UNITED States (U.S.) Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Brent Hardt has said that, notwithstanding the local controversy erupting over the  construction of the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, he is confident that the project will be completed.

While hesitant to comment on it as no American investment is involved, he said: “There seems to be a strong commitment to it…we see it going up with some rapidity and, at some point, I am sure we will see a project there.”
Speaking about the Marriott involvement locally, the diplomat told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment yesterday that it will become operational when the management contract comes into effect.
“I rather not comment on it…it’s a government project,” he observed. But he did add: “My understanding is when you have a hotel; there is a corporate management arrangement.”
Hardt said “certain standards” would be required to be a Marriott and when such a contract comes into force “they will come in and provide guidance and training to make sure it meets the standards.”
He maintained, though, that there is “not really a lot of involvement with Marriott at this time…until the management contract comes into being.”

SEEKING INVESTORS
Atlantic Hotels Inc. (AHI), the special-purpose company established for the erection of the Georgetown Marriott, is, currently, seeking investors to outfit, operate and maintain an entertainment complex “annexed” to the hotel.
AHI has indicated that expressions of interest are being solicited for the operation of the entertainment complex which would require a five-year business plan, including employment and training.
The entertainment complex comprises a specialty restaurant, nightclub and casino.
Marriott, a U.S.-based high-end hotel chain operates some 3,700 properties in 74 countries and territories worldwide and reported revenues of over US$12B in 2011.
The Georgetown Marriott Hotel was designed to receive LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is on track to be Marriott’s first LEED hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America.
It will operate as part of a public/private partnership between the Government of Guyana and private sector investors.