Travelocity Reports 50 Percent Booking Rise for Grand Bahama

The Bahamas accounts for nearly 15 percent of the Caribbean tourism business, according to a leading travel website. Carol Menzel, the regional manager for the Caribbean at Travelocity, told Guardian Business that the company has experienced a "solid year of growth" in 2012. The country has consistently been ranked as one of the top spots to visit in the region.

"In Nassau, we are seeing a 10 percent to 20 percent growth. In Grand Bahama, we see an upwards of 50 percent growth, and in the Out Islands, we are seeing better than 50 percent growth," she shared. "We've had a very solid year with the growth being experienced in the individual markets. When I refer to each of the individual markets, I mean Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama and the Out Islands. Across all three sectors, we have seen solid numbers and growth for 2012."

Menzel believes The Bahamas' success as a destination is due to a number of factors, including great hotel and airfare rates, aggressive marketing initiatives and strong stakeholder partnerships.

In late August, it was revealed that tourism officials pumped an additional $6 million into an ambitious air credit campaign that will run into the first quarter of next year. David Johnson, the director general at the Ministry of Tourism, said there is no question that The Bahamas performs better when air credits are in place.

The Travelocity executive shared with Guardian Business that the peak booking season is traditionally January through March and then again in June and July. She indicated that the booking window for most of Travelocity is approximately 30 to 45 days before travel.

Menzel also credits the destination's success to the strong relationships developed with its partners, particularly in the case of Grand Bahama, which experienced more than 50 percent increase in business for 2012.

In addition to bringing business into The Bahamas, Menzel pledged her company's commitment to increasing outbound travel options as it works closely with Bahamasair and other local airlines to make it easier for customers to travel from island to island within the destination.