Officials at the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) are seeking proponents to design, finance, construct and operate an on-site hotel at Lynden Pindling International Airport. On Monday, January 21, the company will issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) document outlining details required to bid on the proposed airport hotel project. Final proposal submissions will be due on Friday, May 24, 2019.

NAD anticipates bids from a range of capable proponents and encourages interested parties to consider forming teams to respond to the opportunity. Respondent teams may be assembled in a variety of ways, including through contracts, partnerships or joint ventures. The winning proponent will design, finance, construct and operate a hotel of three-stars or higher at Lynden Pindling International Airport under a long-term lease. The proposed hotel must include architectural details that are consistent with or enhance the existing terminal buildings.

In May 2018, NAD held an Expression of Interest to gather feedback and insights from potential proponents on the development of a hotel at LPIA.  The airport management company used information gathered during that process to shape the current Airport Hotel RFP document and process. 

The site for the hotel project is 4.68 acres of vacant land just northeast of the existing US Departures Terminal building. The space is adequate to accommodate a hotel facility with the option to include additional amenities like meeting spaces with conferencing technology, restaurants, a fitness center, sundries store, laundry facilities and others. 

Vernice Walkine, President & CEO of NAD said the proposed airport hotel project is an exciting next step in LPIA’s continued development. “This Request for Proposals represents an opportunity to build a hotel to service our unique market of domestic and international passengers,” Walkine explained. “An on-airport hotel at LPIA will enhance the experience of the customer and other airport stakeholders by offering convenient accommodations and quality amenities for travellers to Nassau/Paradise Island or for those connecting through LPIA for domestic or international travel.”

She continued: “We have built LPIA to the standards of an award-winning airport, with operations efficiency, passenger experience and sustainability in mind. We are seeking proponents who are capable of constructing and managing a hotel to those same standards.”

Airport officials will require respondents to meet all mandatory qualifications outlined in the RFP document and adhere to all deadlines. The proposals must be responsive to criteria including a satisfactory financial offer, design requirements specific to the airport environment, respondent team qualifications, local participation and financial feasibility. Persons interested in learning more about the RFP are asked to email [email protected] for more details.

NAD is a Bahamian company owned by the Government of The Bahamas and operated by Vantage Airport Group, a Canadian airport development and management firm.  In April 2007, NAD signed a 30-year Lease with the government to manage and operate LPIA on a commercial basis while providing Bahamians with opportunities for business and investment.  In 2019, the Lease was extended a further 20 years to 2057.