Entrepreneurs to launch new-look Snorkel Park Beach
A trio of entrepreneurs will be looking to put Bermuda on the map as a top tourist destination after launching a new entertainment business at Snorkel Park Beach.
James Harvey, Tom Steinhoff and Belcario Thomas have teamed up to run the beach resort, which is set to officially open on Sunday and promises everything from new watersports and beach activities and Hammerhead's Bar & Grill restaurant to 'Island Beach Party' dinner shows, a nightclub, and corporate, convention and wedding bookings.
The newly-revamped site at Dockyard, includes a spruced-up beach with the addition of 17 truck loads of sand, more palm trees and a new lick of paint.
Mr. Thomas said the young, fresh and diverse team who had a passion for the hospitality industry had in particular listened to what visitors and locals alike had been calling for in terms of nightly local entertainment and had come up with the idea of an 'Island Beach Party' reminiscent of the famous Hawkin's Island Dinner Parties.
"I know that we have the potential to attract tourists from abroad, and truly be an international destination as we fine tune our operations and marketing reach," he said.
"We'll slowly get there, looking into ways to revitalise Bermuda's youthful energy with several initiatives, such as a potential 2011 Spring Break Excursion to Bermuda in conjunction with Tourism, several top hotels and airlines and Eastern seaboard affluent universities."
He said the event, which would be run by entertainment manager Dave Parquet, would feature a barbecue buffet, steel pan drumming by James Martinez, interactive dance choreographed by Suzette Harvey and a "fiery" limbo performance by the 'Queen of Limbo' Dawn Johnston-Frost, with local guest DJs, and Gosling Swizzles.
But perhaps the one of the most significant changes has been the addition of Snorkel Park's new head chef Fred Wurtzel along with several upcoming local sous chefs to ensure an authentic Island flavour at the new Hammerhead's Bar & Grill restaurant furnished with South Beach styled furniture, offering a light beach fare menu, BBQs, lunch and dinner, and a late night menu. The Park has also upgraded its main bars with daily drink specials along with frozen virgin drinks for the whole family.
"We've probably got the Island's largest selection of beach and water activities from jet ski tours and snorkelling along the shipwrecks and reefs with digital masks that take pictures as you snorkel, to beach volleyball, kayaks, inflatables and serviced umbrella and chair rentals too," said Mr. Thomas. "Plus, a new addition is our Kiddie Cove for families and lounging.
"Our nightclub has been revamped, with security being paramount. We've added over 30-plus state of the art security cameras, a fully-qualified security team led by ex-Police officer Alan Looby's agency, along with metal detectors, wands, and a smart casual dress code for our Top 40 open air club.
"We're creating a fun nightclub for mature residents and visitors which has been kicked-off by amazing cruise ship crew private parties and is now being opened up to locals for the grand opening all day and all night event this Sunday."
Snorkel Park Beach will be open between 9 a.m. and 3 a.m. every day throughout the season. Management is also on the lookout for energetic and enthusiastic Bermudian staff to work at the facility.
