Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Associations

What Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Associations does

The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1952 and headquartered at 209 Marina Lane, Sandyport, Nassau, Bahamas. It functions as the unified private-sector voice of the Bahamian hospitality industry, representing hotel operators licensed by the Hotel Licensing Board and allied businesses supplying goods and services to the tourism sector. Its membership roster spans enterprise-grade flagship resorts — Atlantis Paradise Island, Baha Mar, Sandals Royal Bahamian, Four Seasons Ocean Club, and Margaritaville Beach Resort — alongside mid-market boutique hotels and more than 200 Family Island properties. BHTA is governed by an elected executive board currently led by President Jackson Weech (also VP & General Manager of Operations at Atlantis) and Executive Vice President Suzanne Pattusch, with a small staff of fewer than ten named personnel.

BHTA's product surface is a portfolio of membership services rather than a unified technology platform. Core offerings include advocacy representation on legislation and regulatory matters, workforce development programs (the 21st-year Educators' Internship Program, the Junior Hotelier Programme reaching approximately 1,200 students, and the Apprenticeship Chefs Program with the University of The Bahamas), industry awards (Cacique Awards, Hotelier/Manager/Chef/Employee of the Year), the monthly Tourism Champion recognition in partnership with Walden University, and member-directory visibility. Hotel members are automatically enrolled in the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), extending access to regional marketplaces, CHIC conferences, Taste of the Caribbean, and CHTA Education Foundation scholarships. The association distributes its services through its Nassau headquarters, the bhahotels.com website, annual general meetings, board forums, and earned-media coverage in The Nassau Guardian, Tribune Business, and EyeWitness News.

BHTA's revenue model is a two-tier subscription structure: hotel operators pay a $2-per-room entrance fee (minimum $150) and $10-per-room annual dues (minimum $200), while allied members pay a flat $385 annual fee. Pricing scales with room count for operators, creating a natural alignment between dues contribution and property scale. Go-to-market is sales-led via direct outreach, industry events, government coordination, and referral networks, with services delivered domestically across Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands. As a nonprofit association, BHTA does not publicly disclose financial figures and has no subsidiaries, parent entity, M&A history, or external funding rounds.

Name

Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Associations

Legal name

Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association

Website

https://bhahotels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) is a 73-year-old nonprofit trade association headquartered in Nassau that serves as the unified voice of Bahamian tourism, representing hotel operators, allied suppliers, and over 200 Family Island properties through advocacy, workforce development, awards, and regional CHTA integration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Trade Association

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

Keywords

• Hospitality trade association
• Tourism advocacy services
• Hotel industry membership
• Workforce development programs
• Industry awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nassau

HQ country

Bahamas

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Operator Membership Dues: Hotel operators pay entrance fees of $2 per room (minimum $150) and annual dues of $10 per room (minimum $200). Dues are due January 2 and payable by January 31. Membership includes automatic dues to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association.
2. Allied Membership Dues: Allied members (businesses providing goods or services to the hospitality industry) pay an annual fee of $385.00.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BHTA is a membership-based trade association that represents Bahamian hotel operators (5+ rooms licensed by the Hotel Licensing Board) and allied tourism businesses. Its core offerings are two membership tiers (Hotel Operator Membership and Allied Membership) plus ancillary services including policy advocacy, workforce training programs, awards and recognition (Cacique Awards, Tourism Champion), networking events, and access to an online member directory. Hotel members are automatically enrolled as members of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA).

Product overview

The Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) is a trade association serving as the unified voice of Bahamian tourism. Rather than a unified tech product, it offers a portfolio of membership services including Hotel Operator and Allied Membership tiers, advocacy representation, networking events, training programs, and awards ceremonies. Key programs include the annual Educators' Internship Program, Junior Hotelier Programme, Apprenticeship Chefs Program, Tourism Champion recognition initiative, and Cacique Awards. The association also provides scholarship programs, marketing support, and member resources through its online portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hotel Operator Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.22 million visitors to The Bahamas in 2024 (up 16.2% from 2023)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation (MOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026BHTA senior executives met with newly-appointed Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin and her leadership team to discuss critical tourism issues including workforce development, airlift, infrastructure, and tourism policy. Both parties committed to intensified engagement and cross-sectoral public-private partnership.
• Prime Minister Phillip DaviscoreOthers · 1 December 2025Prime Minister Phillip Davis delivered keynote address at BHTA's 73rd AGM, discussing government initiatives including national aviation strategy and airport renaissance initiative for Family Islands.
• Bahamas Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (BMOEST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHTA partners with BMOEST for the Annual Educators' Internship Program, where teachers spend three days experiencing tourism industry operations to better advise students on tourism careers. The program, now in its 21st year, involves over 20 Bahamian primary and high schools.
• Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHTA collaborates with BMOT on workforce development initiatives, promotional activities, and industry policy. BMOT representatives participate in key BHTA events including the Educators' Internship Program closing ceremony.
• University of The Bahamas - College of Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Leisure Management (THeCALM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHeCALM participates in the BHTA Educators' Internship Program and represents post-secondary tourism education partnership for workforce development.
• Bahamas Training and Vocational Institute (BTVI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTVI teachers participate in the BHTA Educators' Internship Program, contributing to tourism workforce development initiatives.
• Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board (BOIPB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKerry Fountain, BOIPB Executive Director, participates in BHTA board meetings and discusses promotional strategies including $250 air credits, two-fly-free offers, and customer service training initiatives for Family Island hotels.
• Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board (NPIPB)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoy Jibrilu, NPIPB CEO, participates in BHTA leadership discussions on tourism promotion, airlift development, and market expansion efforts.
• Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHTA hotel members are automatically enrolled as members of CHTA and share in all CHTA member programs including annual Marketplace, CHIC conferences, Taste of the Caribbean competition, and CHTA Education Institute scholarships. BHTA awards winners enter CHTA annual awards program.
• Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHTA participates in CAST & BHA Environmental Performance Leadership Program, a three-level certification program designed to improve environmental efficiency.
• Walden UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHTA partnered with Walden University to honor 'tourism champions' monthly. Each winner receives a $2,500 scholarship, and BHTA member employees receive 25% tuition discount on Walden online courses.
• Bahamas National TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBHTA supports the Bahamas Eco-Camp program in collaboration with the Bahamas National Trust, creating advocates for conservation and environmental stewardship among youth.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA): Regional umbrella association for Caribbean hotels and tourism businesses; CHTA is BHTA's direct counterpart at the regional level and automatically enrolls BHTA hotel members, making it the closest functional peer in scope and membership model.
• Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association: National trade association representing hotels and tourism businesses in Jamaica; directly comparable to BHTA in structure, constituency (hotels + allied members), advocacy focus, and Caribbean context.
• Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association: National trade association for Barbados hotels and tourism industry; same membership-dues model, advocacy mandate, and regional Caribbean operating context as BHTA.
• St Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association: National hospitality and tourism trade body for Saint Lucia; directly comparable to BHTA in serving Caribbean hotel operators, allied members, and government advocacy.
• Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA): Tourism trade association for the Cayman Islands; comparable to BHTA as a small-island national body representing hotels, allied businesses, and tourism policy interests.
• Bermuda Hotel Association: Trade association for Bermuda's hotel industry; comparable national/territorial scope, membership-based model, and advocacy focus for a small island tourism economy.

Broad incumbents

• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): US national trade association for hotels and lodging; comparable to BHTA in advocacy, workforce, and member-services mission but operates at far greater scale across the United States rather than a single nation.
• Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA): Regional tourism industry association covering Asia-Pacific; comparable to BHTA/CHTA in advocacy, networking, and education mission but operates at multi-country regional scale rather than a single nation.
• Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC): Canadian national tourism trade association; comparable advocacy and member-services mandate to BHTA but at country scale with broader tourism segments beyond lodging.
• UKHospitality: UK national trade body for hospitality businesses including hotels, restaurants, and pubs; comparable membership, advocacy, and workforce development functions to BHTA but in a far larger and more diversified national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BHTAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bahamas-hotel-tourism-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Associations