Despite not yet finding a casino partner, Prime Minister Perry Christie says he expects that Baha Mar will find one soon.

It was back in 2008 when Caesar’s Entertainment Corporation, formerly Harrah’s Entertainment, pulled out as the resort’s key casino brand.

Officials have been seeking to secure a new casino partner since then and according to reports are very close to sealing a deal.

Baha Mar’s President Don Robinson has already noted that China will play a major role, as there is a strong interest among them in gaming.

Prime Minister Perry Christie expressed confidence and anticipates that the mega resort will be able to announce a new international partner real soon.

“Such a partner would add greatly to the marketing clout, customer base and cutting edge products of the world’s most famous brands represented by your hotel partners – Hyatt, Mondrian, Rosewood and Sheraton,” Mr. Christie said.

“Such an arrangement, I believe, would draw millions of first time visitors to The Bahamas from both established and new emerging markets.”

Just yesterday, resort officials welcomed the prime minister and members of his cabinet to the development site, to celebrate reaching the 100 foot mark (ninth floor level) on its casino tower.

The event comes on the heels of resort and gaming giant Resorts World Genting bringing its world class facilities to The Bahamas.

Mr. Christie said that announcement has attracted much favourable comments both at home and in the international marketplace.

“That is why we in this current government are so concerned and have really underlined our expectation that we will soon be joined by an international casino partner of renown,” he said.

The casino hotel, the centrepiece of Baha Mar, will host the largest casino floor in the Caribbean, with over 100,000 square feet of gaming area and is expected to compete with the most sophisticated casinos.

By June, the hotel tower had reached eight floors, the Grand Hyatt was at three levels and the Mondrian and Rosewood structures were beginning to take shape.

Prime Minister Christie remains confident that the completion of Baha Mar together with the opening and continued development of the ultra luxury Albany Resort with its residential golf spa and marine facilities and the advancement of other projects now in the pipeline for Grand Bahama and several Family Islands, will change the country’s tourism landscape.