Port-au-Prince Marriott Hotel to open in 2014

Marriott International recently announced it will open its first hotel in Haiti in 2014, a move that will create more jobs and tourism opportunities to Port-au-Prince.

The US$45 million, 173-room Port-au-Prince Marriott Hotel will be located in the southern part of the country in the Haute Turgeau area of the city. The hotel will also include a casual restaurant, a lobby bar and lounge and 24-hour room service.

The Port-au-Prince Marriott, which will be located in the Haute Turgeau area of the city, will offer 168 rooms and five suites with Marriott’s signature amenities and features, including premium bedding, high-speed Internet (LAN and wireless) and flat-screen televisions. Dining options will include a casual restaurant, a lobby bar and lounge and 24-hour room service. The hotel will include about 428 square meters (4,606 square feet) of flexible meeting space, a 150-square-meter (1,614-square-foot) fitness center, swimming pool, and sundries shop/marketplace.

Haiti has historically been one of the Caribbean’s most economically successful destinations, and while the 2010 earthquake shook up the industry and displaced thousands of Haitian residents, the hospitality industry is set on ensuring Haiti regains its place as a top tourist destination.

Earlier this year, a non-profit group Yele Haiti created a hospitality pilot program that educates local Haitians on specific areas of the hotel business, including house-keeping and front desk responsibilities.

As more hotels make their way back to Haiti, and the Port-au-Prince area, the possibilities for jobs expand and the local economy is set for a rebound. More people may be seeking online hospitality management degrees in the future.

Marriott has been intimately involved in the rebuilding efforts of the area since the earthquake.

The Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Florida, which has approximately 250 Haitian associates, worked on two relief missions to Haiti delivering clothing, food, water and toiletries, and helped rebuild homes, orphanages and schools.

The announcement of the new hotel was made in Haiti during a ceremony with former President Bill Clinton and Marriott International President Arne Sorenson. The Clinton Foundation has worked closely with Marriott and Digicel to develop this project.

Digicel Chairman and founder, Denis O’Brien, commented; “Working with Marriott International to bring the flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand to Haiti communicates confidence in the country’s outlook and is a huge step towards attracting more long-term investment into the country. With lodging options severely limited in Port-au-Prince, this is indeed bright news.”