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Guyana to get another multi-million-dollar hotel
– this time at Liliendaal
Although the local hotel market is saturated, an India- based company trading under the name ‘Sun and Sand Group of Companies’ yesterday turned the sod for the construction of a US$54M five-star, luxury hotel and casino at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
Construction on the163-room hotel began immediately and will be completed in approximately 18-months.
Sun and Sand Group of Companies also has an interest in investing in Guyana’s mining, housing and shipping sectors. In India the group is in involved in several areas, including hotel properties, service apartments, real estate and townships.
President Donald Ramotar and Director of Sun & Sand Group of Companies, Bhushan Chandna turning the sod for the construction of a US$54M five-star luxury, Sun and Sand Hotel and Casino at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
In attendance at the sod turning event were President Donald Ramotar, former President Bharat Jagdeo, Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali, Managing Director of BK International Brian Tiwari, politicians and businessmen.
The construction of the Sun and Sand Hotel will include many modern conveniences and amenities including a casino and restaurants. When completed, the 290,000 square feet hotel will also house a commercial block and club house of approximately 45,000 sq. ft. which is being touted to provide direct benefits to Guyanese through the provision of several hundred jobs.
Director of Sun & Sand Group of Companies, Bhushan Chandna explained that employees will benefit from training to provide high level services in the hospitality industry. The anticipated knowledge and information transfer will be of substantial value to the Guyanese human resource pool.
He said that the hotel will also provide indirect benefits as it serves as a significant catalyst to Guyana’s growing tourism sector and the economy in general.
The Director said the company has decided to invest locally, “because Guyana is an upcoming country that has a stable economy.” He noted that as Guyana continues to grow economically, the demand for additional services especially in the hospitality sector will increase.
Chandna also noted that the company wants to expand its operations here and contribute to the growth of the country. “Our motto is to bring luxury and pleasure so as to enhance Guyana’s tourism,” the Director stated.
The hotel and casino is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016 and Chandna expressed gratitude to the Guyana government for being investor friendly.
“The government of Guyana has been extremely supportive and has demonstrated that it is investor friendly…Mining is booming in Guyana and our company is into mining as well,” he said.
President Donald Ramotar said, Guyana can become a tourism destination and the construction of another hotel adds to the development and expansion of attracting airlines and businesses to Guyana.
“By the expansion of the airport we are attracting new airlines and we are getting more direct links to Europe, North America and Africa and many other places that will help us to improve arrivals in our society…We have a lot of facilities that can be used such as, the national stadium where large sporting events can be held, the convention centre and the hotels themselves are being built to capacity to hold large conferences and meetings and these are extremely important in driving tourism in allowing us to meet the full potential…this investment, like the Marriot Hotel will also stimulate more investment into the interior where we have tremendous tourist potential,” the President underscored.
The President said that the landscape and skylines are changing in the country, which will have a spin off effect to stimulate tourism and benefit communities.
“The government will facilitate and encourage these kinds of investments in our society, and a good business environment in which works can be carried out.”
Acting Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali said, the new hotel and facility is an addition to the tourism reserve facilities which will be available for Guyanese and visitors.
“When we made the investment in the Marriott, we realized that the government’s vision and strategy was to build tourism with the necessary infrastructure, not only for the sustainability of the sector but to ensure it can attract the tourists that are necessary.
It is a transformative move and we have seen how it has stimulated many more moves in this sector and this will no doubt bring many other trickle down investments.” Ali underscored.
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