Groundbreaking for Marriott Hotel next month — Phillips

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The long-awaited construction of a hotel to be managed by the Marriott Hotel chain here is a step closer to reality.

Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips announced at the opening of Parliament today that ground is to be broken on the New Kingston site for the hotel next month.

The announcement comes three years after it was first reported that the international hotel chain would be managing a city hotel on a section of the 161,610 square-foot land in Knutsford Park in New Kingston.

Cabinet in November of 2009 approved the sale of the land for $454.5 million to Pan Jamaican Investment Trust (Pan Jam), which will be building the hotel.

"There will be a city hotel to be managed and operated by the Marriott," Pan Jam CEO Stephen Facey told the Jamaica Observer then.

Aside from a hotel, the land will also be used for retail and recreational facilities, office and residential spaces.