Merge: GOG getting in the hotel industry/what intl travellers saying about Pegasus & Princess hotels

[justin]

they  are investor along along with the president that is involve in the building of the marriott and for one to fill there pockets  [the president] that will be bad for business  and on the other that is just low to say something like that abt the president  wen he is trying to bring a five star hotel which will create jobs for the guyanese ppl 

[Nuff]

Justin ... the president is BEGGING for investors. I don't see investors approaching the GoG with a gameplan and with 100% financing.

 Jagdeo is the person who is the catalyst for this Marriott ... not the investors. Jagdeo is willing to spend taxpayers monies on a Hotel ... he is obsessed with a 5 star hotel. His surname must be Hilton.

[justin]

here we gone back to the begging again then just now u gone say that he thiefing.yes he is the investors and the fact the he is not ready to say wat the names of the investor are must be because of getting more critizasm

[BK]

I hope the rest of the private sector (but moreso the Guyanese taxpayers) lend their voices together with Badal against the spiteful attack by Fagdeo on the industry as a whole. Drugdeo, champion beggar and thief, wants to wine and dine multinationals at the expense of Guyanese taxpayers.

Drugdeo is a vindictive MFer, he is pissed that his buddy did not win the 'bid' in his quest to purchase Pegasus and now he is trying his utmost to put the new owner out of business. Future would-be investors should take notice of Drugdeo attack against those who might be willing to invest in the country.

*************

An Indecent Assault On The Local Private Sector
July 28, 2010 | By KNews | Filed Under Letters
 
Dear Editor,

Every country in the Caribbean takes pride in its hotels for the role they play in the local tourism industry, the backbone of its economy. Their industry has been built over many years of careful planning and execution. One thing the governments of these countries have in common is that they provide the infrastructure, both physical and fiscal, to spur private initiative of both local and foreign investors to invest in hotels and other components of the hospitality industry. None of these Governments use taxpayers’ money to build hotels for foreign companies and discriminate against local entrepreneurs. They encourage and support local hotels to refurbish, improve their standards, add rooms and build new hotels as the demand increases.

There is no better policy strategy at a national level than providing a stable, certain and attractive fiscal environment that attract investments to particular industries. Governments building hotels using taxpayers’ money for leasing to foreign hotel chains is not the best use of taxpayers’ money. Guyana with its narrow economic base and poor infrastructure of roads, unreliable electricity, poor drainage, rising crime, and uncontrollable migration should not even be thinking of building hotels for wealthy multinationals. Of more pressing need are clean water, reduced electricity rates, better health care, computers in schools for every secondary school child, a real highway to the airport, roads to the intermediate savannahs, and improved drainage in the city and the rest of our country.

I have raised the issue of the increasing evidence that the Government of Guyana is squeezing out the private sector by unfair competition. I take serious offence with Mr. Jagdeo outburst, among other comments, on the quality of water at the Pegasus Hotel and condensation in the rooms in reaction to my comments of serious governance issues in his misuse of our tax dollars. Let me remind the President that his Government has been a shareholder in the Pegasus from its inception. The primary responsibility for the supply of water to the nation rests with the Guyana Water Inc., a 100 per cent state-owned entity.

And is it not public knowledge that Pegasus is currently undergoing a US$8.0 upgrade that will bring this national forty-year old icon to the very best of international standards of comfort and hospitality? Even as we do this no guest of the hotel had recently complained of room comfort or water quality. The Pegasus enjoys the highest level of occupancy of all hotels in Guyana, averaging 55-60 per cent per annum compared with a national average of approximately 35 per cent. If the demand for rooms increases we will mobilize the resources from local banks to add more rooms and expand facilities. It does not make economic sense to do so until then.

When we do so the entire economy benefits, including the banks as well as the national coffers. Why since the President feels that the Marriott will bring more tourists doesn’t he ask his private partners and the Marriott to do likewise and burrow money instead? Maybe the proposed Marriott project is not really about tourism and quality of rooms but a disguised for just another of those projects which divert public resources to a few individuals.

Robert Badal

Chief Executive Officer
Pegasus

[Nuff]

Jagdeo bad talks his local hotels in an effort to allow his cronies to build a 5 star hotel.

[justin]

there is a different between bad talking and out lineing certain facts,an dthere is not ned to bad talk the local hotels in order to build the marriott cause the marriott hotel will speak for uit self

[Laden]

Jagdeo bad talks his local hotels in an effort to all his cronies to build a 5 star hotel.

He has bad talked them he related what some visitors have said about the hotels and the service.

[Laden]

I hope the rest of the private sector (but moreso the Guyanese taxpayers) lend their voices together with Badal against the spiteful attack by Fagdeo on the industry as a whole. Drugdeo, champion beggar and thief, wants to wine and dine multinationals at the expense of Guyanese taxpayers.

Drugdeo is a vindictive MFer, he is pissed that his buddy did not win the 'bid' in his quest to purchase Pegasus and now he is trying his utmost to put the new owner out of business. Future would-be investors should take notice of Drugdeo attack against those who might be willing to invest in the country.

*************

Badal is whine due to the fact that there's gonna be competition in the hotel industry when the Marriott is built so he is gonna try to make a whole lot of fuss ,why have the buddy's hotel said anything about the Marriott.But the president did say that the GoG maybe be or might not be putting an input into the hotel.

[BK]

You need to read the letter and understand the message what is stated therein. The fact is Drugdeo is once again about to THIEF taxpayers money to help fund the construction of the Marriot where the same taxpayers would be denied entry to the hotel.

[justin]

u keep saying that guyanese wont be allow into the marriott like ur one of the investor and that u are very certain that  wats is going to happen u sound like an old car that want some attention

[Nuff]

Jagdeo bad talks his local hotels in an effort to all his cronies to build a 5 star hotel.

He has bad talked them he related what some visitors have said about the hotels and the service.

Why didn't he say this when the Turk invested $16M in Buddys and buddys made a few million dollars? I am confused.

[Nuff]

u keep saying that guyanese wont be allow into the marriott like ur one of the investor and that u are very certain that  wats is going to happen u sound like an old car that want some attention

I am not stating anything except the LAW.

The law states local resident native Guyanese cannot enter a casino. I didn't make this up.

[BK]

u keep saying that guyanese wont be allow into the marriott like ur one of the investor and that u are very certain that  wats is going to happen u sound like an old car that want some attention

Again try to read and understand what Drugdeo made clear regarding the 'ban' against Guyanese from entering Princess casino and any other casinos in the future.

[BK]

you got to give it to KN for some of their satirical works. Rotie already got Celina what more he want? More short time stay for his trysts with his underaged consorts?

***********

Dem boys seh…Rohee, Kwame and Manny want hotel too
July 28, 2010 | By KNews | Filed Under Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News
 
When foreigners come they must have proppa places to go and to stay. Dem boys hear Bharrat seh suh before he get de flu. And de man still sick because all dem pharmacy hide dem medication from he. Even he best friend, Bobby, who does sell all de drugs to de hospital, didn’t keep none fuh help he friend. And he friend really been in need.

And is that same need mek Bharrat want to build de Marriott. Then Manny lose he head because he want investors build a five star hotel in Wakenaam. More than half de people pun de island move out and now paying people fuh live in dem house.

Then Kwame ketch de virus and he want a hotel at Monkey Mountain fuh he and dem other monkeys. Even Rohee get in de act. He want a local contractor who build some of dem schools, and repair some of dem hospitals, roads—even a farmer fuh build a hotel at Mazaruni. He don’t care who build de hotel once one build next to de prison. If dem people got lil bit commonsense then cockroach eat out dem boys brain. But then again Rohee probably mekking room fun some of he friends who flying high right now. Talk half. Lef half.

Quote: “The owner is by himself. He has no guests. Those four walls kind of close in on you.” That is the fate of those other hotels in Guyana when the Marriott is completed.

[Laden]

u keep saying that guyanese wont be allow into the marriott like ur one of the investor and that u are very certain that  wats is going to happen u sound like an old car that want some attention

I am not stating anything except the LAW.

The law states local resident native Guyanese cannot enter a casino. I didn't make this up.

If you could show me the law where that is stated i would be glad cause I'm thinking if there is no visitors to the casino how would they make money there are guyanese who likes to gamble a bit and wouldn't wanna go to another country to go the casino when there is right in their country....

[Nuff]

u keep saying that guyanese wont be allow into the marriott like ur one of the investor and that u are very certain that  wats is going to happen u sound like an old car that want some attention

I am not stating anything except the LAW.

The law states local resident native Guyanese cannot enter a casino. I didn't make this up.

If you could show me the law where that is stated i would be glad cause I'm thinking if there is no visitors to the casino how would they make money there are guyanese who likes to gamble a bit and wouldn't wanna go to another country to go the casino when there is right in their country....

I hate having to spoon feed you with information when you live in Guyana and I live in North America. The fact is you don't even know the law in your own country and you are writing nonsense on the internet.

Please read the following statements by your president the CHAMPION. He EXPLICITLY states the casino law.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Law keeping Guyanese out of casino rankles Jagdeo
By Stabroek staff | March 21, 2010 in Local News

Bharrat Jagdeo  says there should be freedom of choice



President Bharrat Jagdeo has strongly hinted that the government may amend the Gambling Prevention law to allow Guyanese the opportunity to gamble in local casinos.

Speaking at the official opening of the US$2 million Princess Casino on Friday evening, the Head of State said while he is not in support of gambling, he believes it is important for Guyanese to have freedom of choice.

“We have had to put limitations on who come into these casinos. But frankly speaking, it is particularly bothersome to me that the legislation that we have passed, which I fully subscribe to, creates a situation… akin to apartheid…”.  Jagdeo described this as being “bothersome”, to a government that believes in giving its citizens freedom of choice. “How it evolves in the future, I don’t know, but there’re various forces acting at this point in time… For me, particularly, this is something that I find distasteful. Guyanese should be able to enjoy all the choices in their own country…,” the President said.

Currently the Gambling Prevention law, which was amended in 2007 to legalize the establishment of casinos locally, states that only registered guests of the hotel and overseas nationals could be patrons of the casino. When the legislation was amended in January 2007, there was widespread objection from members of the religious community who argued that that there were several social ills connected with gambling.

Speaking to the religious leaders on Friday, Jagdeo said, “this makes your work harder, it’s not easy anymore. You have to convince people that they are not making the right choices. It’s not going to happen just by itself.”

He noted that prior to the passing of the legislation he had met heads of the religious community and explained to them that his government’s approach is to give its citizens choices.

Further explaining government’s decision to permit the opening of casinos, he said it was a way of encouraging large investors in the country, especially in the hotel industry where there is a need for modern hotel rooms. He noted that the law has limited the number of casinos that can be constructed in the country and that these have to be complemented with large-scale investments in the hotel industry.  According to him, the casino business “allows the investors to support their cash flow so that their investments could be much more profitable at the beginning of their investment.”  This, he later said, would allow the country to garner more revenue from taxes.

Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad, meanwhile pledged that the Gaming Authority will be monitoring the Princess Casino to ensure that it is operated within the regulations.  He noted that the investment in the casino by the Princess Group demonstrated confidence in the country’s economy.

The casino has 300 slot machines and 11 gaming tables (2 roulette tables, 7 card games – blackjack and poker and 2 Texas Holdem). It is the 30th such facility constructed internationally by the Princess Group internationally.  The Princess Group purchased the Buddy’s International Hotel in 2008 at a price of US$15 million.


http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/stories/03/21/law-keeping-guyanese-out-of-casino-rankles-jagdeo/

[Nuff]

Justin ... do you understand what your president is saying ... or is  he  saying nonsense?

[Laden]

I hate having to spoon feed you with information when you live in Guyana and I live in North America. The fact is you don't even know the law in your own country and you are writing nonsense on the internet.

Please read the following statements by your president the CHAMPION. He EXPLICITLY states the casino law.
[/quote]

I must say thank for showing what he say but he did say that the should be a freedom of choice well just to let you know Nuff that since the casino was open there has been a number of guyanese who had gone there and played a few of the games.

[Nuff]

I can't have a discussion with you.

The law explicitly states NO GUYANESE ALLOWED IN CASINOS. The president stated this.

Now you are talking nonsense about Guyanese going to casinos. I am telling you what the law of the land states. It states .... NO WAY JOSE!

My bad it states ... it's OK Jose (Brazilian/Venez), but no go Baldeo (Guyanese).

[justin]

that not wat the law says  that guyanses cant go into the hotel but the law state that guyanese are not allow to go in to hotel casino but like he also said that it is unfair for one living in a country to not have the choice to go and try some of the games there and just because that the law mean that guyanese never went in the casino and i dont me those who are working there

[Nuff]

Back up ... read what I have been saying this entire thread. Sure paying Guynaese can stay in the hotel ... that means about 2% of the populace can afford that.

But only foreigners and hotel guest can enter the casino. This means a porknocker brazilian or Venez can enter the casino legally before you can. And it's your taxpaying dollars which will pay for the hotel. Go figure.

[BK]

Nuff, dem OP/GINA high school dropout only learn one word (miasma), after Fagdeo ordered the 'hit' of a bucket load of shit, and hence can only write/talk crap. That is how Fagdeo can fool some people all of the time.

[BK]

And Fagdeo was just blowing thru his ass when he made his flowery speech at the 50th anniversary of Banks DIH, while revealing his vindictiveness and fisher homan buzing down attitude towards Badal as highlighted by Emile. Fagdeo has once again demonstrated that he is a low down dirty classless dawg.

****************

Guyanese should publicly question motive of this rash of public-private partnerships that lack transparency
By Stabroek staff | July 29, 2010 in Letters
 Dear Editor:

Without rehashing every detail of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent intemperate outburst at Pegasus owner, Mr. Robert Badal, I must say that no serious investor – whether Guyanese or foreigner – should ever feel at ease doing business in Guyana, whether on their own or as a partner with the Jagdeo Administration.

One does not necessarily have to be a business person to readily commiserate with the warranted concerns expressed by Mr. Badal in his July 22 letter, which questioned government’s partnership role in the recently announced public-private deal to construct a Marriott hotel in Georgetown. Government’s direct involvement unfairly tilts the competitive scale against other competing investors and also contradicts its own commitment to create an environment conducive for the private sector to flourish.

At the 50th (Golden Jubilee) anniversary gathering of Banks DIH on September 9, 2005, President Jagdeo told a gathering that the time had come for Guyana to have a modern and vigorous private sector. “For too long in Guyana,” he said, “we had a situation where the Government involved itself in almost all economic activities, and we continue to suffer from the damage caused by this bankrupt and arrogant approach.”

He then pledged that any government he leads would not allow the country “to return to the days where the Government tried to be all things to all people, and in so doing sapped the spirit of entrepreneurship throughout the country,” and so he urged the private sector to rise to the challenge of being the driver of enhanced competitiveness and greater economic growth, because “the government cannot deliver economic growth but can only create the environment and give targeted support where appropriate.” It was during this very speech he threw down the gauntlet to the private sector: “Give me a vision (blueprint) and I will cut the red tape!”

The President continued his remarks by calling for the private sector to demonstrate vision and leadership to create a new entrepreneurial culture, seize market opportunities that present themselves, help the government make evidence-based policy by providing empirical backing to policy advocacy and look within the private sector for solutions to business problems.

“We must work together to elevate the conversation beyond rhetoric, beyond anecdote masquerading as analysis, and beyond pointless insult and petty disagreement. Instead let’s base conversations on facts and objective analysis, let’s recognise that we all have to play our part, let’s commit to addressing the issues we face, and let’s determine the practical steps needed to resolve them.”

Now, compare the flowery remarks of that time with his recent unsavoury outburst at Mr. Badal, a local private sector investor with multiple businesses and many employees: “It is these narrow minded people who will hold this country back!” Ironically, the President also revealed Mr. Badal’s role in the Stockfeed shares from the government and the building of a wharf on land owned by NICIL (a government-owned company whose primary business seems to be getting government involved in business activities), yet the President cannot release the names of the private sector partners in the Marriott project or the private sector partners in the Amalia Falls hydro project.

Even President of the Private Sector Commission, Mr. Gerry Gouveia, who welcomed the government’s decision to help build the Marriott, and is said to be close to the President, disagreed with the President’s remarks in Jamaica that disparaged two private sector businesses – the Pegasus and Princess hotels.

But notice also the President’s shocking volte-face from 2005, because today his government is trying indeed to be all things to all people, including being a dominant force in every facet of public life and involvement in projects that should have been the sole domain of the private sector. In fact, it is the lead partner in the dance with the private sector and any member who makes a wrong move gets stepped on.

Now, I am not against public-private partnerships, but there are some very serious questions about this government and some of its ‘private sector partners’ that need to be fully answered before the public can readily throw their support behind any and every partnership.

And the twin chief questions are: 1) What public account government is tapping for monies it has spent, is spending and plans to spend on projects that the annual budget did not cater to or foreign donors or lenders did not give to Guyana? 2) For the private sector, from where did the banks in Guyana get hundreds of millions of dollars in deposits (even making huge profits) that can now be tapped by the ‘private sector’ for investment purposes?

Right now, the underground/informal economy is a significant part of the formal economy and the average Guyanese employee can barely spend let alone save money.

Note also that after Mr. Badal quoted a US$20M figure that the government allegedly set aside towards the Marriott, the President never denied this, but simply said his government ‘may or may not put money into the Marriott’, (KN, July 24) and since the Marriott is being built under the auspices of another government company – AHI, this dubious response raises even more questions about the government’s commitment to transparency.

Guyanese everywhere should publicly question the true motive of this rash of public-private partnerships that lack transparency, because no on knows if these projects are actually setting up some people for personal windfalls in later days.

Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin,
Queens, New York

[Nuff]

Jagdeo has gone back to his communist teachings and ways. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. This is what they taught him in Russia. He only talks about entrepreneurism for the hell of it but he definitely practices communism. If he had his way he would sell the country off to his cronies while having the state subsidize the transaction.

[justin]

this man has done so much to bring this country to a  more develop country and a closer step out of being a third world country,so i dont understand why the man will work so hard to bring a country out of debt and also see how much more he can do despite all the critisim and now u sayiny the he woulda sell the country. come om be serious

[caribj]

what happen in dubai with the hotels doesn't mean the same thing is going to hppen here,a lot of tourist comes to this countryand stay at some of the best hotel that guyana has.marriot will be the pride of guyana because marriot hotel will be the hotel with a difference  and of a different owner that will no how to attract the visitor of this country to the marriot

You dont seem to understand basic English. People will not visit Guyana when there are hundreds of Marriott properties elsewhere. They will visit Guyana when they have a REASON to do so.

Now if PRIVATE investors wish to engage in ahighly risky venture....given the poor state of the hotel industry its their money. But why use tax payers' money to support a private venture?  Clearly Jagdeo and or his buddies have a PERSONAL interest in this venture.

Its sad how corrupt Dictator Jagdeo is and how he is allowed to do these things. The man makes Burnham look like a saint....and this from  a man who eagerly went to a "Burnham Dead" party when the news came  that Guyana had finally been rid of that scourge.

[caribj]

THE BIG GAMBLE
July 14, 2010 | By KNews | Filed Under Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

Sheila Holder, one of the leaders of the Alliance For Change (AFC), says she is not a betting person. If she only knew the irresistible wager that Glenn Lall is offering, she may become the gambling type.
Glenn Lall, the publisher of the Kaieteur News, is making a high-stakes gamble. He says that he is willing to give away Kaieteur News if anyone can prove to him that the proposed five-star hotel for the Kingston area will be a good deal.
Glenn Lall is not convinced that this is a sound deal. And he has the credentials to know a good deal when he sees one. He is someone that is extremely business savvy. When he first took the risk of entering the newspaper business, not many felt that he would succeed. The skeptics said that there was no room for a third daily newspaper in Guyana. He proved them all wrong. The newspaper not only survived but developed into the country’s leading newspaper in under ten years, quite a phenomenal feat considering the existing competition. When it comes to business in Guyana, I assure you, Glenn Lall is someone whose opinions cannot be ignored.
When he therefore says that he is not convinced that the proposed Marriott-branded hotel for Guyana is a viable investment, people should take note. He is so confident about this that he is prepared to risk losing his flagship company, the Kaieteur News, just to prove that he is right.
For him, the only way that the Marriott Hotel can be profitable in Guyana’s small economy is if the competition is wiped out. Thus for the Marriott to survive and make a viable return on the investments of the owners, both the Pegasus and the Princess Hotel will have to go out of business. The local market, he is convinced, is too small to secure an adequate occupancy in a 260-room hotel. He further feels that even if the Pegasus and Princess Hotel go under, there is no guarantee that the new hotel will be a viable investment.
The second condition for a viable hotel of that size and class in a small economy like Guyana would have to be a significant subsidy from the government. The proposed hotel is not likely to make it unless it is floated by government. This is why the taxpayers of Guyana must be concerned about the reason why the government is an investment partner in this deal. If this project is as attractive as is being touted, why is there the need for the taxpayers’ monies to be put into it as a catalyst? Unlike the Princess Hotel which was built three years ago, there is no deadline in the form of a cricket tournament. Guyana’s reputation is not at stake in completing this hotel.
So just what is at stake that the government is so keen to become a co-investor? Why should the government be acting as a catalyst for big business? Why do the private investors need such government assistance? There should be no subsidy, in whatever form.
The private sector supports this investment in the hotel. But the private sector needs to be careful in endorsing a project before they know who the investors are. The previous attempt at a hotel in the Kingston area failed, and despite this, the government still onto this day has not revealed the names of the persons who were supposed to invest in that venture. Why the secrecy still?
The private sector should focus on two things. The first is the publication of the names of the investors. The second thing is that they should insist that adequate safeguards be in place so that the wrong type of money does not find its way into that project.
The government does not have a good record of recent when it comes to due diligence on investors. For example when asked about the due diligence done on the person selected for the Amaila Falls Road Project, one government official spoke about the insurance company which put up the bid bond having most likely done such a due diligence test.
All may be above board with this hotel and casino project, but there is an extra need to be careful because these types of investments can become conduits for the wrong type of activities and this is something that both the government and the people of Guyana should avoid at all cost.

Besides the locally owned hotels in Suriname, there are four intl brands, Princess, Marriot, Best Western and Wydham intl. They are all surviving well.
If the govt. of Guyana did not get involved in the Marriot venture, we would not be hearing all these condemnation. Guyana needs and intl brand hotel. And Lall will be proven wrong.

Jansher YOU have boasted about how much tourism Suriname has. And not just returning Surinamese who mostly stay with relatives.

Guyana cannot be compared to Suriname.

[caribj]

the man has a rite to choose who he want to work on his investment so he can DICTATE how he want 

You got that right. Yes he can use tax payers' money as if its his own.  To enrich himslef and his friends.

Listen PPP blogger tell Jagdeo to use his OWN millions if he wishes a G/twn Marriott.

[caribj]

the same berbice bridge is one cause it is more efficient and easy to get from rosignal to newamsterdam,and the stadium is use very oftem for many event so i dont see how this is a failure and we also know that this summer will be full of activities that will be at the stadium

I see from your ignorance what a sad state Guyana is in.  Why should tax payers dollars to used to fund a new Thirst Park....because I feel confident that these "activities" arent brining in much needed foreign curency nor generating the types of employment that will encourage Guyanese not to have to flock to St Maarten where they rank amongst the largest immigrant groups behind Haitians, Dominicanos, and Jamaicans....all from islands which are easily accessable to that island which Guyana isnt.

[caribj]

they  are investor along along with the president that is involve in the building of the marriott and for one to fill there pockets  [the president] that will be bad for business  and on the other that is just low to say something like that abt the president  wen he is trying to bring a five star hotel which will create jobs for the guyanese ppl 

Are you aware of the fact that the president isnt using HIS money but YOURS. If this project fails he doenst lose anything. YOU DO.  Now go back to your assumed position to allow Jagdeo to grease you up because its clear that you love abuse.

[Nuff]

Jagdeo has taxed the guyanese more than any other president/leader of that country.

THEN HE TAKES THE TAXPAYERS MONIES AND FUNDS HIS BOGUS CRONY CONTRACTS AND BUSINESS VENTURES.

[jun]

You guys are good just keep repeating the same point over and over to the PPP lovers.

[Nuff]

It's no good, they like punishment in GT. They get what they deserve.

[Gtman1]

Jagdeo way off the mark on The Bahamas’ hotel occupancy rate
August 3, 2010 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo whilst speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the GT&T fibre optic cable recently, in reference to the proposed Marriott Hotel and seeking to justify its construction despite the low level of occupancy in Guyana, spoke of a new hotel proposed in the Bahamas and an occupancy rate in that territory of 40 per cent.
However, contrary to what the president said, the occupancy rate in the Bahamas is, as of the end of June, in excess of 70 per cent and projected to climb.
Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Robert Corbin, while not wanting to speak on specific figures said that it is ludicrous for the president to compare hotel occupancy rates in Guyana and the Bahamas.
Corbin said that the policies and corresponding pull factors are not in Guyana to attract tourists.
He said that the Bahamas is a well marketed and promoted tourist destination with proximity to the market.
According to an article carried in the Nassau Guardian by Scott Armstrong – the entity’s Business Editor – the hotel occupancy in The Bahamas continues to head slowly in the right direction with the latest figures showing an increase.
“According to preliminary statistics released by the Bahamas Hotel Association and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, the 14 major New Providence hotels recorded a 71.5% occupancy rate for June compared to 65.9% in 2009.This occupancy rate combined with an increase in average daily room rate (ADR) of $15.17 generated a 16.3% room revenue boost and an 8.5% increase in room nights sold. For June 2010, the ADR was $225.55 compared to $210.38 last year.”
The second quarter of 2010 ended with a 68.3% occupancy rate and a $236.73 ADR compared to 66.4% and $232.41 last year, and 67.2% and $260.60 in the first quarter of this year.
To the end of June, occupancy stood at 67.7%, ADR at $248.51 and room nights sold and room revenue 3.8% and 5.9% above 2009 levels. This compared to 65.2% and $243.47 in 2009. Air arrivals to Nassau to the end of April were up 2.4%.
Meanwhile, some hoteliers in Guyana have come out in support of Robert Badal, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pegasus Hotel, saying that he is correct when he says that at present a Marriott Hotel would be counter-productive to the industry.
One such owner told this newspaper that the corresponding development that was promised when there was the boom in the number of hotels built for Cricket World Cup 2007 never occurred.
As such, the hotel proprietor is of the opinion that the money that is proposed to be invested in the Marriott-branded hotel should instead be invested in building the necessary infrastructure, marketing Guyana and seeking to have more seats on planes available for Guyana at a cheaper cost.
Another hotelier said that while there are good products in Guyana to market, it is very expensive to come here.
As an example, it was pointed out by one of the hoteliers that his relatives had considered travelling to Guyana for a visit but had pointed out that it would be cheaper to travel to Portugal and have a complete vacation. They stressed that that would just be the cost to reach Guyana.
It was noted that one should analyze the fact that there are several hotels up for sale, and that there is the need for greater focus on getting people here.
It was also pointed out that that while there may be as many as 100,000 people traveling to Guyana annually, a marginal number are tourists.
One hotel owner, whilst emphasizing the need for marketing Guyana and reducing the cost of traveling, said that when a person checks the arrival of tourists in other Caribbean countries it ranges in the millions.
As it relates to jobs, it was said that compared to the optimistic Cricket World Cup 2007 period, many hotels have had to lay-off persons because the industry has gone through a testing period.
Whilst hotel owners are not afraid off competition as it relates to the quality of their accommodations and service, should the Marriott be built with the current arrival rates, then it would make their businesses unsustainable.
A leading hotelier said that whenever the Tourism Minister talks about a boom in arrivals, it can always be traced to a certain organised events such as high school reunions.

[justin]

the marriott hotel will give the travellers of guyana a new choice the opportunity of a new hotel and some where different to stay and travellers that know of the marriottwill want to stay at the marriott

[jun]

Who are these tourist these guys keep talking about?? You guys really think people from Europe and North America will past up any of the islands and come to dirty Kingston to watch brown water.  GT can not offer tourist sand and sea.  People want resort not hotel. What can they do in GT, go to Big market and shop?? Night life will be playing pool at buddies?? The country don't even have a proper movie theater.  We have the rain forest that we can offer the world to see, build something in the interior...  GOG lack vision

[justin]

some ppl travell to this country to see the mud water  and the have many resorts in guyana  like rorima and they have lake mainstay and they have many other site that can be visited 

[Nuff]

Justin ... you are indeed a funny dude.

Keep it up!

[justin]

hey ppl comes to guyana and have alot of fun and they comes back on a regular visit
and they are manny ppl that heard abt guyana nad want to visit guyana

[Gtman1]

hey ppl comes to guyana and have alot of fun and they comes back on a regular visit
and they are manny ppl that heard abt guyana nad want to visit guyana

Drinking rum alll day long is not having fun.  Blocking visitors from entering government offices in short pants and having them remove their hats in public places, is far from inviting.  There is nothing encouraging about going to Guyana.

[justin]

if there is nothing incourageing abt coming to guyana then  why so many ppl still come to gt and this something that happen everyday all year round

[Laden]

hey ppl comes to guyana and have alot of fun and they comes back on a regular visit
and they are manny ppl that heard abt guyana nad want to visit guyana

Drinking rum alll day long is not having fun.  Blocking visitors from entering government offices in short pants and having them remove their hats in public places, is far from inviting.  There is nothing encouraging about going to Guyana.

Who drinks rum all day and government offices do have dress code i sure there are places that have dress code where you live ,yall talking that Guyana slack and now your complaining about the few rules that some offices have.

[Nuff]

if there is nothing incourageing abt coming to guyana then  why so many ppl still come to gt and this something that happen everyday all year round

Those are expatriots returning to collect delinquent rent.

Look at the hotel occupancy numbers in Guyana and tell me how the heck you can say tourism is flourishing. Why do you think Buddys sold his and ran? He couldn't even get 50% occupancy.

[caribj]

some ppl travell to this country to see the mud water  and the have many resorts in guyana  like rorima and they have lake mainstay and they have many other site that can be visited  

So why are your hotels EMPTY????? Except at cricket.

PPP blogger streetsmart or whatveer your GNI name is the HOTELS themselves say they are empty.  I will quicker believe them than you.

[jun]

Dress code Justin I can go to the White house in shorts. I can go in any government office in shorts, and here is the best part once in there I can get my business done because unlike GT there is a system, never have to pay anyone off.  GT is 100 degree in the shade why are the police wearing long sleeve wool sweaters sitting at the back of a pickup truck in the hot sun Dress code, the ministers in Parliament look and act like they in the park having a cookout.  GT had standards and many of the older folks here can back me on that.  The president act like a market vendor, show me where any other head of states that acts like him... 

[Laden]

A recent visit to the Pegasus left a very bitter taste in my mouth.



Flies flying around the food at Pegasus



The security guard doubling as a cleaner at 11:25 in the morning



Customers need to take time off to kill the occasional fly

[Laden]

And this man saying that its a waste of time to bring a five star hotel here when you have to eat under these condition at his hotel the PEGASUS and i wonder if the same guard/cleaner is serve you too.

[jun]

Topic should be why GT need running water.  Notice I didn't even mention CLEAN running water.  How about; Why GT need reliable electricity, Why Gt need to get rid of corruption starting from top to bottom.  Another hotel wouldn't do nothing for the people there but become another white elephant.

[justin]

there is gud running water system in guyana the electricity is better cause  there is not a number of blackout anymore and the corruption is started  by anti-governmental ppl and organisation

[jun]

Justin stop talking out the side of your mouth.  At 9pm water cuts off, sorry DIRTY smelly water stop running.  If you don't full your buckets or tank you don't have water.  Better have water pumped to the over head tank before the power goes out.  When the power goes out the water stop running because the pumping station don't have power or the man watching the station went and took a drink