AHEAD of today’s highly anticipated grand opening ceremony, the Georgetown Marriott Hotel formally welcomed its first guest yesterday morning – REPSOL Country Manager, Giancarlo Ariza. Among those present were Head of Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI), Winston Brassington and Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who described the occasion as an “extremely exciting and momentous moment for all Guyanese”.

Noting that the Marriott is an international hotel brand of the highest repute, “well known for the excellence of its properties and the excellence of the services that they offer”, the Minister said Government was delighted that the company viewed Guyana as a place where they would like to do business.
He added that the Marriott was “sufficiently confident to associate their brand with this country and they have worked closely with us to establish a hotel that has true international standard, class and calibre”.
The Finance Minister said he has had a number of conversations with the hotel chain’s top leadership and on every occasion, he has heard that the company is proud to be associated with the Guyana Marriott and they are proud to have the company’s brand attached to it. In addition to this, they have said that the local hotel can hold its own against any other Marriott branded hotel, internationally. He described the facility as a “fantastic addition to the local landscape and provides a very important fillip to the tourism industry and to the tourism landscape infrastructure in Guyana”.
The fact that the first guest is the head of a well-known multinational company, which itself with its investments locally in the oil and gas sector has also indicated its belief that Guyana is a good place to do business, with a global footprint, sends a strong signal of confidence and optimism in this country’s future, Minster Singh said.
“A fantastic place, as expected,” was the description given by the Marriott’s first guest, Giancarlo Ariza, adding that it was one of the best hotel brands internationally. He added that the Marriott Guyana, will make many changes in the local hotel industry, “not only that, it’s going to make good opportunities for development and other business around the hotel area”.
The Marriott, a five-star brand is known around the world as one of the most prestigious and quality hotel brands. The hotel chain is present in 72 countries, comprising more than 3600 hotels, and a staff complement of 129,000.

The establishment will provide employment for 250 people in the hospitality business, through direct employment, and another 100 indirectly. This will be accomplished through the utilisation of the services of local workers such as electricians and those in the construction field. The 197–room Marriott boasts a large ballroom, a conference centre, casino, nightclub, restaurant, a concrete walkway, and all other amenities of a world-class hotel. The US$51 million project was launched in November 2011.