America’s Cup: Overcoming obstacles in Bermuda

Hamilton and St George’s could see an influx of cruise ships in 2017 if Bermuda is chosen to host the America’s Cup.

This from Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Bill Hanbury, who will be meeting with five cruise lines in the US, UK and Germany over the next week about them repositioning ships here for the event.

Mr Hanbury said Bermuda does not have the hotel capacity to host the kind of crowds that witnessed the yachting spectacle in San Francisco, Valencia or Auckland and having the cruise lines come here with America’s Cup-themed cruises would help bring in the crowds.

“This is very exciting news from two perspectives,” he said. “There is an obvious economic impact of hosting the America’s Cup. And now we’re assured of hosting some events in 2015 and 2016.

“But we’re still going for the whole Monty. We are going to do everything we can to host the America’s Cup. We’re not satisfied at all in just being in the final two.”

Mr Hanbury said the island has put together a bid that has surprised the naysayers in the rest of the world.

“We didn’t buy it… we earned it because we have great capabilities, an incredible race course and an incredible venue.”

He added the America’s Cup Event Authority believes Bermuda has the right personnel to make this happen “and make Bermuda proud and keep the America’s Cup the extraordinary event that it is”.

He said that projections for the economic impact would be completed later this summer. – Bermuda Sun, read on