Baha Mar opened its construction gates this week for its first “official” travel-industry focused site tour.

Attendees of the 2013 Caribbean Travel Marketplace – one of the Caribbean’s premier tourism industry events – enjoyed a sneak-peek guided tour of the Baha Mar construction site, which recently passed its 50-percent completion milestone.

Guests also toured the Baha Mar Residential Sales Preview Centre and enjoyed a welcome reception hosted by Baha Mar executives.

Guests saw first-hand the progress made to-date on the Bahamian Riviera resort enclave.

Tour highlights included the iconic Baha Mar Casino & Hotel tower –scheduled for topping out next month – Grand Hyatt, Mondrian and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® structures.

Conference delegates, including representatives from The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Nassau and Paradise Island Promotion Board, learned about Baha Mar’s unique guest experience and world-class resort amenities including the largest casino in the Caribbean, more than 200,000 square feet of convention center space, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and world-class hotel brands –Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Mondrian, a Morgans Hotel Group property, and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts®.

“We are extremely happy to have such a strong turnout from Caribbean Travel Marketplace for the Baha Mar construction site tour and welcome reception,” said Robert Sands, Sr. V.P. of Administration & External Affairs at Baha Mar.

“Baha Mar will change the landscape of international travel and redefine the tourism experience in the Bahamas and we are thrilled to be able to provide a preview of this unique resort to tourism professionals from around the world.”

More than 1,200 delegates representing approximately thirty countries were expected to attend this year’s Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association event, held in Nassau. Delegates included hospitality industry service providers and buyers, as well as destination management companies, hoteliers, tourism boards, transportation companies, tour operators and marketing and media companies.