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The Sheraton Cable Beach Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, is one of Starwood's newest properties — in fact, its transformation into one of Cable Beach's hottest resorts is in process! I spoke with Tim Rector, VP of Sales and Marketing for the resort, to learn a little more about the property and especially the dining options both there and nearby.
Tell me a little about Cable Beach Resort.
One thing you don't get a sense of online is the history of the resort. In the past it was the Radisson Cable Beach. Over the course of time, it fell into disrepair and it was a tired resort. The Cable Beach area didn't have a great reputation for awhile because of the age and state of the resorts in the area. We came in a year ago and completely rehabbed the property, stripped it to bare concrete and started over. The rooms are now some of the nicest Sheraton rooms anywhere in our brand. We get rave reviews on them. There are 350 rooms open now, and another 300 rooms and the meeting area are being worked on now. They will be done by the end of this year, so by the end of the year we will have 750 rooms on 1,000 feet of Cable Beach, which boasts some of the clearest water in the world.
Why is it called Cable Beach?
Cable Beach got its name from the first transatlantic cable strung from the US to Europe. The cable is connected at our beach.
What do you think draws guests to your location?
It's in the Bahamas, it's a very laid back, stress-free experience. The Bahamian people are very friendly. And we're a completely new resort; to come to our resort and have all the modern amenities — high speed internet in the room, wireless throughout lobby — in a Caribbean locale, that's very attractive to our guests. When it's finished later this year, the resort will have a total of 25,000 square feet of meeting space, inside and outside, including a 2,000-square-foot ballroom, divisible three ways. The indoor/outdoor option we expect to be very popular — the ability to have lunch outside on the patio, overlooking the beach, while the meeting goes on inside.
Tell me a little about the restaurants and bars on the resort. Which is your favorite?
Amici is our Italian restaurant, that's just for dinner, and the Caribe Cafe, which is primarily desserts.
There's also an outdoor restaurant called the Dolphin Grill, and our buffet-style restaurant is called Bimini Market. It has a Creole Caribbean theme. We also have two bars — the Telegraph Bar, in the lobby, and the Edgewater Bar at poolside. I like the Amici restaurant — it's got a great look to it. Kind of a trattoria kind of style. It's a casual yet nicely done restaurant, which is not always easy to find in the Caribbean.
Are there any nightly rituals or special things that you'd like to share?
We have entertainment Thursday through Saturday at the Telegraph bar; local Bahamian bands come in and play. And there is a casino next door, Crystal Palace Casino, that is open 24 hours and is very popular. And at check-in, we give each guest a certificate for $10 worth of play at the casino, on us.
What is that hidden gem only the locals know about that you send to your best guests?
There's a restaurant in a hotel nearby called Johnny Canoe which is very different. It's a casual place with a Caribbean flair to it, very different from what you'd find back home. They serve Bahamian food, conch fritters and fresh seafood. There's also Villaggio; it's an upscale Italian that's very nice.
Probably the most unique restaurant on the island is a place called Graycliff — it's a four-star restaurant that has a huge wine cellar, probably the largest in the Caribbean. They also have a big cigar bar right next door.
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This makes makes me miss snorkeling. I need the beach!
November 17, 2007 8:50 PM | Reply