Wave of investments in the accommodation sector ahead of Cricket World Cup
But investors thinking well beyond the event
Stabroek News
December 8, 2006
At least fourteen new investments in Hotel and Guest House accommodation are underway in Georgetown and surrounding areas and, when completed, these are expected to add more than 200 rooms to the existing stock of urban and suburban hotel and guest house accommodation available in Guyana.
While the marked increase of investment in the accommodation sector is being linked to Guyana's role as one of the regional venues for the approaching Cricket World Cup 2007 the proprietors of the new properties with whom Stabroek Business spoke said that while the event provided an opportunity for the sector their plans had been on the drawing board long before it was announced that Cricket World Cup matches would be held here. Owner of the Atlantic Inn and Tours Deryck Khan told Stabroek Business that his own facility had long predated Cricket World Cup. "It would be pointless to invest in accommodation with only Cricket World Cup in mind since the issue of what happens after that event would clearly be a consideration," Khan said.
He added, however, that while construction of the facility was still underway he expected that it would be completed long before the first wave of visitors arrive here for Cricket World Cup. Khan said that he had already received several enquiries regarding accommodation for Cricket World Cup.
Megan Gheer, owner of the 20-room Kanuku Suites told Stabroek Business that while he was anticipating Cricket World Cup his own facility was also focused on longer term investment in the sector. Gheer told Stabroek Business that in the period ahead he would be seeking to promote the new facility which he said would be seeking to provide guests with the highest possible standards.
Most of the new hotels and guest houses are situated in Kitty, Campbellville and downtown Georgetown and all are working towards completion on time for Cricket World Cup next year. While the new hotels and guest houses are expected to provide employment for more than 150 persons a source in the tourism industry told Stabroek Business that the proprietors will now be faced with the responsibility of training staff and otherwise ensuring that their facilities offer acceptable standards.
The source explained that one consequence of the surfeit of hotels and guest houses that have mushroomed in the city will be a "price war" that will force proprietors to employ high standards to secure a competitive edge.
Some of the new hotels and guest houses are expected to take advantage of the ongoing training programmes for the hospitality sector being run by the Guyana Tourism Authority. (GTA) Kanuku Suites proprietor Meghan Gheer told Stabroek Business, however, that his own plans included in-house training for the staff of the new facility.
Nicholas Oudkerk the "point man" at the CWC Local Organizing Committee office in Georgetown told Stabroek Business that his office was monitoring the current hotel and guest house developments in and around the city in the context of the accommodation requirements for next year's Cricket World Cup.