THE billion-dollar Hyatt Place Hotel, being developed by SIR Investments Inc, with Varaya Guyana Inc., as its primary contractor, is taking shape at its Providence, East Bank Demerara site.

The Hyatt Place is one of several new accommodations bringing more rooms to Guyana’s demanding hospitality sector, with expectations for a mid-April 2026 completion.

This new hotel is within mere minutes of the Amazonia Mall, the National Stadium, the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the capital city.

Approximately five years ago, SIR decided to invest in Guyana. Through exploration, they quickly purchased the land that is now the construction site for the hotel.

A Director at SIR Investments, Imtiaz Ahamed said that the Hyatt is part of the ongoing development of upgrading Providence.

Ahamed remarked that Guyana has a tourism sector that has the potential to grow and develop further. Along with the oil and gas sector, there is also commerce.

“You have shipping which has certainly to improve with port and shipping facilities because of all the business activity taking place around,” he pointed out.

Despite only being in the construction phase, the Hyatt is set to offer employment and training to Guyanese and primarily serve a business clientele.

“When folks come in for business, they are going to get a bit of tourism out of the hospitality, etcetera, and certainly, you are going to have people coming in for the whole eco-industry, etcetera for Guyana.”

Ahamed added, “So, it is going to be a blend. Certainly, you will have, I would say, a whole combined effect of growing the economy through the various sectors.”

Additionally, he mentioned that most of the staff are going to be Guyanese, and the hotel will be operated by an international operator, who has already signed on.

Interviews and the sourcing of staff is expected to commence shortly, followed by the training period for these persons.

“So, while we are talking about tourism, we are going to talk about employment, local employment. We are going to talk about training. We are going to talk about contributions to the economy and GDP. Workers getting more disposable income, etcetera. It is going to be a whole package,” Ahamed affirmed.

In an invited comment, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond said the Hyatt Place signals confidence in Guyana’s growing tourism sector and strengthens the country’s image as a modern and evolving destination.

The minister noted that while Guyana is renowned for its pristine nature and authentic community-led experiences, the addition of a globally recognised, four-star brand, shows that the destination can balance authenticity with international comfort.
This, she noted, helps shift Guyana’s image from being seen as “purely niche”, to one that appeals to a broader range of travellers.

“Hyatt Place fills a critical gap in accommodation as visitor arrivals increase. With 136 rooms, it contributes to the national target of expanding hotel room capacity by over 2,000. It will also raise service standards and support business tourism by expanding MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events) options,” the minister said.

Importantly, Minister Walrond pointed out that its prime location in Providence makes it especially well-suited for both business and leisure travellers.

Accommodation aside, the minister highlighted that Hyatt’s presence sends a strong signal to other global brands that Guyana is ready for world-class hospitality investments.

According to Minister Walrond, “Importantly, its construction and operations will create training and employment opportunities, helping to build the capacity of the local workforce.”

In short, she emphasised that Hyatt Place will attract both regional and international visitors.

For overseas travellers, she remarked that its international branding guarantees a trusted standard for business, conferences, and leisure stays, while for regional guests, its amenities and central location make it appealing for short visits, events, and stopovers. In this way, it broadens Guyana’s reach by serving multiple markets at once, she said.