Bimini, Bahamas, October 14, 2025
News Summary
Orlando-based Westgate Resorts is joining a multimillion-dollar investor group backing the planned Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences on Rockwell Island in Bimini, Bahamas. The development will include ocean-view residences with private docks for large vessels, an 18-hole golf course, a boutique hotel, dedicated lots for larger homes and a protected nature preserve. This marks Westgate’s first investment in the Bahamas and represents a strategic step into Caribbean and Latin American markets. The announcement comes amid broader industry activity including hotel conversions, expanded hospitality financings, equipment finance growth and multiple global brand openings.
Westgate Resorts joins multimillion-dollar investment in Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences on Rockwell Island; industry deals and openings follow
Orlando, Oct. 13, 2025 — A group of Orlando-based investors led by a major resort operator has committed a multimillion-dollar investment to the luxury Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences on Rockwell Island in the Bahamas. The move pairs the investor group with the developer that previously built the large-scale Bimini Bay project and signals a strategic push into the Caribbean and Latin American leisure markets.
What the deal includes
The development on Rockwell Island will feature waterfront homes with front-facing ocean views and rear access for 80- to 120-foot docks. Site plans also call for an 18-hole golf course, an area set aside for even larger homes, a boutique hotel, and a nature preserve. The investor group comprises the Orlando resort operator, a family investment firm based in Orlando, and additional partners working with the local Bahamian developer that led the prior $850 million Bimini Bay project.
Strategic context
This marks the investor operator’s first venture in the Bahamas and is positioned as the start of broader activity in the Caribbean and Latin America. The investor operates a large portfolio of resort properties and has recently expanded into new brands and international destinations, along with several consumer-facing initiatives and new amenity openings during the year.
Industry roundup — deals, financing and openings
Atlanta conversion
Two New York City–based buyers acquired a 462-key convention-center hotel in Atlanta and plan to renovate and rebrand it as a Marriott property. A specialist hospitality manager has been selected to operate the asset, with reopening targeted for late 2027.
Hospitality financing
An Atlanta-based hospitality finance firm reported it has closed and committed roughly $1.6 billion in hospitality financings year-to-date across 51 hotel assets. The firm’s activity spans direct bridge loans, mezzanine loans, construction loans, preferred equity and hotel-specific structured CMBS investments. Executives noted an expanding pipeline and growth in higher-leverage construction loan solutions since early autumn.
Equipment finance expansion
A private credit firm in Atlanta launched a new equipment finance division to provide flexible lease financing across industries, with initial leases ranging from $500,000 to $10 million and typical terms between 24 and 84 months. The unit will support commercial real estate clients and hospitality projects that require FF&E financing, and it will be led by two industry veterans with more than six decades of combined experience.
Labor update
Housekeepers and other hotel staff at a major downtown Houston property ended a 40-day labor strike after ratifying a new contract in early October. The agreement raises wages across several job classifications and establishes a new minimum hourly rate of $20 for room attendants, stewards and laundry staff at the property.
New brands and openings
In Europe, a historic Lake Como operator rolled out a new brand to group luxury properties and is welcoming a city-center five-star hotel opening in early December and renovated luxury apartments slated to open in mid-2026. In the Middle East, a lifestyle operator will debut a 257-key, first-ever all-inclusive resort for the brand outside Europe later this year on a UAE island destination. Other activity includes a new 144-key management signing in the U.K., the Pacific debut of a midscale lifestyle brand in Sydney with 174 rooms, and the opening of the first Novotel in Malta with nearly 300 keys under local franchise management.
Why this matters
The Bahamas investment highlights continued appetite for high-end beachfront residential and resort products and shows lenders and developers are supporting a mix of hospitality, residential and amenity-driven projects. Meanwhile, the deal flow and financing activity summarized here reflect steady movement across conversions, branded entries into new markets, and private-credit expansion supporting construction and FF&E needs.
FAQ
What is being developed on Rockwell Island?
The project is a luxury resort and residences complex with ocean-view homes that include space for large docks, an 18-hole golf course, larger single-family home sites, a boutique hotel and a nature preserve.
Who are the investors?
The investment group includes an Orlando-based resort operator, a family investment firm, other partner investors and a Bahamian development company that led the earlier Bimini Bay project.
Is this a new market for the lead investor?
Yes. This is the lead investor’s first venture in the Bahamas and is framed as a potential entry point for further activity across the Caribbean and Latin America.
How will the Atlanta hotel conversion affect local supply?
The conversion of the 462-key convention hotel to a Marriott-branded property will add renovated, branded rooms to the Atlanta convention market when it reopens in late 2027, potentially influencing group and transient lodging supply during major events.
What financing trends are visible?
Activity includes a mix of bridge, mezzanine, construction lending, preferred equity and hotel-focused CMBS, with private-credit lenders expanding construction offerings and equipment finance units launching to support FF&E needs.
Quick reference table — Key features
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary investment | Multimillion-dollar stake in Banyan Tree Bimini Resort & Residences on Rockwell Island; first Bahamas venture for lead resort operator |
| Site features | Ocean-view homes with docks for 80–120 ft boats, 18-hole golf course, boutique hotel, nature preserve, larger-home area |
| Atlanta conversion | 462-key convention hotel acquired; scheduled to reopen as Marriott Atlanta in late 2027 under new management |
| Financing activity | Approximately $1.6B committed YTD across 51 hotel assets; expanded construction lending and varied capital solutions |
| Labor | 40-day hotel strike in Houston ended with new contract; minimum wage increases for key service roles |
| Openings & brand moves | New luxury brand and openings in Italy, first all-inclusive SO/ resort outside Europe, brand debuts in Australia and Malta, UK management signing |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Business Insider Markets: Westgate Resorts and partners investment in the Caribbean
- Wikipedia: Westgate Resorts
- Hotel Investment Today: Westgate CALA deal, Atlanta conversion, financing & equipment
- Google Search: Westgate Banyan Tree Bimini Rockwell Island
- Westgate Resorts — Official site / News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Bimini
- Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts — Official site
- Wikipedia: Banyan Tree Holdings
- The Tribune 242: Bimini coverage & local news
- Google News: Bimini Bay Rockwell Island
Author: Construction CA News
The CALIFORNIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at constructioncanews.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in California and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Rose Parade, Coachella, Comic-Con, and the California State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the California Building Industry Association and Associated General Contractors of California, plus leading businesses in technology and entertainment that power the local economy such as Apple and Alphabet. As part of the broader network, including constructionnynews.com, constructiontxnews.com, and constructionflnews.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into the dynamic landscape across multiple states.
