Another hotel cements Guyana as a tourist destination
• Manniram Prashad
Kaieteur News
March 26, 2007
More than ten hotels have been commissioned so far in the days preceding Cricket World Cup. One was added to the list when Terry Singh, Managing Director of the ‘Zoom In' International Hotel, and staff, officially opened the facility to the public on Saturday.
While the official opening ceremony was held on Saturday, the hotel has been receiving CWC bookings since Wednesday, according to sources. The hotel was made possible through funding from the Demerara Bank.
‘Zoom In', one of the city's latest 40-room facilities, reeks of luxury and elegance. The four-storeyed structure which looms in unique magnificence at the busy junction of Albert and Croal Streets is situated in the centre of most of the city's main shopping zones, restaurants and night clubs.
Its Brazilian-styled roof garden restaurant will provide top-notch local delicacies, while it allows diners to have a breath-taking view of the beautiful garden city. The location allows patrons easy access to many Government offices, historical landmarks like the Castellani Art Gallery , the 1763 Monument and the famed St. George's Cathedral.
Chairing the opening ceremony, one of the hotel's directors, Kwame Mc Coy, said the construction of the hotel started some 14 months ago and it is a project that will bring value to the city.
Mc Coy urged those present to take similar structures and convert them into business entities which will not only benefit them, but all Guyana at large.
CEO of Demerara Bank, Pravinchandra Dave, applauded the venture and labeled it the perfect initiative with CWC on the verge of commencing. He added that his bank has financed two other similar hotels in its aim is to reach out to the various sectors of society. He emphasised that the initiative was of a commendable nature and wished the proprietors immediate and future success.
Representing the hotel's management, Managing Director Terry Singh said that the hotel's construction was not a ‘walk in the park', but entailed lots of grueling exertions which kept him away from his family for lengthy periods.
He said he felt the need to improve his other business and sought to ‘spread his wings' and venture into ‘something different', resulting in the ‘Zoom In' International Hotel.
Singh is also the owner of Japarts, one of the main distributors for the Caterpillar brand machinery.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, congratulated Singh and family members for the initiative which he said took lots of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit to make it a reality.
The Minister said that it took a lot of faith and confidence in the government and economy on Singh's part to become involved in the venture (hotel). The Minister said that during the hotel's construction, Singh encountered many ‘on the job' problems but persevered until the building was completed.
Minister Prashad said that while his Ministry has already commissioned ten similar hotels in Guyana , it is noted that with the number of Guyanese and tourists coming for CWC, accommodation is needed in large numbers.
Commenting on Guyana 's significant rise in tourism development, the Minister said Guyanese from many Caribbean states are returning with friends when visiting, since they are aware that the country is rapidly readying itself as a major tourist attraction.
The Minister commented on Guyana rapidly taking its place among the tourist highpoints since it was recently rated among the top countries with the highest Bird Watching potentials. He said that Guyana was ranked as a top bird watching destination, ranking almost parallel with Peru , which has been given the top spot in that sector. He assured the hotel's management that his ministry will back them all the way in their endeavours.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds praised Singh and his counterparts for bringing to life yet another idea which will help in boosting our tourism content.
He added that investing in a hotel during the CWC event was indeed a good gesture, since diversifying investment to maintain stability was a positive move.
The Prime Minister added that Guyanese must seize the opportunity to get on the road of development and labeled the hotel as a significant example.
• He promised his continued support for such endeavours.