U.S.-based Guyanese couple opens new Gy$160M hotel in Georgetown

Guyanese and visitors can now add another hotel to their options, as a sparkling new hotel is opened in the heart of Georgetown.
The ‘Millennium Manor Hotel’ located at Lot 43 Hadfield Street (two buildings east of Camp Street), Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, was built by a U.S.-based Guyanese couple.

At the opening of the hotel on Thursday evening, owner Lancelot Bacchus and his wife, Yonette Bacchus, both expressed their appreciation for being given the opportunity to return to their native land and share in the development of Guyana’s tourism industry and at the same time, providing jobs in the sector.
The opening ceremony was intimate and held in the hotel’s banquet hall, which was beautifully designed in gold, silver and white. It was attended by several prominent public officials, including acting Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali and Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn.
Opportunities
Minister Benn, in brief remarks, said he is pleased to know that the couple returned and took advantage of the opportunities offered.
He noted that now is an “exciting time” for persons to invest in the development of Guyana and more so, the development of the hospitality sector. The minister is urging the public to support the couple so that it would encourage others to invest in Guyana.
Meanwhile, Minister Ali, in delivering the feature address, congratulated the couple on the accomplishment of a project which contributes significantly to the economic and social advancement of Guyana. He said this investment will not only benefit the tourism sector, but will also provide employment and will seek the service of many others.
“Because of this investment, this sacrifice of Gy$160 million that they have made, 15 families will benefit directly from employment here and in addition, there will be a string of other beneficiaries, including the people at the market who will supply them with fresh fruits and vegetables, cleaning services, security services and utility services,” noted Ali.
“Second to none”
The minister pointed out that the quality of the hotel is “second to none”, adding that when compared to other small hotels outside of Guyana, the Millennium Manor is “comparable at the highest level” and has proven that a small hotel can possess three and four star hotel standards.
Ali disclosed that the ministry has secured more than Gy$40 billion investment in the private sector in the past three years and this highlights the importance of tourism and how it can greatly enhance a country’s economy. The minister also revealed that he and Minister Benn will be part of a team which will approach the head offices of various airlines to advance Guyana as an important destination and transition point for international airlines. This venture, he noted, is a part of the “Rediscover Home Campaign” and will see him dealing with several hindering issues.
Ali explained that a major backlog in the campaign is “packages”.

“Members of the diaspora want an entire package; they want to be able to pay for a package which will include a hotel, touring facilities and their flights, and on this note, I would like to say (to) this couple that we will be collaborating with them to make this hotel and their investment part of that partnership, which we will market and promote on behalf of them.”
In closing, the minister said the couple should be the catalyst of change and ensure that in the next three years, “we become if not the top, among the top tourist destinations in the Caribbean and that is our aim and all of us will have to work to ensure that this dream is realised. It is in the interest of Guyana and the future of Guyana.”
The Millennium Manor Hotel is a four-storey building with 50 rooms, both single and double rooms. The building also houses a presidential suite with a Jacuzzi and a polo lounge on the fourth floor. The rooms are each contemporarily designed with tiled flooring, air condition units as well as equipped with, in addition to other things, a 50 inch flat screen television set.