Baha Mar has done it again. And by “it”, we mean continued to promise to vacation-goers that their resort wonderland will open someday soon, despite filing for bankruptcy yesterday. Here are some choice quotes from the press release that Baha Mar, led by their chairman and CEO, Sarkis Izmirlian, put out yesterday:
Mr. Izmirlian stated, “I am committed to doing all I realistically can to move Baha Mar forward to be completed and opened successfully. I am confident that, once opened, Baha Mar will be a world-class destination resort that will attract guests from around the world and serve as a key economic sparkplug to The Bahamas. The Chapter 11 process provides the appropriate venue to create a viable financial structure that places Baha Mar’s interests foremost.”
Mr. Izmirlian continued, “The general contractor repeatedly has missed construction deadlines. This has caused both sizeable delay costs and forced the resort to postpone its opening. Unable to open, the resort has been left without a sufficient source of revenue to continue our existing business.
Oh yes. He did just throw some serious shade at China Construction America, which is mostly owned by the government on China. #sorrynotsorry. But Izmirlian continues:
“In fact, after the general contractor made a guarantee to us in November 2014, and then again in January 2015, that Baha Mar would be able to open in its entirety on March 27, 2015, we undertook all preparations necessary for this promised opening date, including significant hiring and training of nearly two thousand employees and purchasing of goods and services. Indeed, even when we subsequently found out that the March 27 deadline was not feasible because the general contractor had still not completed construction, rather than simply downsizing, we maintained our employment levels in anticipation of a revised opening date, utilizing our financial resources to pay employees to continue their work at the project and participate in volunteer activities around the island for the benefit of the country.
“At the same time, we sought the help of Baha Mar’s major lender to bring to fruition the completion of construction and the successful opening of Baha Mar, including informing both the lender and the general contractor of our willingness to invest more of our own funds to help cover the delay costs. Unfortunately, our efforts, as well as those of the Bahamian government, have not accomplished that objective. Construction on the project remains incomplete and, consequently, we have not been in a position to set a revised opening date. Thus, the Chapter 11 process is the best path for Baha Mar to now undertake….
“The people of The Bahamas should no longer have to endure the adverse effects of the general contractor not fulfilling assurances regarding the completion of Baha Mar’s construction, forcing in turn embarrassing delays of Baha Mar’s opening. Nor should members of the travel industry and guests continue to face understandable frustration and disappointment caused by the failure to complete construction. All of this now stops with and can be remedied through the Chapter 11 process,” said Mr. Izmirlian.
Does it really?
If you read the comments on the Baha Mar Facebook page, you will be shocked at how crappy the customer service of Baha Mar continues to be. We can’t even decide where to begin, but let’s just start with the BOUNCED CHECKS. 
But if your check bounced, too bad, because NO ONE IS ANSWERING THE PHONE. 
And they won’t be answering the phone any time soon. A commenter who works(ed) for Baha Mar left a comment, apologizing for the lack of service because EMPLOYEES WERE TOLD TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY IMMEDIATELY. (Her comments have since been deleted but we were able to screengrab before they were wiped.) 
But that didn’t stop some employees from TAKING THE BAHA MAR JET TO LAS VEGAS TO WATCH THE FIGHT. 
On the bright side, if you work at Atlantis, you’re probably happy to hear that everyone who was booked at Baha Mar is GOING TO ATLANTIS INSTEAD. 
As for what will happen to Baha Mar, no one really knows although sources in the Bahamas believe someone else will buy the resort out from Baha Mar and reopen it as something entirely differently. No word on whether the Grand Hyatt, SLS, or Rosewood brands will stay on for this but we can’t imagine why they (especially the luxury brand of Rosewood) would want to be associated with a company that is living up to be antithesis of hospitality? Get out now.
[Photo of Baha Mar room via Baha Mar; Screengrabs via Facebook]