According to an advertisement appearing in yesterday’s issue of the Sunday Chronicle, the three-storey hotel complex situated at Liliendaal, ECD is in receivership. The receivership is a further sign of a slump in the hotel business although Ocean View has long struggled to find a permanent niche.
Early last year the assets of the hotel were acquired by city businessman Jacob Rambarran and management of the hotel had made several attempts to boost patronage. These included the holding of a number of popular entertainment events while swimming classes were also offered at the venue.
The hotel was previously owned by George Lord who had remigrated to Guyana in the 1980s and the property was subsequently sold following reports that Lord was encountering serious financial difficulties.
The previous owner had indicated to Stabroek Business that he was concerned about raising the standard of the hotel which centred around finding competent staff, while the hotel also faced criticisms in the past about poor service. The hotel was also in for competition from other hospitality businesses following the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 which was hosted in the Caribbean when a number of hotels in and around Georgetown opened their doors.
The Ocean View Hotel has been a popular venue for party goers over the years because of its location at Liliendaal close to the sea-wall. Its Convention Centre has been the preferred one for the hosting of weddings, conferences, receptions and other public functions. Several sittings of the National Assembly were held at the location in 2004 when renovation work was carried out to Parliament Buildings.