Images courtesy of Miss Universe Organization
By GENEA NOEL
Freeport News Reporter
Grand Bahama is expected to take centre stage internationally this Sunday for the swimsuit presentation of the Miss Universe pageant.
Scheduled to take place on the great lawn of the Our Lucaya Resort, under the theme: "Perfection in Motion," the event will bring together beauty representatives from 88 counties around the world.
According to Ernestine Moxyz, site Inspector and communications specialist for the resort, the hotel is busy preparing for the upcoming event and the level of exposure that it will bring not only for their facility, but for the island.
"Overall the island of Grand Bahama as a destination will be featured to an estimated 184 countries, which is probably the biggest benefit," Moxyz said.
In preparing for the activities that will be held on August 9, Moxyz said that the hotel has enhanced their product to ensure that the best is captured and viewed.
"We have added additional flowers and fauna to the landscape and refreshed our buildings with paint and things of that nature," she said. "As always we are keeping the grounds well kept and it has always been a bonus because we have a beautiful natural environment."
Although the resort will not see an increase in occupancy levels during the time of the event, Moxyz said they will benefit from the food and beverage sector and international media coverage.
She explained that the contestants will be arriving to the island on Sunday and leaving immediately after the event, which means that they would be unable to overnight at the hotel.
"They will be occupying some of the rooms during the day and using some of the holding rooms, but we will not really see any growth in occupancy levels."
Moxyz said that everyone at the hotel is excited about the event as this is the first time The Bahamas will be hosting a pageant of this magnitude.
"This is really big for the country and we are hoping for nothing but the best. This is the best exposure that we can get and we hope that it will have far reaching benefits."
In a recent address to the Rotary Club of Lucaya, Betty Bethel, general manager of business development with the Ministry of Tourism, said that the 88 contestants will tour many unique spots on Grand Bahama, including the Garden of the Groves, where the reigning Miss Universe will shoot footage for her final walk.
"We will receive world-wide exposure as the coverage of Miss Universe reaches many countries and the impact from the fans, staff crew and different families who will follow this pageant will be enormous," Bethel said.
Tickets for the swimsuit presentation are still on sale for $50 at Gizmos and Gadgets, located in the Compusec Building downtown, the Manor House at the Our Lucaya Resort and the lobby of the Reef Village at Our Lucaya, formerly known as the Sheraton.
