A US$4M resort offering various amenities and targeting overseas-based Guyanese is set to open its doors at Versailles, West Bank Demerara later this month.
The project, the Aracari Resort, would be initially offering 36 executive suites but is seeking to expand in the future. According to Chief Executive Officer of the project, Sase Shewnarain, the resort would be the first “true” vacation resort in Guyana and would not only provide accommodation but other facilities for mental and physical health as well. He told Stabroek News in an interview yesterday that the resort is similar in design to resorts found within the Caribbean including places like Cuba, Jamaica and Mexico.
The Guyanese Diaspora is being targeted but the local market is also to be tapped into. Currently, the complex consists of three main buildings and by the time it opens later this month it will include 36 executive suites, two restaurants, two bars, a swimming pool, a gymnasium, an internet café, a convenience store, Conference/Meetings room and a theatre/bandstand. It would be available for banquets and weddings. Rates for the suites start at US$65 per day and membership for use of the amenities would be offered.
“We will also be offering a very active tour desk so that our guests can access the eco resorts in the interior of Guyana”, Shewnarain said. The businessman, who left the country for Canada in 1973 revealed that the US$4M venture is a family-financed project with members contributing their life savings.
Relating the background to the venture, Shewnarain recalled that in 1995, he returned to Guyana as part of the Toronto contingent for the local trade fair, GuyExpo and at the time, he decided to look at investing in Guyana. His first project was the Town and Country Estates, which is a gated community located in the vicinity of the resort. Of this, he said all the lands were sold and almost 70% of the homes built and there is also an active owners’ association, responsible for security and maintenance. After that venture, another proposed project, the Demerara Aquatic Centre, was shelved, due to litigation.
The next project was the resort. Shewnarain said that the conceptual design started in mid-2005 and discussions were started with the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) and a Memorandum of Understanding for concessions was secured in early 2006. He said that it was hoped that the facility would have been completed in time for Cricket World Cup last year but approval from the Central Housing and Planning Authority was not granted in a timely manner and they did not want to start without proper approval, including an Environmental Protection Agency permit.
Noting that the project is financed by the lifetime savings of the principals, the businessman revealed that at present, it is way beyond budget and the actual cost is in excess of the estimated cost. He said that problems encountered included accessing the concessions, materials, labour and adverse weather conditions.
Shewnarain stated that the Region Three site was chosen because it offered a different atmosphere. “I felt different being here than I feel, in Georgetown, for example”, he said. He declared that people in the region were friendlier, more approachable and the place felt safe and secure. He pointed out though that the resort is located close to the capital city and the airport and has access “to a very well functioning bridge that stays on schedule”. He added that Region Three does not have a hotel of international standard but a lot of overseas-based Guyanese visit the area.
On what could be expected, the widely-travelled businessman said that a typical week at these type of resorts in other countries, in addition to the amenities and facilities at the location, would entail visits to places of interest within that country such as visits to archaeological, historical or eco-resorts and this is what he is hoping to bring with Aracari.
He said in the week, a guest will access live entertainment, tours to Georgetown and eco-resorts in the interior while having access to all the amenities.
Initial staffing will be 50 persons and this is expected to grow to 75 permanent employees. Staff has already been hired and most are from the region. Over 100 persons have also been employed during the construction phase.
Meantime, Shewnarain said that Guyanese in the Diaspora, who do not have relatives or friends where they can access accommodation while visiting Guyana are interested in this type of resort. He said that the focus will also be on long-term rentals for overseas-based Guyanese, who would want to ‘winter’ here, businesses that have a need for employee accommodation and would use a unit to provide a vacation for staff, Caribbean businesspersons and mining companies. He said that they are hoping to go to market with a monthly rental of US$750 per month for contracts running over six months.
He said that there have been inquiries but they are not taking any bookings or reservations at the moment. Asked about other hotels and the likely competition, the businessman said that while they are catering for a similar market, at the same time it is different. He said that the major hotels would provide additional entertainment for the resort’s guests and he sees them as complementary. He noted that the resort is priced below the major hotels and this will make it attractive. Noting that some hotels constructed for the CWC were having occupancy problems, he said that many are just facilities with rooms and don’t provide other services.
Meanwhile, Shewnarain said that extra lands were available within the project area for the addition of more units which is expected to come on stream later.
The businessman, who was involved in real estate, commercial properties, a banquet hall, car rental, night club, and restaurant in Canada, noted that he had sold most of them and is left with a child-care centre, which is being managed by his wife. He said that he plans to retire in Guyana.
