Baha Mar, the leading luxury destination in The Bahamas, has been awarded the prestigious IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Best New Food and Beverage Festival or Special Event for its 2022 Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival. This award recognizes the creativity, innovation, and excellence in developing a new festival or event centered around food and beverages that stands out in the industry.
Launched in 2022, the inaugural Bahamas Culinary & Arts Festival at Baha Mar set out to establish Baha Mar as the Caribbean’s premier culinary and arts destination. The three-day festival featured internationally acclaimed chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson of Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, Daniel Boulud of Café Boulud, and Dario Cecchini of Carna. They were joined by TV personality and culinary expert Amanda Freitag, author and restaurateur Carla Hall, and Bahamian culinary artisan and chef Simeon Hall Jr.
The festival commenced with a special performance by Boyz II Men at Baha Mar’s luxury waterpark, Baha Bay. Over the weekend, guests enjoyed a two-day culinary and arts expo with interactive cooking demonstrations led by Baha Mar’s top culinary talent and guest chefs, as well as exhibitions from local artisans in collaboration with Baha Mar’s art gallery and creative hub, The Current.
The 2023 festival saw further growth, featuring Sting as the musical headliner and the introduction of FUZE, a premier showcase for Caribbean-inspired art facilitated by John Cox, Executive Director of Art & Culture at Baha Mar.
The IAAPA Brass Ring Award, named after the rings given to carousel riders in early amusement parks, symbolizes achievement and excellence. IAAPA is the leading organization representing the dynamic and ever-evolving attractions sector.
