-by NaAsia Bristol
The newly opened A.C. Marriott Hotel at Ogle has created over 200 permanent jobs, with 98 per cent of the staff being Guyanese, enhancing confidence in Guyana’s tourism and investment sectors. The hotel includes 152 rooms, a lodge, a pool and pizza bar, event spaces and rental options. The second phase, with an 80,000 square foot lifestyle center and a 180 square foot office park, is set to be completed in three years.
President Dr Mohamed Irfan Ali, speaking at the opening ceremony, said the development reflects strong confidence in Guyana’s economy and future.
“This hotel sends a clear message beyond our borders. It says Guyana is open, Guyana is confident, Guyana is serious about quality.
We are not waiting to be discovered, we are preparing to be chosen, chosen by investors, chosen by visitors, chosen by partners who value stability, ambition and integrity. We are not asking the world to notice us, we’re inviting it to engage,” he said.
The head of state said the project shows what is possible when regional and local investors work together and assured that the government will continue to support private sector growth.
He also urged citizens and visitors to take responsibility for maintaining new facilities, stressing that national development depends on the mindset of the people.
“We all have to be the best we can be. When these facilities are built, we have a collective responsibility to keep it the way it is. I’ve seen, not in Guyana alone, all over the world, people would go in to use a facility and leave the pipe on or they would just roll out the hand towels in the washroom… all of that is about developing the mindset,” the president stated.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, said the arrival of a globally recognized brand like AC Marriott signals that Guyana is ready, competitive and open for business. She noted that 15 hotels are currently under construction nationwide, with nearly 2,000 new rooms expected to come on stream within the year.