news - The Marriott Haiti opens its doors to the public

The site in Port-au-Prince, prior to construction

Today the Marriott Hotel opens its doors in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The hotel is located in Turgeau, a few minutes from the city center, and will cater especially to business travelers and events and conferences. The 10-storey, 175-room development boasts all the modern facilities of a 4-star hotel.

The Marriott development was the result of a partnership between Digicel Limited, Marriott International and the Clinton Global Initiative. The design and construction of the hotel was executed by Turgeau Developments S.A., a special purpose company owned by Digicel. In 2013 FMO invested US$13.25 million in a syndicated loan organized by IFC and extended to Turgeau Developments. Construction has been completed within budget and on time.

The hotel will fill a gap in quality hotel rooms in the capital, a shortage which was worsened by the 2010 earthquake. FMO provided long-term financing towards this project with the aim of supporting job creation, creating business opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises, promoting sustainable growth in the tourism industry and contributing to the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake. At the time of investment this project was one of the few sizeable foreign direct investments in Haiti since the earthquake.

Management of the hotel will be operated by the Marriott Group, ensuring consistent quality with the Marriott label standards. The hotel is staffed 99% by Haitians, including supervisory positions. There is also strong emphasis on training for employees, who will have access to online courses as well as the international network of the group.