Persons wishing to operate a hotel for the first time must apply for a licence. Persons wishing to operate a hotel that have been closed for one year or more, and are re-opening must also apply for a license. This applies to first time hotel owners/operators, second home owners and investors.

When the hotel is ready for occupancy, the property must be inspected by the following four Government Agencies:

• Hotel Licensing Department, Ministry of Tourism
• Department of Environmental Health Services, Ministry of Health
• Buildings Control Division, Ministry of Works and Utilities   
• Royal Bahamas Police Force Fire Department

and the following documents must be secured:

• A favourable report from the Hotel Licensing Inspector, Ministry of Tourism.
• A Certificate of Sanitation from the Department of Environmental Health Services.
• An Occupancy Certificate and a favourable report from the Buildings Control Division, Ministry of Works & Utilities.
• A favourable report from the Royal Bahamas Police Fire Department.

In order to apply for a licence to operate a hotel you must perform the following steps:

1. Complete and submit the relevant forms along with the satisfactory Government Agency Inspection reports.
2. After submission, the Secretary to the Board will make arrangements for a Hotel Licensing Board Meeting, at which your application documents will be presented for review.  
3. The Board will exercise its power to grant, refuse or defer the licence.
4. Should the Hotel Licensing Board grant a licence, the Secretary to the Board will contact you to issue the Hotel Licence Certificate.

    Note: Applications are processed during the following time periods:

• During  September to December for Nassau, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Hotels
• During January to March for Family Island hotels

You can apply for a licence to operate a hotel at the following locations, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays:

Hotel Licensing Department
Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
P. O. Box N-3701
Nassau Court
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 356-5216
Fax: (242) 361-5904
Contact: Ms. Kristal Bethel - Acting Director/Chief Licensing Officer
E-mail: kbethel@bahamas.com

Hotel Licensing Unit, Grand Bahama
Hotel Licensing Unit
Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
Poinciana and the Mall Drive
P. O. Box F-40250
Freeport, Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Tel. (242)350-8600
Fax. (242) 352-2714
Contact: Ms. Victoria Russell - Executive
E-mail: vrussell@bahamas.com

 

The Grand Bahama Port Authority
Grand Bahama Port Authority Corporate Headquarters
Licensing Department
The Mall Drive
P. O. Box F 42666
Freeport, Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Tel. (242)350-9054
Fax. (242)351-4169

The following forms are necessary when applying for a first-time licence:       

• Application for Licence to Operate An Hotel (Form I) – to be completed in duplicate.
• Form IB - Requires particulars on the hotel e.g. name of hotel, name of manager, address, total number of bedrooms etc.
• Part 1 Hotel Winter Rates Return (Form X1)
• Part 11 Hotel Summer Rates Return (Form X1)

These forms can all be accessed online at the Ministry of Tourism website.

Please note, the following documents must be submitted along with your completed forms:

• Investments Board Approval – Applicable to Non-Bahamian entities.
• Bahamas Exchange Control Certificate/Central Bank Approval – Applicable to Non-Bahamian entities.
• In case of Manager(s), Work Permit or Certificate of Permanent Residence if Non-Bahamian; Proof of Citizenship if Bahamian.
• In case of Owner(s), Proof of Nationality.
• Proof  of Nationality of Beneficial Owner(s)/Key Principal(s) only.
• Proof of Ownership of Premises, that is, Deed of Conveyance or Lease Agreement (if not previously submitted or if change of ownership (wholly or in part) transpired and a new document was not submitted).  In addition, if the hotel is company-owned, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Incumbency and Proof of Good Standing of company.  Where a Management Company exists, provide Management Agreement.
• Certificate of Registration (new applicant).
• Completed Form XI – (Parts I and II), Hotel Winter/Summer Rates return.
• Current Business Licence or, in the case of first applicant, receipt of payment of Current  Business Licence.
• Copy of Contract/agreement for the servicing of fire equipment by a  company approved by the Ministry of Works.
• Building Permit (if new property)

 

It varies depending on when the application is made. You must apply for a licence to operate a hotel no later than three months prior to the proposed opening date. Note: If the Application is being made between September and December concerning a hotel on Nassau/Paradise Island, or a hotel on the Famil

• The hotel licence fee, as provided under section 15 (1) of the Hotels Act, is an annual fee of BS$3.00 (on par with $US), per bedroom.  
• Hotels on Nassau and Paradise Island with fewer than 10 bedrooms for the use of guests or equipped with fewer than 20 beds for such use are exempt from this fee.  
• Hotels on Grand Bahama Island (except the city of Freeport) and the Family Islands with fewer than 25 bedrooms or equipped with fewer than 50 beds are also exempt from the payment of this fee.
• License fees are paid when applying for a first time hotel licence and when submitting applications for the annual renewal of the hotel license.
• Cheques for hotel licence fees for hotels on Nassau and Paradise Island are to be made payable to the Public Treasury and submitted to the Chief Licensing Officer, Hotel Licensing Department, Ministry of Tourism, P.O. Box N-3701, Nassau, The Bahamas.
• Cheques for hotel licence fees for hotels on Grand Bahama Island (except Freeport) and the Family Islands are to be made payable to the Public Treasury and submitted to the Government Administrator in their District.  

 

For additional information, please visit the Tourism Today website at http://www.tourismtoday.com 

Or  

The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation Offices, Family Islands, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

ABACO
Ms. Dushinka Roberts, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 367-3067
Fax. (242) 367-3068
E-mail:  droberts@bahamas.com

Ms. Melinda Williams, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 367-3067
Fax. (242) 367-3068
E-mail: mwilliams@bahamas.com

ANDROS (North/Central)
Mrs. Donna McQueen-Stubbs
Tel. (242) 368-2286
Fax. (242) 368-2285
E-mail: dmcqueen@bahamas.com 
          
ANDROS (South)
Ms. Sharon Henfield
Tel. (242) 369-1688
Fax. (242) 369-1687
E-mail:  shenfield@bahamas.com

BERRY ISLANDS  (Great Harbour Cay)
Mr. Kevin Wallace, Tourism Representative
Tel. (242) 367-8291 Adm. Office
Cell. (242) 451-0404
Cell. (242) 464-4877
Fax. (242) 367-8034
E-mail: kevinwallace3mybg@yahoo.com

BIMINI
Ms. Renee Robins, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 347-3529
Fax. (242) 347-3530
E-mail:  rrobins@bahamas.com

ELEUTHERA
Mainland
Ms. Glenda Johnson
Tel. (242) 332-2142
Fax. (242) 332-2480
E-mail:  gjohnson@bahamas.com

ELEUTHRA (North)
Ms. June Cartwright
Tel.   (242) 333-2621
Fax:   (242) 333-2622
E-mail:jcartwright@bahamas.com

EXUMA
Ms. Sharmaine Deveaux, Tourism Inspector
Tel: (242) 336-2457
Fax: (242) 336-2431
E-mail:  sdeveaux@bahamas.com

DEALS, NORTH LONG ISLAND
Ms. Salena Burrows, Tourism Representative
Tel. (242) 338-8668
Fax. (242) 338-8669
E-mail:  sburrows@bahamas.com or salenarbur@betelnet.bs

SAN SALVADOR
Mr. Clifford Fernander, Tourism Representative
Tel. (242) 331-2676
Fax. (242) 331-2641
Cell. (242) 427-8198
E-mail:  karenfernander@hotmail.com

GRAND BAHAMA
(Hotel Licensing)
Ms. Victoria Russell, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 352-8044
Fax. (242) 352-2714
E-mail:  vrussell@bahamas.com   

Local Government Offices in the Family Islands