Marriott Hotel could be a game-changer - Business - JamaicaObserver.com:
AFTER expanding its footprints in roughly 50 countries globally, a number of local business operators within the Caribbean observe Marriott Hotel as a game-changer for their businesses.
Christopher Nascimento, owner of Hurakabra Resort in Guyana, is one such entrepreneur who reckons that his business may be significantly impacted from the opening of the country's first international resort -- Marriott Hotel.
"Take a look around, the place is practically empty," Nascimento told the Jamaica Observer during a tour of the resorts along the Essequibo River in Guyana, last Friday. "A lot of these weekend resorts have occupancy rates of less than 40 per cent, although some of us are able to accommodate up to 30 guests."
The Essequibo River, the largest river in Guyana and the largest between the Orinoco and the Amazon, is home to more than 300 weekend resorts and is marketed as a tourist attraction in the country along with the famous Kaieture and Orinduik Falls.
Still, approximately 6000 tourists are believed to visit the destinations annually.
"The difference with Marriott is that once they invest in countries like this, they will market not just their hotel but also the country," he stated. "They will attract a different kind of tourist to Guyana because the company is well known, and our resorts will be feeding off that."
The Haitian economy echoed the same sentiments following the opening of the Digicel-funded Marriott Hotel in February.
Marriott Hotel, which opened its first hotel in Virginia, United States, plans on implementing another 59 hotels by 2018. What's more, Marriott Hotel continues to bring economic development and job creation in Haiti, and is looking to complete developments in Colombia and Bolivia next year -- following the August opening of the Marriott Hotel in Kingston along with hotels in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and the Dutch-speaking islands of Curacao and Bonaire.
Marriott Hotel Jamaica is now looking to recruit up to 70 full-time staff over the next few months. Today, Marriott International's presence in the Caribbean and Latin America is represented by 90 hotels in 27 countries and territories, offering more than 23,580 rooms under the brands Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites and Marriott Executive Apartments and Residence Inn by Marriott.
"What Marriott will be doing is maintaining close contact with the local resorts. Kaieture over land takes three or four days. The average tourist won't do that, but it's easier for us to organise a day trip now that Marriott is here as they will bring more customers than what the Princess Hotel and the Pegasus are bringing," Nascimento stated.
A day trip to Guyana's tourist attractions includes an hour-long flight from the Ogle Airport to Kaieture Falls, a one-hour flight from Kaieture to the resorts along the Essequibo River, up to half an hour journey along the river to the desired resort, followed by an hour-long drive back to the Hotel.
"You can't come to Guyana and know that you're going to visit the attractions as the flight is dependent up on whether or not there are enough people to make the trip," he added.
Director of Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Haralsingh, told the Business Observer that although the journey may be long, having such a trip is unique to Guyana.
"The experience that you would have in one day covers land, air and river transportation. There are not really many destinations you will find that have this kind of combination and so it's quite unique," he stated. "Tourism is about an experience, and so when persons would go on a tour like this they get the full experience."
The recently opened Guyana Marriott Hotel plans on implementing a US$8.1-million entertainment complex come December.
The complex, which will be the second component of the Marriott Hotel, will host a 29,000-square-foot facility comprising a casino, nightclub, restaurant and retail space. The approved plan allows the Marriott to have 10 game tables and 250 machine games operational in the casino, while the restaurant is expected to host more than 200 people.
Speaking at the opening reception of the Marriott Hotel last Thursday, president of the Republic of Guyana, Donald Ramotar stated that making a project like this happen was a considerable challenge.
"But despite all of the attacks and slanders by people it has become a reality. We can expect that this project will be a catalyst for the expansion of the travel and hospitality sector in the country," he stated.
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