Georgetown: The world-class Marriott Hotel Guyana was officially commissioned recently at a gala ribbon cutting ceremony and then an evening reception with top executives of the internationally-branded hotel praising the spirit of Guyana, while underscoring their satisfaction in being able to provide jobs for hundreds of Guyanese.
The celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning to officially commission the five- star hotel, the first of its kind in Guyana by President Donald Ramotar and Representative of the Marriott, Brenda Durham. This was followed by a grand reception in the hotel’s ballroom in the evening. The plaque of the commissioning was also unveiled by the President, who was joined by several officials of the hotel, Government Ministers and members of the local Private Sector.
At the gala reception held in the evening, President Donald Ramotar showered praise on the project, noting that it was historic and one that all of Guyana should be proud of, pointing out that the project has significantly transformed the landscape of Guyana. “This is indeed a historic occasion. It is my pleasure to open this iconic building that has transformed the landscape of Guyana. We are very pleased that this property will be managed by Marriott. This property and this hotel should make all Guyanese very proud. This hotel has vast capacity…,” the President said.
He noted that the Marriott Guyana has truly overcome major tests and it was indeed a proud moment to see what it has evolved to be. “Making this project a reality was a considerable challenge, but today, despite all of these attacks and slanders by people specialising in negativity, trying to destroy things, it has become a reality.”
Ramotar expressed that the benefits of the Marriott Guyana project will be huge with it expected to be a catalyst for expansion in the travel and hospitality sector in this country. “The service standard of the industry is expected to improve as a result of Marriott setting the standards; we can expect other investments from hotels in improving their rooms and amenities to offer a better service… We now have the capacity to host the big events like business conferences… The number of people visiting Guyana will increase. The Marriott will promote Guyana,” he shared.
Commitment
Brenda Durham, Marriott’s representative in Guyana, told the gathering that Marriott has a commitment towards the hotel here in Guyana and the country as a whole, noting that it was very much close to the hearts of Marriott’s executives. She related that the hotel has been able to exceed Marriott brand’s expectations and as such, it was indeed a privilege to be able to commission it. “What we were looking for was the spirit of Guyana and we love this hotel. We realised that this is a great privilege for us, but we also realise that it is big responsibility and we take that seriously… It is always a pleasure to see our flag flying in countries and Guyana is a special country to us. This hotel has become special. We have 4100 hotels across the globe and so hotels open every other day, but this was a hotel that senior management became very interested in and you hear them asking questions throughout the holidays… this hotel is part of the heart and soul of the company,” Durham said.
Provision of jobs
She further pointed out that one of the major accomplishments Marriott was proud to have made was the provision of jobs for more than 200 Guyanese, noting that the satisfaction of the hotel’s investors and associates was beyond expectations. “One of the most beautiful things about coming into a market is our ability to impact people. The pleasure for us is that when we get into a country like this, it is the people that join our family. We really do live the culture…when I came here, one of the things that really stood out to me was the spirit and passion and pride of the associates, it is something I will take back with me to Corporate,” the Marriott Executive said.
Marriott International Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arne Sorenson, in a special video message for the gathering, said he was pleased with the work done on the hotel while praising the country. Sorenson said that the hotel will play a major role in the growth and development of the country and as such, deserved celebration.
The luxury hotel boasts 197 guest rooms and suites that offer views of the ocean at every turn. Its ballroom has the capacity to accommodate between 400 and 700 persons at any time depending on the set-up. It can also be transformed into four sections to host smaller events. The hotel also has five boardrooms and an open style kitchen to allow patrons to dine in the restaurant and watch their meals being prepared by expert chefs. Its indoor gym will cater mainly for its guests but membership will eventually be offered to the public. In addition, daily passes will also become available once the hotel is open to the public.
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