Montana Holdings has
selected RockResorts to manage the resort operations on the $700 million,
870-acre multi-use luxury resort / residential / marina development on Rum
Cay Island, Bahamas.RockResorts is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, and operates resorts in five US states. In addition to managing
the luxury hotel and spa facilities, RockResorts has been engaged to manage
the marina village, golf facility, certain residential rental programs and
one or more private membership clubs. RockResorts will provide technical
consulting and marketing services during the development and pre-opening
phases of the Rum Cay project.
  “The addition of Rum Cay to the RockResorts portfolio reflects our
commitment to grow our luxury hotel brand in select locations with unique,
exceptional resorts,” said Rob Katz, CEO of Vail Resorts. Katz continued,
“Rum Cay has an amazing development plan, and we are thrilled to be
providing a number of services for a resort that will offer world-class
amenities and luxury in an unforgettable setting—signatures of the
RockResorts brand.”
  The branding of Rum Cay Resort Marina in the Bahamas puts RockResorts
back into the tropical island region where the brand was originally created
in 1956 by Laurance Rockefeller, with the development of Caneel Bay on St.
John and Little Dix on Virgin Gorda. Rum Cay will be the first
international addition to the brand since the company was purchased by Vail
Resorts in 2001.
  “Rum Cay will be a unique, industry-leading project in the Bahamas, and
RockResorts’ and Vail Resorts’ expertise not only in managing luxury hotels
but also in consulting on development phases, residential sales programs,
private membership clubs, commercial leasing, and homeowner association
structures made them a perfect fit for this project,” said John Mittens,
CEO of Montana Holdings Ltd.
  Rum Cay Resort Marina is being built in three phases. Phase One, which
began in the summer of 2006, will consist of an 80-slip Blue Flag marina,
the Port Santa Maria Marina Village, and a variety of residential offerings
from ocean estates to ridge villas. Phase Two will include the RockResort
hotel & spa, additional residences, and private membership clubs. Phase
three will complete the resort development and will include additional
residences and other amenities.
  Plans for the resort also include expansion of the marina up to 200
total slips and additions to the marina service facilities. Port Santa
Maria will contain exclusive shops, restaurants and sporting facilities.
The RockResorts hotel will have approximately 100 units plus an additional
80 multi-room villas. Hotel facilities will feature meeting space,
restaurants, retail outlets, a free form swimming pool, a luxury Avanyu spa
and fitness center and a variety of activities including diving,
snorkeling, hiking/eco-tours, horseback riding, a golf training facility
and tennis center.
  Rum Cay Resort Marina will enhance what is already considered to be one
of the finest fishing and diving destinations in the world. The island is
ringed by a spectacular coral necklace, which includes the Grand Canyon, a
huge 60-foot coral wall, extending almost to the surface that provides a
unique opportunity for avid divers and snorkelers.
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