Guyana’s international hotel sector took a major step forward on Wednesday with the official opening of the Courtyard by Marriott near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
The six-storey, US$20 million property, built by Cardinal Investments Inc. of the Bassoo Group, adds 150 rooms to the market and marks the latest milestone in Guyana’s fast-growing tourism and hospitality industry.
Located directly across from CJIA, the hotel was designed for business and leisure travellers. Amenities include an outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness centre, conference and meeting facilities, and on-site dining at The Hangar Restaurant and The Run-Way Bar. Free parking and other features in line with Marriott’s global standards are also offered.
The opening comes as Guyana records surging visitor arrivals and rising demand for accommodations, particularly near the country’s main port of entry. The project followed a call by President Irfaan Ali for private investors to expand the nation’s room stock.
At Wednesday’s ceremony, Ali reaffirmed his government’s commitment to boosting investment in the sector. “Within the first week of the next term (in office), we will be issuing the expressions of interest,” he said, adding that the state will invite proposals for all-inclusive resorts in destinations such as Orinduik, Lethem, Number 63 Beach, Bartica, and along both the Stabroek and Vreed-en-Hoop waterfronts.
Roy Bassoo, managing director of Cardinal Investments Inc., underlined the family-owned company’s confidence in Guyana’s tourism prospects, announcing plans for another major venture. “Construction of the 130-suite hotel will start in 2026,” he said, referring to a new Staybridge Suites Hotel along the Heroes Highway, aimed at serving extended-stay and oil-and-gas sector visitors.
The Bassoo Group has long played a role in local development and sees its ventures as part of efforts to position Guyana as a world-class destination. The Courtyard project itself generated hundreds of construction jobs and will now provide stable employment for dozens of Guyanese in hospitality and related services, Bassoo noted.
The Courtyard opening, along with the planned Staybridge Suites and other upcoming branded hotels, signals a wave of international-standard accommodation that will better position Guyana to host conferences, business delegations and the growing stream of leisure travellers. Industry players say this marks the start of a hospitality transformation driven by both government policy and private investment.
A room inside the hotel
