A local company is seeking to own a greater share of tourism profits by expanding its brand to offer some of the latest innovations in water sports and water parks.

Aquamarine Water Sport Activities Ltd. received high marks from tourism, port, hotel, and other industry representatives at the recent launch of its expansion into products and services, geared towards providing a water park experience for guests of The Bahamas.

Aquamarine Water Sport Activities currently serves the Melia Nassau Beach and Wyndham Resorts with a variety of water sport services.

The company presently offers 16 water sports products and intends to introduce seven more with the launch.

Over the weekend, the company held a launch for the expansion of its brand into Aquamarine Enterprises Ltd.

President of the Bahamas Hotel Association and Bahamas Tourism Board Stuart Bowe said the board is excited about what the company is doing to broaden the tourism base noting that in 2007, Atlantis introduced its water park and changed the industry, and Aquamarine is now building on that.

“Hotels were a place to eat and live, and there was a pool outside,” he said. “Now we are getting more into entertainment, and it’s good for everyone. Now you don’t just need people working on the pool, but you need chemists, health and safety people, sales people, people liaising with the Ministry of Tourism – this is entertainment.”

He continued, “You have a great responsibility in what you have decided to embark upon. I challenge you to keep training your people as this will encourage guests to come back.”

Mr. Bowe implored the company to never compromise safety reminding the company that it only takes one misfortunate incident to change a client’s view of a company.

With Baha Mar expected to launch later this year and work currently underway in San Salvador and Bimini, Mr. Stuart said Aquamarine is now on a stage where it too is being watched by everybody and he encouraged the company to be mindful of this and therefore do something that is “trailblazing.”

The company must stay current, he added, noting that Baha Mar will launch in a matter of months, while “there are things going on” in San Salvador and Bimini. “You are on stage right now, everyone is watching you; you are doing something that is trailblazing,” he said.

He reminded those gathered that eight per cent of the jobs on this planet are in tourism, and 60 cents out of every dollar raised in The Bahamas comes from tourism.

Ministry of Tourism representative, Tommy Thompson attended the launch and congratulated company President Jeremy Gibbs, Operations Manager Sonovia Williams and George Knowles, Director of Risk and Finance, saying it is important to share the wealth of tourism around the country.

“We have Bahamian companies standing up and making sure we are owners in tourism – that’s the only way we are going to do it,” he said.

He noted that Tourism and the Port Department have had issues in the past with water sports operators and to have a company that is intent to make sure the product is going to be top quality, that the company will need to keep rigorous safety standards and ensure its training is top notch at all times.

Aquamarine Enterprises, he said, should consider taking its brand throughout the Family Islands.

Jeremy Gibbs, president of the company, said its aim is to provide a “wow experience” for those who visit The Bahamas.

Staff will be trained twice per year and Mr. Gibbs explained that this year, the company is collaborating with Bahama Host, Toastmasters, and will be training each staff member in foreign languages.