Long term residents will have noticed that there’s an extra pop of colour along the West Bay Road opposite the Marquee Plaza at the intersection of Lawrence Boulevard, as a new hotel and restaurant has finally had its soft opening. The original location stood half-built for a number of years until Howard Hospitality Group took on the project and redeveloped the space to create Locale, a 42-bedroomed hotel and Bonfire Urban Italian Kitchen.
Although it’s been open for business for about a month, the hotel won’t be fully operational until it has jumped a couple more hurdles, but it is anticipated its hard opening will take place a few weeks after it is fully up and running.
“Following a phased plan of opening, we are on target to be completely open at the end of April,” Locale’s Sales and Marketing Manager, Aliya Dunstan, advised.
Locale has a mix of queen double and king lofts, all embracing a cool, beach-vibe décor, with pale wooden accents and cool, muted tones. The king loft provides an extra living or sleeping space upstairs and each room is equipped with a microwave, coffee machine and a proper fridge which is stocked daily with fresh water. The bathroom has an overlarge shower with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel on tap and beach towels are in each room. The overall feel is fresh, modern, clean and uncomplicated. The restaurant, Bonfire, follows the same vibe, with extra long tables for communal dining and a simple but interesting menu of pasta, salads, risotto and pizza. Catering to the young and up and coming demographic, they serve a good selection of vegetarian and vegan menu options. A carry out menu is available and offers good value. Further amenities include a swimming pool and outdoor cross-fit type fitness area.
Part of the downstairs of the building is being let out to tenants, which, when occupied, will house a salon, a jewellery and accessories store, Dairy Queen, a Red Sail Sports store and REM, RE/Max’s property rentals arm.
Sweet spot on the strip
“At between $300 and $400 a night, our price point sits in a sweet spot just below the Marriott and just above the Comfort Suites and Sunshine Suites,” Aliya said. “Our guests know that we aren’t directly on the beach, but it’s just a short walk away and we’ve had some great feedback from guests so far.”
The hotel is a great choice for long-term visits, Aliyah stated, offering an excellent location for new residents to get acclimatised with this busy part of the island.
“We think they can feel somewhat settled as soon as they arrive when they stay at Locale,” Aliya confirmed.
Locale’s Manager, Tyler Welton, advised: “We didn’t know what to expect as far as the demographics of our guests, but we’ve already had a great mix of families, business travelers and people staying here while they visit friends and relatives on island.”
“We’re kid-friendly, local-friendly and we even provide water bowls for pets outside the restaurant,” Aliya said. “We also have two ground-floor rooms that are wheel-chair accessible and there’s plenty of parking just behind the hotel.”
Once the hotel is fully operational, they will be offering a residents’ special until 31 May, US$299 for the two nights. Stays include breakfast as well.
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