Atlantis Bahamas occupies “Paradise Island,” a small island right off larger New Providence. Indoor and lush outdoor pathways weave through the five hotels, the casino, restaurants and the shopping center. The beach is only a short stroll through the resort’s renowned water park, and the water of the White Bank (one of the Bahama’s shallow banks that houses coral reefs) is as bright blue and delightfully temperate as you’d dream a Bahamian beach would be.
Where to Stay
During my stay in The Royal Hotel, I developed a tradition of stepping out onto my balcony each morning before I left my room and each night before I went to sleep to listen to the sound of the ocean and feel the warm salty breeze on my face. If I leaned over the edge and looked directly down, I got a bird’s eye view of the rescued sea turtles, southern stingrays and blacktip reef sharks swimming around the Royal Ray Lagoon.
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I don’t know about you, but to me, falling asleep to the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore right outside is one of life’s most delightful moments. At Atlantis, after busy, fun-filled, sun-filled days, it gave me the chance to feel a little more human, a little more connected, and incredibly grateful.
How You’ll Play
The property offers over 500,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, made up of numerous ballrooms, five executive boardrooms, hospitality suites and outdoor venues. The onsite conference center is just past The Cove Hotel and was under a 10-minute walk from my room in The Royal. Its onsite location, besides being a huge plus in terms of convenience, means easy access to all the incredible activities available on site for attendees to enjoy in their downtime.
One of these is the Aquaventure Water Park, which spans nearly the length of the entire property, with 11 pools, numerous waterslides, dining options and a mile-long Rapids River which guests can float down to enjoy the scenery. Just by the water park is the Mandara Spa. Upon stepping inside, guests see water running under their feet through a clear glass floor. While waiting for treatments in the locker rooms, guests can enjoy the indoor sauna, steam room or jacuzzi.
A stroll further past the spa will take guests to the Marina and Dolphin Cay, home to the resort’s rescue dolphins, many of whom were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I headed there, where I donned a wetsuit and scuba gear before getting in the water with the dolphins and their dedicated trainers. Along with my group, I had the joy of stroking a dolphin’s side and witnessing feeding before each member got to swim with the dolphins, holding onto their fins while they carried the swimmer across the water.
Go Green
The resort is firmly committed to sustainability. A portion of the proceeds from all animal interactions, plus select food and beverage, retail and casino purchases benefit The Blue Project Foundation, a private nonprofit that works to aid sea species and their habitats.
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The resort also runs a program called Music Making Waves, which has brought in concerts from artists like Pentatonix and Lizzo. Proceeds from these concerts also benefit The Blue Project Foundation.
Atlantis works closely with the Bahamas National Trust and The Nature Conservancy. Plus, the resort works to preserve local mangrove forests and coral reefs—and that is just the start. So, when you plan a meeting in paradise, know that the funds you put towards it are being used to keep it that way.
This article appears in the March 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
