Since it was first built in 1958, the Peace & Plenty hotel has been a staple in Exuma, Bahamas. Lawrence Lewis, the grandnephew of the railroad tycoon Henry Flagler, originally built it, and it has since become an iconic property. The boutique hotel features 35 waterfront rooms, a pool, restaurant, two bars, and a dock along Elizabeth Harbour.
The hotel was sold to the Miami-based boutique hotel operators, Jesper and Gustaf Arnoldsson of SMS Lodging. They’ve also partnered with Steve and Patrick Harrington, who have been real estate investors in Exuma for a while, and Bahamian entrepreneur Burton Rodgers.
One of the investors, Steve Harrington, had this to say, “Burton, Patrick, myself, and our families have been enjoying Peace and Plenty for over two decades and we are extremely honored to be taking over such an important and beloved property. We recognize Peace and Plenty as the heart and soul of Exuma and plan to carry on the best of its traditions for many decades to come.”
According to their website, SMS Lodging is a hospitality firm whose mission is “to effectively deploy capital within the hotel industry by securing underperforming assets and bringing them to profitability”.
The new owners released a statement saying they would “work to pay homage to the property’s history, while simultaneously revitalizing the hotel with a noticeable top to bottom refresh, including the addition of all the modern conveniences that today’s travelers have come to expect”.
The hotel is currently closed for these renovations to take place and will reopen around mid-December with a refreshed look. Hopefully, the new owners are able to find the right balance between preserving the historic charm and bringing in new changes.