I recently came home from a nearly 3 week stay at the Cove Atlantis. I come every year. Before the Cove was built, I had stayed at Atlantis once, at the Royal Towers. It was so crowded that it seemed like Grand Central Station in New York at 4pm on a summer, Friday afternoon (you get the picture) and because of this, I vowed never to return. Then the Cove was built. More expensive meant it was less crowded. It was also located away from the other hotels which meant a pretty quick escape from the madness. The rooms were new and beautiful, there was a private beach and adult pool, and Mosaic, a gourmet buffet which is constantly voted one of the best restaurants in the Bahamas, was located on site. That was then!
My recent trip was not bad, but given the cost was not good enough a value proposition to justify returning. The Cove touts itself as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, but gives no recognition or benefit to Marriott highest tier frequent quests (I am a Marriott Platinum, the highest tier and got no upgrade, no Club level access, no late check-out….nothing). And if you don’t book directly with the hotel, you won’t even earn Marriott points for your stay! The rooms were nice ten years ago, but are starting to show their age. And the hotel was taken over by a private equity firm investor after the original Atlantis owner defaulted in making payment on its note. And as all private equity firms, only interested in an exit strategy on their investment, begin to cut the amount of employees at the property to save money, are not willing to make any further investment and thus the service suffers.
In the past, this would not have really affected Atlantis, as it was “the only show in town”. However, with the recent opening of Bahamar, which has the largest casino in the Caribbean, and when all is finished will have a Grand Hyatt, Rosewood and SLS hotels (all luxury), this is no longer the case. The counter argument is that Bahamar is for single adults and couples and Atlantis is for kids, so it will always make money. But Bahamar recently bought the former Wyndham Crystal Palace and will turn this property into a water park, so it is challenging Atlantis on all levels.
I have many find memories of my stays at the Cove Atlantis but for now it is just a fading star!