Cheng, Chairman of CTFE. “We are fully committed to this project and plan to hire as many Bahamians as possible to work at the property.”

CTFE is dedicated to the successful opening of Baha Mar and will work with the Government to achieve the goal of a phased opening. As part of the company’s commitment to the project and The Bahamas in the immediate term, CTFE will invest millions ahead of the official deal completion through pre-opening activities and employment – which has already commenced and will be expanded in the coming weeks and months.

Graeme Davis, the President of CTFE’s Bahamas subsidiary added, “CTFE is a company that embraces and champions the culture and values of the communities where it does business around the globe. We are excited to create an experience in The Bahamas that showcases what we collectively have to offer the world. We are confident that Baha Mar will be a property that Bahamians can be proud of.”

As part of the remobilization efforts, CTFE is already in discussions with hotel brands previously involved in the Baha Mar project, including Hyatt and SLS Hotels. CTFE also intends to re-engage its subsidiary, Rosewood Hotel Group, as a luxury hotel operator at Baha Mar.

Given the non-disclosure agreement in place, the stakeholders involved are unable to discuss specific terms of the transaction or the negotiations at this time. However, we look forward to keeping the public informed on pre-opening activities.

About Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited
Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE) is a leading Hong Kong-based conglomerate owned and controlled by the Cheng Family with a diversified business portfolio spanning across the globe. Principal activities of CTFE and the Cheng family include property holding and development, hotel investment and management, jewelry retailing, department stores, transportation and infrastructure investment. Major listed companies controlled by CTFE and the Cheng Family include New World Development Company Limited (HKEx Code: 17), a property developer with a market capitalization of over US$11 billion, NWS Holdings Ltd (HKEx Code: 659), an infrastructure and transportation company with a market capitalization of over US$6 billion, and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (HKEx Code: 1929), one of the largest jewelry retailers in the world with a market capitalization of over US$7 billion.

Grand Lucayan Resort Complex for Sale in Sealed Bid Auction

caribpr — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:32:03 +0000

Assets Can Be Sold in Whole or in Parts; No Reserve Price

FREEPORT, Bahamas, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – HVS Capital Corp. today announced that the Grand Lucayan Resort complex is being sold in a Sealed Bid Auction. The 409-acre resort is the largest on Grand Bahama Island and the third largest in The Bahamas. The owner, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Cheung Kong Property Holdings Limited, has engaged HVS Capital Corp. to act as advisor in the sale. The seller’s preference is to sell the Grand Lucayan Resort complex as a single transaction. However, bids for individual assets will be considered. There is no reserve price. Additionally, seller-provided purchase-money financing may be available to appropriate bidders. The deadline for submitting bids is June 10, 2016.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160309/342570

“There are a number of investment opportunities for an interested buyer, from purchasing the resort in its entirety or looking at individual components,” said Mike Sullivan, HVS Capital Corp. “Some of those options include expanding and/or relocating the casino, converting additional accommodations to an all-inclusive product or converting some accommodations to vacation or whole ownership.”

Located 55 miles from the east coast of Florida, the Grand Lucayan Resort complex, totaling 1,271 guestrooms, includes four hotel elements: the 10-story 528-room Breaker’s Cay tower; 198-room Lighthouse Pointe, newly renovated as all-inclusive; and 23 Lanai Suites—all with 12 food and beverage outlets and three swimming pools; plus the 522-room Memories Beach Resort (presently leased to a third-party operator).

“Baha Mar has garnered so much negative resort news for the Bahamas recently,” remarked Stan Kozlowski, HVS Capital Corp. “Unlike that situation, we see significantly more favorable economic investment opportunities for Grand Lucayan, no matter what options a potential buyer may consider.”

Other amenities include:

Conference Center (40,000 sq. ft.), including a 15,000 sq. ft. ballroom, 16 breakout rooms, plus 50,000 sq. ft. of outdoor function space.
Casino (23,375 sq. ft.) with 25 gaming tables, 195 slot machines,
Destination Spa and fitness center (25,000 sq. ft.)
Two golf courses, including the Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Reef Golf Course
Four multi-surfaced tennis courts
Approximately 15,000 sq. ft. of retail space

Details on the Grand Lucayan Resort including the Sealed Bid Auction are available at grandlucayanauction.com.

CONTACT: Kristi Arndt: T: 763-782-0265/C: 612-803-0861, or karndt@peridotgroup.net; or HVS Capital Corp., Mike Sullivan, +1 303-512-1222 or msullivan@hvs.com and Stan Kozlowski: +1 303-512-1225, skozlowski@hvs.com