Plans in train for ‘tasteful’ hotel
One of Georgetown’s most attractive state-run reception facilities, Duke Lodge, has passed into private hands with the recent acquisition of the property by the Roraima Group of Companies.
Roraima Chief Executive Officer Captain Gerry Gouveia told Stabroek Business recently that Duke Lodge, which is located in Duke Street, Kingston, opposite the United States Embassy, was acquired following the submission of a successful bid in response to an invitation to tender advertised by the Privatization Unit. Stabroek Business understands that Duke Lodge was acquired at a cost of $140M.
Gouveia said that the new acquisition meant that the Roraima Group could further extend its interests in the local accommodation and hospitality sector since Duke Lodge, now renamed the Roraima Duke Lodge possessed “outstanding potential” both as a hotel and as a reception hall.
And according to Gouveia the company has already embarked on a $40M renovation programme. He said that while some repairs had already been done to the building prior to its privatization Roraima’s focus was aimed at readying the property for branding as a Roraima facility. “Duke Lodge is one of those splendid wooden buildings that is part of the architectural heritage of the capital and our aim is to utilize it as a tasteful hospitality, entertainment and conference facility while ensuring that it remains part of that proud architectural heritage,” he added.
In its heyday Duke Lodge was run by the now defunct Bauxite Industry Development Company (BIDCO) and served as one of the premier venues for high-level state functions. Duke Lodge currently boasts six self-contained luxury rooms and Gouveia disclosed that Roraima would be seeking to extend its capacity to nine rooms in the short to medium term and twenty rooms in the longer term. “What we see in Duke Lounge is the opportunity to create a tasteful facility for public and private functions as well as to provide a hotel facility that compares favourably with the best that Guyana has to offer, he added.
The holdings of the Roraima Group include the Roraima Residency Inn at Bel Air Park, Roraima Air Services Ltd, the Roraima Executive Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and the Arrow Point Nature Resort. The Roraima Group is also a shareholder in Ogle Airport Inc, an EU-funded project currently underway to upgrade the facilities at the Ogle aerodrome.
