Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas – July 8, 2009 – Pelican Bay at Lucaya announced today its repositioning to a hotel with the focus on visitors and meeting facilities coming on stream early 2010. “Increasingly, Grand Bahama Island is becoming more of a destination whereby we have visitors rather than tourists. It makes every sense for Pelican Bay to embrace this situation and reposition itself to cater to this market,” said Magnus Alnebeck, general manager of Pelican Bay. Alnebeck continued: “The repositioning of the hotel marks the completion of a strategy that commenced five years ago. We want every business person to know that Pelican Bay is the hotel of choice when visiting Grand Bahama Island. He pointed out further that “Pelican Bay enjoys close partnerships with businesses in The Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island in particular, and excellent word of mouth referrals from the community.” Alnebeck added: “We thank every company and local person who recommend our hotel to clients, friends and family.” With the repositioning has come the launch of Pelican Bay‟s new logo, which is tagged “Meet Happy.” The new logo portrays the hotel‟s brand promise “to create happy experiences for meetings, weddings and guest stays at the resort.” “Our new logo, a „Happy‟ Pelican donning sunglasses, injects a breath of fresh air, colour and vibrancy into the property,” says Alnebeck. “It allows for a warm experience at touch points preceding our guests‟ actual arrival at the hotel. Presented in Caribbean secondary colours of turquoise, warm red orange with a mix of yellow, our new Pelican has charisma.” To complete the repositioning, The Canal House, a five storey building with a total of 30,680 sq ft (2,850 sq m), total meeting space (including balconies) of 15,600 sq ft (1,450 sq m) will open early 2010. The US$7.1 million building will be made up of a breakfast/special function restaurant of 3,120 sq ft (290 sq m), a big meeting room (including balcony) of 3,110 sq ft (289 sq m) and four meeting rooms, each 655 sq ft (61 sq m) of which two can be combined into one room of 1,310 sq ft (122 sq m), “back of house,” administrative space of 8,935 sq ft (830 sq m). The Canal House will cater to small meetings and conferences and Destination Weddings. Combined social/sleeping room packages will be offered. The hotel will continue to offer vacation experiences to the individual leisure guest. The repositioning of the hotel brings unusual experiences and happenings around Pelican Bay. Amongst these is the blowing of a conch shell as the Bahamian flag is lowered from its pole every evening. Gold fish in a bowl are offered to extended stay guests wishing to have company and care for the fish during their stay. Other amenities include complimentary Mimosas at the hotel‟s Sunday Continental Breakfast, mangoes and servings of coconut tarts from Down Home Bakery, Pinder‟s Point, for guests to sample in the hotel‟s lobby. Pelican Bay is smoke-free and boasts 89 waterside rooms and 93 waterside state rooms, three outdoor swimming pools, Jacuzzi and Sabor Restaurant and Bar, located in the garden overlooking the bay and hotel wide high speed wireless internet connectivity. Four acres of colourful, lush tropical gardens with helliconias, bamboo, bananas, palm trees, a butterfly garden, gingers, climbing vines, unique shrubbery and ground covers grace the property. A big community supporter, Pelican Bay is a major National Trust sponsor for the rebuilding of the foot bridge, sponsor of hotel rooms for instructors who teach summer camp at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club, summer soccer camp at The Rugby Club and The Devard Darling Football Summer Camp. In addition, Pelican Bay has sponsored Miss Grand Bahama pre and post events, hosted Jeffrey Poitier, who wrote the documentary Voices as the documentary was shown on Grand Bahama Island and was the venue for the taping of VoiceIt, a new youth television programme. Pelican Bay‟s lobby is home to a display of art by Bahamian artists. Pelican Bay‟s mission statement is “The preferred choice for happy meetings and events in The Bahamas.” And, its mission statement is: “With our empowered team, we provide extraordinary guest experiences through a passion for cutting edge service, understanding the needs of our stakeholders, making Pelican Bay the pride of our community and the pulse of The Bahamas.” Pelican Bay at Lucaya is owned by Sundt AS, a private investment company based in Norway. Pelican Bay is the only investment that Sundt AS has in the Bahamas. Sundt AS is also the majority shareholder of Pandox, which is a specialized European hotel owning company, that currently owns 45 hotels in Europe and Montreal, Canada (10,800 rooms). Pandox' hotels operate under well-known brands such as Scandic, Hilton, Radisson SAS, Crowne Plaza, Choice, Hyatt, Intercontinental or are independently managed. Contact: Marva Munroe E-mail: [email protected] Tel.: 242-373-9550