West End Resorts: Old Bahama Bay Signs Strategic Alliance with Developers of Renowned South Seas Plantation

The Mariner Group to Provide Services to the $40-Million Gated Residential & Hotel Resort Community in West End, Grand Bahama Island
Company Press Release
July 27, 2000
WEST END, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas -- West End Resorts, Ltd, developers of Old Bahama Bay, the $40+ million gated residential, hotel and marina community on Grand Bahama Island, has signed a strategic alliance with The Mariner Group, developers of the acclaimed South Seas Plantation resort on Captiva Island, Florida.

The Mariner Group will assist Old Bahama Bay's management team in the areas of planning, design, budgeting, operations and finance. Specifically, The Mariner Group team will assist with the opening of the resort's luxury boutique hotel and provide continued sales, marketing and management support for the hotel, marina and residential real estate programs.

Old Bahama Bay, set on the tip of the island where the Bahamas ``meet'' Florida, currently features 67 oceanfront and channel home lots, each with private dockage. The Full-service marina includes on-site Bahamian Customs and Immigration and night navigation markers. The Inn at Old Bahama Bay, the island's first luxury boutique hotel, will open this fall with 47 Beach-House Suites. Old Bahama Bay features the best array of water activities in the islands, including the Bahamas' legendary bone fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving.

``Old Bahama Bay has the potential to be the finest residential resort community in the Bahamas,'' said Al Ten Broek, President of The Mariner Group. ``Future plans for the development include additional restaurant and other resort facilities, reopening of the private airport adjacent to the property, and the offering for sale of 106 Dockside Villas for inclusion in the resort's rental program.''

``Old Bahama Bay reminds me of our South Seas Plantation project when we started it in the early 1970's,'' said Bob Taylor, Chairman of The Mariner Group. ``We plan to apply many of the lessons learned at South Seas to help insure the success of the project.''

``With The Mariner Group's services, we feel confident that our vision to develop the premier oceanfront gated resort community in one of the most beautiful places in the world will be realized,'' said Kenneth M. Olson, CEO of West End Resorts, Ltd.

The Mariner Group, founded in 1971 as an asset management, business and real estate development company, grew to be one of the largest and most respected privately held companies in Florida. Its principal business operations were South Seas Resorts Company, sold to MeriStar Hotels and Resorts in 1998, Robb & Stucky Ltd., one of the largest high-end furniture store chains in the U.S., and Mariner Properties, its real estate development arm that specialized in second home and vacation ownership development including its partnership with Hilton Hotels Corporation to form Hilton Grand Vacations Company in 1992.

West End Resorts, Ltd, was founded in 1997 by Holding Capital Group, Colt Capital Group and other investors to develop Old Bahama Bay in West End, Grand Bahama Island.


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Contact:

Enhance Marketing, Fort Lauderdale
Media Contact:
Barbara Ryan, 954/523-1112
ryanoutbox@aol.com
or
Nicole Carbon, 954/522-6686
ginger@enhancemarketing.com
or
Old Bahama Bay
Jennifer Ehrman, 914/937-5152 x303
Fax: 914/937-4390
Email: j.ehrman@oldbahamabay.com