“Unmistakably Guyanese” US$30M Four Points by Sheraton Hotel commissioned 

Months after opening its doors, the US$30 million Four Points by Sheraton Georgetown Hotel has been officially commissioned, further expanding Guyana’s room stock while enhancing the country’s growing tourism and hospitality sector.

Located at Houston Yards on the Heroes Highway, the new hotel features an event hall, a pool, sport facilities and a restaurant and bar. However, a main feature of the facility is its designs which incorporate Indigenous culture. Local craftwork such as chairs, barstools and bedside lamp shades was used while the reception area backdrop and walls were adorned with artwork.

According to the hotel’s owner, Mauricio Van Dam, “We wanted this hotel to feel unmistakably Guyanese. The moment you walk through the doors, we want you to know where you are, so we drew from the country itself.”

“Our colour palette is inspired by Guyana’s rivers and its forest. You will see it in the carpets, in the walls, in the textures that run through the property. We worked with local Amerindian communities to incorporate their artefacts and their craftsmanship into the design, not as an afterthought, but as part of the design language from the very first sketches. These pieces are woven into the identity of the hotel because they’re part of the identity of this country,” Van Dam explained.

Another outstanding feature of the hotel is its sustainability in the engineering designs. The hotel’s air conditioning is largely powered by solar energy that is generated on property with efficient materials used to insulate the building against Guyana’s climate.

Moreover, the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is integrated so that the heat rejected by the AC units is captured and used to heat the water throughout the hotel.

Additionally, the hotel has its own water treatment plant along with water-efficient fixtures installed in every room and public space throughout the building. Moreover, low-consumption lighting was used while the building was strategically positioned to minimise sun exposure and reduce the cooling load every day of the year.

“These are not small details. They are choices that shape the footprint of this hotel for decades to come… [And] what began as a sustainable project became something more ambitious. Today, I’m proud to share that the Four Points by Sheraton Georgetown is the first H-Advanced certified project in Guyana and one of the first in South America and the Caribbean,” Van Dam stated.

He shared this achievement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Invest – the Private Sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank, which partially financed the hotel.

According to Van Dam, this hotel was in response to the Guyanese Government’s call for investments, recalling that when they were first pitched the location, there was nothing but dense bush and no supporting infrastructure.

“The lot was utterly empty. It required not just investment but belief… At that stage, none of us could have foreseen the scale of development that would unfold along this corridor. Today, as we look at what has been achieved, we are proud that we listened, that we trusted, and that we took the risk… We’re here to stay. We have a long-time horizon, and we’re committed to contributing to Guyana’s development in the years ahead. We believe this project is a sign of progress for the country, a bet on its continued growth,” the hotel owner stated.

Credibility of “destination Guyana”

Meanwhile, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues, during her remarks at Thursday evening’s commissioning of the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, pointed out that this new internationally recognised brand adds to the credibility of ‘destination Guyana’ that the Government has been working on building. She added that the hotel, along with other properties such as the Courtyard by Marriott and the AC Marriott, has now increased the total number of Marriott-branded hotels in Guyana to four.

“Occupancy rates across existing hotels have remained strong, particularly in Georgetown, often reaching capacity during peak periods. This has underscored the urgent need for additional rooms and higher standards of accommodation to support both leisure and business travellers. The Four Points by Sheraton answers that need,” Rodrigues stated.

In 2025, Guyana recorded its highest number of visitor arrivals in history, surpassing 450,000 visitors – a trend that is likely to continue this year. In fact, in January and February 2026, Guyana recorded its highest arrivals on record again for those months, welcoming 34,923 and 32,879 visitors, respectively.

According to the tourism minister, this demonstrates that Guyana is no longer a hidden gem but an increasingly recognised destination on the global stage.

“This growth has been driven by a combination of factors, expanded air connectivity, targeted international marketing, strategic partnerships, and increased global interest in Guyana as a destination for nature, culture, and business… As visitor arrivals increase, so does the demand for quality infrastructure, reliable services, and a seamless visitor experience. This is where developments like Four Points by Sheraton become critically important,” she added.