This year America’s Cup was awarded three Best of Bermuda Awards. Of course 2017 has a whole lot more in store

With the resounding success of the Louis Vuitton World Series Bermuda event last October to go on, we can only imagine the huge benefit to the island that the 2017 America’s Cup will be!

The event was projected to deliver $1.7 million to our economy at a cost of $500,000, but when the numbers came in at a net cost of $635,000 (a 20 per cent increase off the projection) and an $8.6 million total economic impact (a 406 per cent increase) even the staunchest of naysayers had to tip their hats to the impressive work of the organisers.

The event also brought in nearly 1,500 visitors who spent a total $6.1 million during their visit. Add to that the number of television viewers (8.1 million worldwide) who got a taste of what the island has to offer and we can only imagine the impact the 2017 America’s Cup event will have on our tiny island nation.

Our judges felt that all those involved in bringing the America’s Cup here and those who continuously work to prepare the island for the biggest event we have ever hosted on a world stage are more than deserving of this accolade.

With approximately 5,000 spectators on the water and another 10,000-plus in the America’s Cup Village on Front Street, the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda race held October 16-18, 2015 was unquestionably the best spectator sports event of the year. And considering over eight million watched the races on televisions worldwide we can’t imagine another local event coming close to matching those numbers — until the 2017 America’s Cup that is!

Our judges were unanimous in declaring that no other person or event has come close to garnering as much positive international attention for our little island nation like hosting the hugely successful Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda race in October 2015. The event brought approximately 1,500 visitors who spent $6.1 million during their visit, while 8.1 million television viewers worldwide were treated to spectacular views of the Great Sound. The total economic impact was estimated at $8.6 million, but the overall impact of showcasing Bermuda’s beauty and sublime hospitality was priceless.

•The Best of Bermuda Awards are presented by The Bermudian magazine