The developers of the planned US$90 million Hilton Garden Inn, one of four chain-branded hotels expected to be constructed here, have already received the requisite approvals to begin construction, Head of the Guyana Office for Foreign and Local Investment (G-Invest) Peter Ramsaroop has said.
Ramsaroop on Tuesday told Stabroek News prior to government’s call for Expressions of Interest (EoIs), the chains had been able to secure lands under private partnerships.
“They are not looking for land from government. These are all people with private lands… because the Hilton Garden Inn investor had lands prior to the EoIs. They have done their homework and secured the necessary building permits and are able to go to construction,” he said.
Over the course of Monday, G-Invest and the Ministry of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the representatives of each of the four chains.
Ramsaroop said if the projects are realised, they will see the construction of a Hilton Garden Inn at Houston/Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara in close proximity to Gafoors, a Delta Hotels Marriott near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, an H-Towers luxury hotel in New Providence close to the Texila American University, on the East Bank, and a SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western in the city centre.
Ramsaroop pointed out that G-Invest is not allocating the land to investors. He said it is only reviewing the investment proposal, looking at the investor’s financial status and recommending the concessions they will receive once they move to implement the proposed project.
He explained to this newspaper that while it is expected that the investments will take off, the signing of the MoUs signals that government is interested.
“All we are doing now is signing an MoU saying government is interested in what you proposed and we want to give you the opportunity to come back with your investor agreement with all the necessary documentation required,” he stressed.
The Hilton Garden Inn’s investors are looking to break ground at the start of next year as they have already acquired the necessary building permits. It is unclear whether this includes approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The project is led by 658 Guyana Holdings, a joint venture company, managed by 1503 Partners, who are joined by TOTALTEC Oilfield Services Guyana Inc and GREC Investment Group as key stakeholders to the project.
The Hilton-branded hotel will be in close proximity to the Guyana Shore Base Inc and will feature nine stories. At Monday’s signing, it was stated that the project will break ground in January 2021 and construction will last for a period of two years.
The hotel is expected to consist of 161 rooms with programming for a further 128 suites and to feature a variety of onsite dining options, conference facilities, a pool, and a 24-hour fitness facility. The statement added that the architectural design will bring in the best of modern smart Scandinavian minimalistic concepts, incorporating regional and local environmental and aesthetically stunning features, including spectacular landscaping of the grounds.
Meanwhile, local entertainment company Hits and Jams is behind the construction of the H-Towers Luxury Hotel, which seeks to provide an estimated 400 rooms.
The Delta Hotels Marriott aims to provide 255 rooms, while the SureStay Plus Hotel seeks to deliver a 100-room hotel.
