The Bahamas spans roughly 5,000 square miles of strikingly blue water, including about 700 islands and 2,400 cays. With pink-sand beaches, private islands and abundant sunshine, it’s easy to see why the destination remains a dream for travelers. This year Nassau Cruise Port—part of a $300 million redevelopment—expects nearly 5 million passengers, surpassing its 2019 record of 3.8 million and underscoring Nassau’s status as one of the world’s most popular cruise destinations.
The Bahamas’ 16 major islands make it an ideal location not only for leisure but also for business events. Whether you’re planning a meeting, trade show or convention, the islands offer a wide variety of venues and service options to suit different group sizes and objectives.
Nassau and Paradise Island are natural choices for meetings, but other islands also deliver distinctive meeting experiences. Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island provides diverse indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, including a conference center, ballrooms, boardrooms and a beachfront amphitheater. Resorts World Bimini features the Marina Pavilion, a 5,000-square-foot meeting and convention space—paired with island activities like stingray feeding, snorkeling and diving the SS Sapona shipwreck to add memorable team experiences.
© Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
For smaller, boutique corporate gatherings, consider off-the-beaten-path properties such as The Island Retreat, a fully renovated boutique hotel in Hopetown on Elbow Cay, Abaco Islands, which offers an intimate setting ideal for signature events and focused retreats.
Paradise Island is home to Atlantis Paradise Island, a top venue for large-scale events. With 300,000 square feet of outdoor event space—including beaches and marine habitats—the resort offers many scenic options. For major conferences or galas, Atlantis provides up to 50,000 square feet of ballroom space capable of accommodating groups as large as 4,000. The resort also features five executive boardrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking gardens or the Caribbean Sea, and social events can continue at Aquaventure Water Park to keep attendees engaged.
The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, offers more than 20,000 square feet of elegant event space. Its Versailles-style gardens provide an exceptional backdrop for cocktail receptions and dinner galas. For dining and hospitality that make a statement, DUNE, led by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, serves French-Asian cuisine with Bahamian influences.
In Nassau, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is a standout choice, featuring approximately 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space—ballrooms, lawns, patios and pool areas among them. The property includes the 82,000-square-foot Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center, one of the largest meeting facilities in the Bahamas, set against ocean and garden vistas with curated Bahamian art. The resort’s business center, more than 30 meeting rooms and exhibit spaces are equipped with modern technology to support both small and large meetings.
© John Watlings Distillery
For truly exclusive gatherings, private islands provide unmatched privacy and luxury. Fowl Cay Resort offers upscale oceanfront villas and the option to reserve the entire island, with each villa including a powerboat for guest use. Kamalame Cay is another private-island option with cottages and villas, where meetings can be held in relaxed settings like the Tiki Bar and participants can bond over activities such as deep-sea fishing.
Unique Venues
Utopia Gardens in Nassau provides a verdant, lakeside setting for private events, combining lush greenery with convenient beach access for attendees seeking a relaxed, natural atmosphere.
Historic venues also add character to meetings. Graycliff Hotel in Nassau, a restored colonial mansion, offers elegant and intimate boardrooms, a charming courtyard and dramatic event spaces. Its wine cellar can host intimate groups of up to 18, while the main dining room and terraces accommodate over 300 guests. Graycliff enhances team-building programs with a culinary academy offering cooking classes, an art gallery and a cigar factory that provides cigar-rolling demonstrations.
Rum and local heritage come together at John Watling’s Distillery, located on the Buena Vista Estate in Nassau. Founded in the late 18th century, the distillery overlooks the harbor and offers production tours and museum-style exhibits. Event spaces include an Exterior Courtyard that accommodates about 150 seated or 500 standing guests, the Red Tavern with patio seating for 60 (or 100 standing), and a Front Lawn suitable for larger gatherings up to 500 guests.
On Grand Bahama and beyond, natural parks and historic sites add variety to offsite events. Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park features boardwalks, trails and bird-watching opportunities, while the Hermitage Plantation ruins and the Fireball Grotto—an underwater cavern featured in films—provide unique excursion options. Garden of the Groves on Grand Bahama is noted for cascading waterfalls, fountains, walking trails and abundant bird and butterfly life, making it a popular choice for relaxed outdoor events and team-building activities.