Local Entertainment Company, Hits and Jams along with its partners have signed an agreement with Marriott International, Inc for the construction of a 200-room Sheraton Hotel here.
Slated for a 2025 opening, the project will also comprise 224 residences in addition to the rooms. The building which will be in the shape of an ‘H’ is set to be constructed at Providence, East Bank Demerara.
A bridge will be used to connect the vertical sections of the ‘H’ which are expected to be 20 floors high.
A release yesterday said that Marriott International, Inc signed an agreement with H-Towers Inc., a company owned by Hits and Jams, and its U.S. based partners, The Triwest Financial Group, Inc. and Black Pearl Holding Co. The two-tower project will expand Marriott’s existing portfolio in the country and is expected to be launched by the end of the year.
The anticipated 200-room hotel will feature a mix of king and double rooms and several suites, including a Governor’s suite and a Sheraton Club Lounge.
The release said that amenities will include a swimming pool, 24-hour fitness centre, a specialty restaurant, meeting and conference rooms, state-of-the-art spa and the brand’s signature bar, coffee, market concept.
“We are very honored to be given the opportunity to bring such a recognizable brand to the market, knowing the impeccable standards Guyanese and international guests alike will enjoy,” stated Kerwin Bollers, Executive Director of H-Towers following the signing.
Marriott International’s Chief Development Officer for the Caribbean and Latin America, Laurent de Kousemaeker said it was a delight to bring the brand to such an exciting destination.
“The signing of this new project is a significant moment and the brand’s rich heritage is an excellent fit for this growing market”, he said.
Given Guyana’s growing demand around accommodation for visitors, the project came to life when the Government of Guyana, through its G-Invest Office, launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) in 2021 for hotel developers.
Government told interested persons that it would use the responses to “to rank and select those parties” who would then be invited to negotiate a Memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) including land terms, zoning, development conditions, and other incentives, that would be provided.
Hits and Jams back in November 2020 had signed a MoU with the Guyana Office for Investment paving the way for the project to get off the ground.
There was no disclosure in the release yesterday about the cost of the project.
To date, Courtyard by Marriott, next to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri; the Aiden-branded hotel at Oronoque and Robb streets; SleepIn hotel on Brickdam and a hotel by Pasha Global are currently under construction.
The construction of the hotels is part of President Irfaan Ali’s vision to make 2,000 hotel rooms available to meet the needs of the country’s emerging business sector as a result of oil and gas activities.
Other hotel brands scheduled for Guyana are the Radisson Blu, Delta Hotel by Marriott, Sure Stay Plus Best Western, Hilton and Hyatt, among others.
