SOMA Hotel & Restaurant opens, creating nearly 100 new jobs for Guyanese

– modern hospitality investment adds major boost to Houston’s growing industrial hub

Guyana’s hospitality landscape received a significant boost on Saturday with the official opening of the SOMA Hotel & Restaurant, a modern, locally developed facility located at Houston, East Bank Demerara, along the Guyana Shore Base Access Road. The landmark project, a development by TOTALTEC and its group of Guyanese enterprises, is expected to create between 60 and 100 direct and indirect jobs for citizens, while bringing world-class accommodation and dining experiences to one of Guyana’s fastest-growing industrial and logistics corridors.
The grand opening ceremony was attended by President Dr Irfaan Ali, Chief Investment Officer (CEO) and GO-Invest Head Dr Peter Ramsaroop, and TOTALTEC CEO Lars Mangal, among other distinguished guests.

In delivering remarks, Mangal said the SOMA Hotel represents a vision of purpose-driven development aligned with national growth. The 52-room facility, which can accommodate up to 104 guests, is equipped with premium amenities and designed to reflect the elegance and energy of the country’s emerging business landscape.
“When we first imagined SOMA, we wanted to create more than a hotel or restaurant – we wanted to build a place of purpose,” Mangal stated. “This development supports one of Guyana’s most important industrial zones, providing quality accommodation and a signature dining experience for both local and international guests. But most importantly, it creates real jobs and real opportunities and helps build local capacity in hospitality and service management.”

The name SOMA, he shared, is inspired by the names of his two daughters, symbolising family, legacy, and continuity – values that mirror TOTALTEC’s long-term commitment to nation building.
Mangal noted that the project’s first phase would generate employment for Guyanese men and women in roles ranging from front desk and kitchen staff to maintenance, management, and technical operations. The initiative will also create new linkages with local suppliers, farmers, and service providers, helping to strengthen the domestic value chain in food production and hospitality services.
He also thanked the Government for creating an enabling environment for private sector development, acknowledging that President Ali’s leadership and commitment to infrastructure expansion have set the foundation for sustainable investment growth.
“This project is a symbol of progress – a demonstration of what private initiative, national collaboration, and Guyanese excellence can achieve together,” Mangal said. “As our nation continues to rise, we will continue to build with purpose, integrity, and pride.”
Meanwhile, Dr Ramsaroop praised the project as a model of locally driven investment that aligns with Guyana’s transformation agenda.
“In 2030, when the world looks back at Guyana’s development story, it will not be seen as a miracle, but as the result of a clear vision – one built on education, infrastructure, accountability, and people-centred progress,” Ramsaroop remarked. “Investments like SOMA show how our economy is diversifying and how local entrepreneurs are taking the lead in shaping a modern, globally competitive Guyana.”
He further commended TOTALTEC for its foresight and commitment to Guyanese talent, noting that the facility adds to a growing list of locally funded and owned hotels that reflect the confidence of domestic investors in the country’s economic future.
With its strategic location and modern amenities, SOMA is expected to become a key accommodation and dining destination for business travellers, industry professionals, and tourists alike.