By the Caribbean Journal staff
In a major boost to Haiti’s burgeoning tourism sector, Marriott International has announced that its Autograph Collection is expanding to Haiti.
The Habitation Jouissant boutique hotel in Cap Haitien will join the Autograph Collection in the fourth quarter of 2017.
The property will be Autograph’s third hotel in the Caribbean and will be Marriott’s second hotel in Haiti. Marriott opened its first Haiti hotel, the Marriott Port-au-Prince, earlier this year.
“We look forward to welcoming Habitation Jouissant to our growing global collection,” said Julius Robinson, Vice President & Global Lead, Autograph Collection Hotels. “As we approach welcoming our 100th property by early next year, we know Habitation Jouissant will bring both a unique and culturally rich perspective to the portfolio when it joins in 2017.”
The property will undergo a “comprehensive overhaul” that will include the addition of 87 rooms, bringing the hotel’s total number of guest rooms to 100.
The hotel will see a new presidential suites, two restaurants, two pools, a fitness center and meeting rooms.
“We continue to seek out opportunities to bring leading hotel brands like Autograph Collection Hotels to Haiti in order to accommodate the impressive wave of international travelers visiting the region, specifically in Cap Haitien, “said Tim Sheldon, President of the Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “The opening of Habitation Jouissant reaffirms our commitment to the great nation of Haiti and to the global presence of Autograph Collection, one of our company’s fastest growing and most unique brands.”
Miami-based Hamed Rodriguez Architects will lead the expansion plans for the property, with International Design Concepts spearheading the interior design strategy.
“It is with a great deal of pride that we join Marriott International in their first venture in Cap-Haitien”, adds Fred Béliard, Chairman of the Fatima Group, and owner of Habitation Jouissant. “We are thrilled to not only be a part of Cap-Haitien’s history but we are also very proud to be part of its emergence and radiance with this new partnership. The North is a jewel. Its development, both touristic and economic, is essential to Haiti’s success. We are confident that our partnership with Marriott International is a turning point that will mark the beginning of many great endeavors for us and for our fellow members of the tourism industry in the North.”