The developers of Port Ferdinand Marina have moved to cash in on overseas business as efforts to complete construction at the luxury St Peter property continue.
Last week, some work was still going on, but the major work involved in building the first phase has concluded.
Additionally, indications from officials were that while upscale residences at the 16-acre site located north of Speightstown near Six Men’s were for sale at prices ranging between $2.1 million and $4 million, the resort has been offering some of its luxury homes for rent since last month.
Recently released information from Port Ferdinand resort company UNNA Resorts & Luxury Residences indicated three bedroom homes were available to rent from $1 500 per month between January 7 and April 4, while prices would be lowered to $750 when the winter season closed until December 14.
A written update on the project said bookings were being made available at major British tour companies including Expedia, Kuoni, and Exceptional Villas, as officials tried to entice visitors with facilities including “a gourmet food store, dining, golf simulator, swimming pool, concierge service and complimentary water taxi”.
UNNA also said that its effort to attract visitors to Port Ferdinand would be supported by a marketing campaign in Britain, including “advertising across upmarket print titles”. This was being supplemented by a new website through which “direct” bookings could be made.
“Over the last few years the availability of many individual holiday villas of varying standards in Barbados, has made it hard for visitors to identify the standards of the holiday accommodation,” UNNA sales and marketing director Alistair Brown said in recent statement.
“We are confident our new branding will be recognised as a hallmark of excellence and a guarantee of five-star service, giving clarity and a defined premium standard of rental holiday accommodation in Barbados.”
Port Ferdinand features 120 berths and 83 luxury residences. The developers said its first phase had 32 homes including two, three and four bedroom layouts, with private berths starting at 60 feet.
Phase one of the project includes substantial excavation, construction of a lagoon and the nearly three dozen three and four bedroom units. The project is being undertaken in three stages. UNNA, which has partnered with JADA Builders Inc. on Port Ferdinand, said the marina venture was part of a plan to transform Barbados’ “north-western region” in an effort that includes the already operating Port St Charles Marina, located a stone’s throw away from Port Ferdinand, and the Saint Peter’s Bay beachfront property in Road View, St Peter.