Lethem businessman Daniel Gajie is constructing a luxury ‘green’ 60-room hotel in the area at an initial cost of $200M.
“It’s a luxury hotel and apartment building…it’s going to be an eco-friendly building,” Gajie told Stabroek News yesterday. Gajie, a former President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that construction began last July and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. However, he is looking at a partial opening by the rodeo in Easter. The hotel is being built in the commercial zone in Lethem.
He said that the hotel will be powered by solar electricity and there will be systems to recycle water and waste. Organic products are also expected to play a big part in the hotel.
Gajie said that each room will be self-contained with all the amenities of an apartment since the establishment will also target long-term guests as well as those staying for a short while. It will be a three-storey building.
A modern conference room as well as a banquet hall, internet facilities, pool, restaurant and bar will be part of the complex. Camping facilities will also be available.
Explaining his reasons for choosing to build the hotel, Gajie said that Lethem does not have proper accommodation facilities and what is available, is quickly absorbed whenever major events are held in the border community. Even without large events, the existing hotel rooms are quickly taken up, Gajie said, pointing to several recent events in the community, including one in which the participants were forced to double up in the hotel rooms.
In addition, he said, in his interactions with overseas-based Guyanese on trade shows organised by GO-Invest, they have expressed interest in visiting the Rupununi and tourists will be targeted too.
Initially, the businessman said, locals will be targeted and several packaged, all-inclusive tours to areas of interest in the Rupununi will be offered. “We want to give Guyanese a chance to know their country,” he said. Trips will also be offered to Brazil and Venezuela.
An initial investment of over $200M is being made but there are plans for expansion from the 60 rooms to an additional 100 rooms. An eventual investment of US$2M is envisioned, Gajie said. “We’re not rushing into it,” he explained, noting that this development will take place over the course of a few years.
He said that his venture has received the full support of GO-Invest and government and he has received some concessions.
