THE grand $51M Marriott Hotel was officially opened yesterday, becoming a catalyst for further development of Guyana’s thriving tourism sector.The imposing edifice at Alpha Block, Kingston, Georgetown, overlooking the Mighty Atlantic Ocean, provides a picturesque view of Central Georgetown and the ocean, unassumingly yet gracefully meeting the Demerara River.

As the first hotel of its kind in Guyana, and the second in the English-speaking Caribbean, Marriott Guyana stands out unarguably as a symbol of grace and luxury combined.
Director of the Guyana Tourism Association, Indranauth Haralsingh said the Marriott is the new charm of Destination Guyana, raising the bar of excellence in quality services.
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.
TRNSFORMATIVE PRODUCT
“Marriott is part of a transformative project, it will help to raise Guyana’s profile as a tourism destination; it will boost our room staff; bring quality five-star service; it will help to bring more tourists to Guyana; it will boost our competitiveness in the Caribbean as a place for meeting, conferences and exhibition,” Haralsingh told the Guyana Chronicle.
Guyana has been aggressively marketing its tourism sector under the new label Guyana South America Undiscovered. Under the programme, strong attention is being placed on community-based tourism, cultural rhythms, Guyana as a birder’s paradise, the natural wonders of Guyana and nature and adventure.
Tourism plays an integral role in the development of a country, and as Guyana continues to gain international attention through its diverse blend of cultures, efforts are being made to develop community-based tourism.

Community-based tourism is a growing niche market, and several communities, especially in the hinterland with their low-carbon lifestyle, are taking advantage of this tourism feature, with many of them not only creating local employment, but contributing as well towards the protection and preservation of the country’s natural and rich environment.
RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE
This is fused with the promotion of Guyana’s rich cultural heritage, truly unique, and full of energy, life and diversity.
“With our cultural melting pot of different peoples, Guyana offers you a taste of delectable cuisine, from cassava bread and pepperpot to cookup and fried fish,” the Tourism Ministry said.
In addition, Guyana’s diverse natural regions have a range of wonderful habitats, from more than 870 species of bird from 79 different families.
Visitors to the Marriott can take a trip to experience the thrill of birding in Guyana’s wild tropical forest, ruggedly beautiful mountains, rare coastland and fascinating savannahs.
There, they will observe some of the larger families of Herons, Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Caracas, Rails, Sandpipers, Gulls, Turns, Skimmers, Parrots, Nighthawks, Swifts, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers, Ovenbirds, Woodcreepers, Tyrant Flycatcher, Cotingas, and many others.
And if this is not enough, there is the marvel of the many unspoilt and pristine nature destinations.
Coupled with natural beauty and biological diversity, Guyana is home to some of the world’s largest and rarest creatures. Guyana’s natural beauty is unsurpassable with 75 per cent of the country covered with rain forest.
NATURAL WONDERS
It is home to the world’s largest single drop falls, Kaieteur Falls, situated in the Kaieteur National Park, a sanctuary for an abundance of flora and fauna.

Visitors can also take a trip to the 1,700 million-years- old Mount Roraima, and for nature and adventure lovers, the Kanuku Mountains is one of the many places of natural and serene beauty.
The Kanuku provides a spectacular backdrop to the vast Rupununi Savannahs with its sculptured crowns peaking just below clumps of thick white clouds.
And for those looking for a natural jacuzzi, there is the Orinduik Falls. Rolling over steps and terraces of solid jaspers, with a backdrop of grass covered hills of the Pakaraimas Mountains; the Orinduik Falls is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of Guyana’s hinterland.
The Marriott Hotel, Haralsingh said, is a huge shot in the arm for the tourism sector, since aside from providing a world-class service, and modernising the image of Georgetown, it fittingly compliments Guyana’s tourism package.
BOOST FOR TOURISM
“This is a historic moment. It is truly a historic occasion for us to have a hotel of such high reputation and quality in Destination Guyana. It is indeed a big boost for tourism in Guyana. It is a welcoming addition to Guyana and we will continue to work with the Marriott to position Guyana as a must see, must visit destination.”
The Marriott is located a short distance from the historic Light House, which serves as a beacon for ships coming to port Georgetown, and for Haralsingh, the international hotel will serve as a flagship for standards in the local hotel industry.
“It will attract Marriott Club members and the local hotel can earn Marriott points with club members coming here. It will help to position Guyana in a different way; it will help to make us more competitive. Guyana will benefit from their best practices and shared experiences from across the world,” Haralsingh told the Guyana Chronicle.
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 3,600 hotels, and a staff complement of 129,000.
Executive of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo said that the private sector cannot be more proud to have a world famous Marriott brand hotel here.
And for Marriott Hotel Guyana Marketing Manager Denisse Olivo, the staff at Marriott cannot wait to begin their service in Guyana.

By Tajeram Mohabir