Hotel operators and owners can apply for a transfer of a hotel licence where there is a change of the hotel operator or when the licensed operator has died.

When the hotel is ready to be transferred, the property must be inspected by the following 4 Government Agencies:

• Hotel Licensing Department, Ministry of Tourism.
• Department of Environmental Health Services, Ministry of Health.
• Buildings Control Division, Ministry of Works and Utilities.    
• Royal Bahamas Police Force Fire Department

and the following documents must be secured:

• A favourable report from the Hotel Licensing Inspector, Ministry of Tourism.
• A Certificate of Sanitation from the Department of Environmental Health Services.
• An Occupancy Certificate and a favourable report from the Buildings Control Division, Ministry of Works and Utilities.
• A favourable report from the Royal Bahamas Police Fire Department.

You can apply for a transfer of licence to operate a hotel at the following locations:

1. Complete and submit the relevant forms along with the satisfactory Government Agency Inspection reports.
2. At a properly constituted Hotel Licensing Board Meeting, the Application for Transfer of Licence form and relevant documents will be presented for review.  
3. The Board will exercise its power to grant, refuse or defer the application for transfer.  
4. After the Transfer Licence expires (Licences for hotels on Nassau & Paradise Island and Grand Bahama Island (except Freeport) expire on December 31 each year, while licences for Out Island hotels expire on March 31 each year), the hotel operator will be required to renew their hotel licence.

Note: Applications for a transfer of hotel licence can be submitted throughout the year.

Hotel Licensing Department, Nassau
 

Hotel Licensing Department
Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
P. O. Box N-3701
Nassau Court
Nassau
New Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 356-5216/356-4231
Fax: (242) 361-5904
Contact: Ms. Kristal Bethel - Acting Director/Chief Licensing Officer
E-mail: kbethel@bahamas.com 
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Hotel Licensing Unit, Grand Bahama
Hotel Licensing Unit
Ministry of Tourism & Aviation
Poinciana and the Mall Drive
P. O. Box F-40250
Freeport, Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Tel. (242)350-8600
Fax. (242) 352-2714
Contact: Ms. Victoria Russell - Executive
E-mail: vrussell@bahamas.com   
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

The Grand Bahama Port Authority
Grand Bahama Port Authority Corporate Headquarters
Licensing Department
The Mall Drive
P. O. Box F 42666
Freeport, Grand Bahama
The Bahamas
Tel. (242)350-9054
Fax. (242)351-4169
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

 

The following forms are necessary when applying for a transfer of hotel licence:-          

• Application for Transfer of Licence to Operate (Form VI) – to be completed in duplicate where there is a change in operator or (Form VII) – to be completed when the operator has died.
• Form IB - Requires particulars on the hotel e.g. name of hotel, name of manager, address, total number of bedrooms etc.
• Part 1 Hotel Winter Rates Return (Form X1).
• Part 11 Hotel Summer Rates Return (Form X1).

These forms can all be accessed online at the Ministry of Tourism website.

• Investments Board Approval – Applicable to Non-Bahamian entities.
• Bahamas Exchange Control Certificate/Central Bank Approval – Applicable to Non-Bahamian entities.
• In case of Manager(s), Work Permit or Certificate of Permanent Residence if Non-Bahamian; Proof of Citizenship if Bahamian.
• In case of Owner(s), Proof of Nationality.
• Proof  of Nationality of Beneficial Owner(s)/Key Principal(s) only.
• Proof of Ownership of Premises, that is, Deed of Conveyance or Lease Agreement (if not previously submitted or if change of ownership (wholly or in part) transpired and new document was not submitted).  In addition, if a hotel is company-owned, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Incumbency and Proof of Good Standing of company.  Where a Management Company exists, provide Management Agreement.
• Certificate of Registration (new applicant).
• Completed Form XI – (Parts I and II), Hotel Winter/Summer Rates return.
• Current Business Licence or, in the case of first applicant, receipt of payment of Current  Business Licence.
• Copy of Contract/agreement for the servicing of fire equipment by a  company approved by the Ministry of Works.
• Building Permit (if new property)

Varies depending on the time of the application. There are no deadlines for this service.

When applying for a transfer of licence, a fee of BS$25 is required if the applicant is not exempt from payment.

For additional information, please visit the Tourism Today website at http://www.tourismtoday.com 

Or  

The Ministry of Tourism & Aviation Offices, Family Islands, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

ABACO
Ms. Dushinka Roberts, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 367-3067
Fax. (242) 367-3068
E-mail:  droberts@bahamas.com

Ms. Melinda Williams, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 367-3067
Fax. (242) 367-3068
E-mail: mwilliams@bahamas.com

ANDROS (North/Central)
Mrs. Donna McQueen-Stubbs
Tel. (242) 368-2286
Fax. (242) 368-2285
E-mail: dmcqueen@bahamas.com 
          
ANDROS (South)
Ms. Sharon Henfield
Tel. (242) 369-1688
Fax. (242) 369-1687
E-mail:  shenfield@bahamas.com

BERRY ISLANDS  (Great Harbour Cay)
Mr. Kevin Wallace, Tourism Representative
Tel. (242) 367-8291 Adm. Office
Cell. (242) 451-0404
Cell. (242) 464-4877
Fax. (242) 367-8034
E-mail: kevinwallace3mybg@yahoo.com

BIMINI
Ms. Renee Robins, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 347-3529
Fax. (242) 347-3530
E-mail:  rrobins@bahamas.com

ELEUTHERA
Mainland
Ms. Glenda Johnson
Tel. (242) 332-2142
Fax. (242) 332-2480
E-mail:  gjohnson@bahamas.com

ELEUTHRA (North)
Ms. June Cartwright
Tel.   (242) 333-2621
Fax:   (242) 333-2622
E-mail:jcartwright@bahamas.com

EXUMA
Ms. Sharmaine Deveaux, Tourism Inspector
Tel: (242) 336-2457
Fax: (242) 336-2431
E-mail:  sdeveaux@bahamas.com

DEALS, NORTH LONG ISLAND
Ms. Salena Burrows, Tourism Representative
Tel. (242) 338-8668
Fax. (242) 338-8669
E-mail:  sburrows@bahamas.com or salenarbur@betelnet.bs

SAN SALVADOR
Mr. Clifford Fernander, Tourism Representative
Tel. (242) 331-2676
Fax. (242) 331-2641
Cell. (242) 427-8198
E-mail:  karenfernander@hotmail.com

GRAND BAHAMA
(Hotel Licensing)
Ms. Victoria Russell, Tourism Inspector
Tel. (242) 352-8044
Fax. (242) 352-2714
E-mail:  vrussell@bahamas.com