Guyana Marriott set to open in grand style

– ‘Where the Demerara meets the Atlantic’

The management of the Guyana Marriott remains committed to a grand opening of the luxurious hotel next month. A significant portion of the major construction has been completed and the necessary staff is being trained to ensure that the international brand is evident in Guyana.

This was confirmed during a site tour on Friday. General Manager, Roberto Grisi following the tour, indicated that a majority of the 197 rooms was already completed. The items for the other rooms are stored at the Kingston location to ensure timely completion. The decoration package will be rolled out in several weeks before a thorough cleaning of the building is carried out.

According to Grisi, the March deadline is highly dependent on the construction team and whether it could meet the approval of the corporate office. “The most important aspect is the fire safety… we do not open the hotel unless we have met 100 per cent fire safety standards,” the General Manager added.

Meanwhile, Marriott Guyana has already hired some 140 persons, many of whom are undergoing rigid training to ensure the kind of service that accompanies the ‘Marriott’ brand.  Grisi told this publication that another 30 persons will be hired just before the opening in March. He says the company intends to keep its commitment to the government to ensure Guyanese are hired for most of the vacant posts.

“We have three Guyanese on the executive committee,” the general manager revealed. He added that certain management positions are filled by employees from abroad who are responsible for training. “Hopefully in another several years we will have a fully Guyanese management team.” Some 95 per cent of the 500 employees at the Marriott Guyana Hotel will be Guyanese.  The remaining 240 persons will be brought on with the completion of the Entertainment Centre in September of this year. This second component of a 29,000 square foot entertainment complex will house a casino, restaurant and nightclub all of which will be privately operated, separate and distinct from the hotel and its operator.

The tour was facilitated by Director of Sales and Marketing, Denisse Olivio who explained that a ‘Guyanese’ theme is prominently featured in the décor. The meeting and conference rooms are named after Guyanese Rivers and Waterfalls. The ceiling immediately upon entrance into the lobby features a replica of the Water Lily suspended, like chandeliers.  The ‘Water Lily’ will be the flower of the hotel.

“The decoration package will feature a lot of Guyanese artists,” informed Grisi, who added that the inclusion of Guyana in the aesthetics of the Hotel is “extremely important”.

Meanwhile, questioned about being able to ensure the venture is a profitable one, Grisi noted that Marriott has made a relative commitment to the owners of the property. While he could not state the precise number of guests and the period the commitment covered, the General Manager added that “we do not have a reason to think that we are not going to meet or exceed those numbers”.

The Marriott Guyana Hotel boasts services of an international standard and facilities such as the business, fitness and entertainment centers, guest rooms to meet varying preferences and meeting spaces that could accommodate as many as many 700 persons. There are also facilities that are tailored for the visually and hearing impaired.

The glass finish allows picturesque views of the city of Georgetown in the front or the Atlantic Ocean in the rear.