By IsanellaPatoir
Construction will begin on Sunday, March 7, on a US$15 million first of its kind, boutique hotel on Robb and Oronoque Streets in Georgetown under the name ‘Aiden Hotel’. The hotel will be the 12th Aiden Hotel worldwide and the first for the Caribbean and South America.
A boutique hotel is typically a petite hotel with a modern contemporary vibe and rich local culture which focuses on food, beverage and entertainment.
“It’s going to have something happening almost every night, there is going to be music, there is going to be great lights and it is going to be a very modern feel,” co-developer of the hotel, Geraldo Alphonso told the News Room.
Alphonso is developing the hotel with his brother under the company, Arimu Investments Inc., a local Guyanese company.
The multi-million investment also comes under the Best Western Hotel & Resorts franchise. Alphonso explained that Arimu Investments Inc. has acquired two hotel brands under the franchise – the Aiden Hotel and Sure Stay Plus Hotel. The Sure Stay Plus Hotel will be constructed once the boutique hotel is completed.
Alphonso, who also operates the Innovations America Store in Georgetown, said he saw the investment opportunity for hotels in Guyana with the growing demand for accommodation. This new hotel is expected to bring in jobs, tourism and business.
Once completed, the nine-story 74,000 square feet modern building will have 101 executive rooms, an executive bar and lounge; executive conference rooms, private dining rooms, a state-of-the-art gym, an English Restaurant and Bar, while the invisible styled rails and barriers concept would give a feeling of dining with the stars.
The hotel also promises to offer second to none hospitality services.
“We have a couple of unique points about this hotel; it is the first franchise boutique hotel in the middle of Georgetown, that’s unique by itself and the modern architecture of the building, should stand out.
“Apart from that, we have pledged in our company’s budget, a sum towards training and hospitality courses for our staff that we will be employing,” Alphonso explained.
According to Alphonso, the central location of the hotel is ideal for a traveller who not only has a car but someone that can transverse by foot. A three-level secure parking garage is also being constructed next to the hotel.
During the construction phase, some 150 Guyanese will be employed and upon completion, no less than 50 Guyanese will be on staff. Alphonso is also urging other investors to first seek Guyanese employees before seeking elsewhere.
“We really did spend some time and some thought to have as much Guyanese as we can employ in this project, to promote somewhat our local content with the hotel industry.”
A local Guyanese company, Build Smart Construction and Supplies Incorporated, will be constructing the hotel.
Additionally, the hotel will also be providing chauffeur services, shuttle bus tours around Georgetown, Demerara River tours along with helicopter tours around the city. The official sod-turning ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021.
Given Guyana’s booming oil and gas sector, it was recently reported that close to US$1 billion (G$215B) will soon be injected into the economy in the form of world-class hotels which will be constructed across the country.
Major players in the hotel industry such as Sheraton, The Element, Delta Marriott, Best Western Hotels and Resorts, the H-Tower Luxury Hotel, the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, the Radisson Hotels, and the Hilton Hotels and Resorts, among others, are slated to be constructed soon.
