A podcast studio at a luxury resort in The Bahamas

Back in May, I found myself in a place I never expected to be on a bachelorette trip: inside a state-of-the-art podcast studio in the middle of a resort in The Bahamas.

While I was at Baha Mar, I got a tour of The Studio, the resort’s dedicated podcast and video production space. It’s not tucked away in a convention center or hidden backstage. Rather, it’s built right into the heart of the property, alongside the many pools and about a 1 minute walk from the ocean. It’s inside a cafe, so hotel guests might stumble upon podcast recordings during their breakfast.

Sure, the studio’s mics, cameras, sound treatment, and overall look are impressive, but what was more interesting to me is what the studio represents. As podcasting grows and gets more taken seriously within the media landscape, hotels and major hospitality brands seem to get it. Baha Mar is treating podcasting as part of the guest experience, a marketing channel, an events business, and a creative amenity all at once.

It was also recently announced (in Podnews!) that Mercury and The Studio are launching an exclusive creator residency. Podcasters can apply for a chance to win a three-night stay at the resort, a bunch of perks, and a four-hour recording session. A good move for Mercury AND for Baha Mar if you ask me.

I spoke with Baha Mar President Graeme Davis about why the resort invested in a podcast studio, who it’s for, and what success looks like.

Arielle Nissenblatt: For those who haven’t been able to visit yet, describe how the podcast studio is situated within the larger Baha Mar campus.

Graeme Davis: The Studio sits in the heart of our poolscape, which is one of the most vibrant areas of Baha Mar. We intentionally built The Studio there to immerse our podcasters, their show guests and the audiences at home in the beauty of the resort destination. The Studio, surrounded by palm trees and flowering Bougainvillea, opens into an outdoor cafe open to all resort guests. This way, our guests are also invited to discover The Studio, while enjoying breakfast or lunch, and feel connected to the recordings happening inside.

AN: What does the studio look like? What kind of equipment? What went into choosing the equipment? Any special considerations due to the heat, humidity, or proximity to the beach?

GD: The Studio is a first-class, acoustically soundproofed production space designed for both audio and video, with flexible lighting, advanced livestreaming capabilities, and seating for live audiences. It’s outfitted with premium, professional-grade equipment–including a full Blackmagic ATEM studio workflow, Blackmagic 6K Pro Studio cameras, industry-standard Shure SM7B microphones for video podcasts. The studio also includes an IP audio workflow–giving creators everything they need to produce broadcast-quality podcasts, video content, and livestreams.

AN: Who owns and runs the studio?

GD: The Studio is owned and operated directly by Baha Mar. We have a dedicated team who oversee everything from day-to-day operations and programming to creator support and live recordings. We are fortunate to work with iHeartRadio this inaugural year, and their expertise and reach have been invaluable to us while introducing a completely one-of-a-kind destination podcasting experience.

AN: When the idea for the studio was first proposed, what was the reaction?

GD: Right away, our executive teams across Baha Mar realized the incredible potential this new experience would have. Podcasting continues to grow in influence and audience. I read recently that a record 58% of Americans are now monthly podcast consumers. This is a meaningful platform that our demographics are interacting with all the time. The opportunities to connect with people around the world, integrate podcasting into our corporate and group business, and tell untold stories about people, history and culture of The Bahamas feels endless.

AN: Does the average Baha Mar visitor know about the studio? Are they meant to?

GD: Some guests come to Baha Mar specifically for a recording or an event with integrated podcasting. Having just opened in March 2026, many of our guests are discovering The Studio during their stays. That’s part of the fun. In the near future, we’ll be rolling out more ways for our leisure guests to get involved with The Studio, including workshops and activities for kids and families.

AN: How many recordings take place per week? Of those, how many are broadcast aloud for cafe attendees?

GD: Right now, we’re hosting numerous podcasts each month, and we’re continuing to build the recording calendar as awareness for The Studio grows. In addition to our visiting podcast program, The Studio is bookable. We’ve had resort guests who happen to be podcasters arrive, discover The Studio, and book time to record their shows while on vacation. It is truly a state of the art experience. As part of our visiting podcast program, hosts can decide if they’d like to record privately or broadcast aloud (live!) to The Studio Cafe.

AN: What are the big goals for the studio? Who do you hope uses it?

GD: Our ultimate goal is for The Studio to become a premier global destination for creators. We love welcoming established podcast shows and media organizations, but we are equally passionate about opening our doors to entrepreneurs, founders, athletes, industry leaders, and emerging voices with compelling stories to tell.

Beyond that, we saw an opportunity to provide a platform for Bahamian talent and creativity, introducing audiences to perspectives they might not encounter anywhere else. This inspired the launch of Baha Mar’s own podcast, Beyond the Stay Live from Baha Mar. Hosted by Bahamian personalities Anastarcia Palacious and Renaldo Dorsett, each episode takes listeners beyond the expected through conversations with thought leaders who shape the energy, culture, and identity of Baha Mar and The Bahamas.

AN: You’ll know if this is a successful experiment when…

GD: We’ll know our vision is working when creators seek out Baha Mar not just as a place to stay, but as a place to create. We’re proud of establishing something truly distinctive. As we see entertainers build The Studio at Baha Mar into their content plans for the second half of this year and 2027, it drives our teams to continue expanding our offerings. We don’t limit our thinking at Baha Mar and we are always looking for new ways to bring people together through entertainment, dining, the arts and shared cultural experiences.

Whether this becomes a model other resorts adopt remains to be seen. But it’s clear that podcasting is no longer confined to traditional studios or home offices. It’s showing up at conferences, festivals, sports venues, universities… and now resorts.

The fact that a hospitality brand is investing in a podcast studio, is actively courting partnerships with creators, and is now encouraging guests to record while they’re on vacation says a lot about where we’re headed. Who knows, maybe the next big podcast will come from someone’s vacation!