Construction of the hotel and shopping mall on Mandela Avenue, next to the Chinese Embassy, is slowly progressing but remains on schedule, according to Jason Wang, President of the China Trading Company, which is one of the principals behind the investment.
Wang, in a recent interview with Stabroek News, said the US$20 million ‘Orchid Garden Hotel and Mall’ is in its second phase of development, which includes the frame, roofing and flooring for the complex. He said works on this phase are expected to be completed by yearend.
According to Wang, the next phase of the work, which includes erection of the walls and interior works, are on schedule to begin early 2018.
Wang noted that the investors had faced some delays in getting duty-free concessions but remain optimistic they would be able to meet their deadline.
Foundation works for the project, including a 150-room hotel, started in 2015.
Wang went on to say that the investors are still in discussions with persons to operate the hotel, while several local businesses have expressed interest in occupying space at the mall.
The project is expected to be completed at the end of 2018.
In a previous interview, Director of Operations Charles Wallerson had explained that they decided to work on the hybrid project since it was realised that such a facility is not available in Guyana.
Wallerson added that the shopping centre has been designed to house approximately 50 stores.
The project is to include restaurants, movie theatres, food courts, conference rooms, play areas and a park, a gaming centre, a tourism centre, a medical facility, a laundromat, gym and parking area.
The mall would also be equipped with three open spaces for natural light and three reservoirs which would each hold more than 80,000 gallons.
