Guyana will be home to the first Marriott Hotel in the Caribbean and Latin America with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Marriott International Inc. in a press released earlier this week announced that it will open its first Marriott branded hotel in Guyana in 2013.

The 160-room hotel will operate under a management agreement with Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI) which is currently owned by the Government of Guyana as part of a public-private partnership between Government and private sector investors.

President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking at the announcement said, “Guyana looks forward to a first class branded quality hotel operated by Marriott International. This public-private partnership project will transform the hospitality landscape and can be expected to encourage more travel and tourism development for our nation. The project will be more an integrated entertainment complex ideally located at the corner of the Atlantic Ocean and Demerara River with a casino, night club, restaurant and boardwalk.”

Chief Development Officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean & Latin America Laurent de Kousemaeker stated that the company is thrilled to partner with AHI and the Government of Guyana to open its first Marriott Hotel in the country, representing Marriott’s presence in another capital city in South America.

According to Kousemaeker, the Guyana Marriott will play an instrumental role in the continued and commercial development of Guyana.

The hotel’s state-of-the-art architectural and interior design concept will be created by the firm of Urbhan Architects, New York.

Marriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International’s flagship hotel brand and are designed to inspire performance by offering services and amenities that encourage guests to function at their peak and meet personal goals while travelling for business or leisure.

“Marriott Hotels & Resorts inspires your best performance during travel, delivering an experience that helps you work and relax in your own way,” the release stated.

Marriott boasts nearly 500 locations in 60 countries and according to the release provides “genuine care coupled with fresh, classic design, making it the leading choice for travellers and meeting planners.”

All Marriott hotels also participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay.

Government had ensured that the way was cleared for the project by putting in place a new sewage system, with 42-inch pipes at Kingston. It was foreseen that the new system would greatly enhance waste discharge in Georgetown.

Other preparations made to pave the way for the Marriot Hotel were dismantling of the Food and Drug Department, and the Luckhoo swimming pool.