Best Western - Haiti Observer Blog

The Best Western Premier Hotel in Petion-Ville is enjoying a successful first year. Opened in April 2013, its occupancy rate has averaged over 70%. Corporate travelers make up approximately 85% of accommodations, and are pleased Port-au-Prince can offer them a first-class experience.

Regional Director for Best Western, Tom Osborn, reports operations have had a few bumps in the road, generally with training the staff. But he added this is to be expected, and has not harmed the brand, because media coverage has been positive, especially in regards to the indigenous art incorporated into the hotel's amenities.

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Based on a study done annually, today.com publishes an annual list of countries to go to enjoy or or to avoid, last year Haiti was listed among the countries in the world to avoid. Guess what! this year Haiti is on the "To Go" list.

What are the reasons for Haiti to move from the list of the countries to avoid to the countries to go to within just one year?

The main reason is that Haiti has become a country with the capacity to welcome foreign visitors

The recent efforts in the area of tourism start paying dividend for Haiti and its economy

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The new Best Western Premier hotel in Petion-Ville is the first upscale hotel to present the artistic talents of native Haitian artists. It took interior designer, Stacy Elliston, to envision a modern interpretation of Haitian folk art and fashion designer, Pascale Théard, to realize the vision.

Inside the hotel are displayed 622 pieces of art, created by 100 artists and artisans on the island, from places like Marmalade, Jacmel, Léogâne, and Croix-des-Bouquets. Some materials used are recycled drums, or natural materials such as hand-carved river stones. In each guest room hang paintings of rural scenes, made of cut-out banana leaves. Other recycled materials are cast-off aluminum made into statues, and clothing scraps turned into pillows. One of the most prominent pieces of artwork appears in the hotel entryway, a hand-embroidered tapestry based on a Voodoo flag. This inspired artwork was produced by Bel-Air artists living in poverty.

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Carabimmo SA, based in Haiti and Aimbridge Hospitality, based in Dallas have opened a hotel called Best Western Premier Petion-Ville in Haiti. This $15 million worth of hotel has been built in association with Best Western International and it located in Petion-Ville's upmarket suburb. The hotel opened on 28th March, 2013 and is referred to as 'the first full-service corporate U.S. brand hotel in Haiti'. The 7-storey luxury hotel features 3 imperial and executive suits and 106 guest rooms. The Best Western is loaded with amenities like flat screen TVs of 42" each, Wi-Fi, gym and spa with full-service, meeting space of 2000 sq. ft. capable of accommodating up to 160 guests and concierge service.

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Petion-Ville, is going to be home to Haiti's first U.S. luxury hotel, a Best Western, just outside Port-au-Prince. The country is desperate for private investors to inject much-needed revenue into their sagging economy, especially after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 leveled it to the ground.

Carabimmo, owner of Best Western Hotels, had the foresight to recognize a void existed for business travelers in Haiti. He contracted with Haitian-based Aimbridge Hospitality, to operate the 2,000 square-foot property, the Best Western Premier Petion-Ville, a luxury hotel that will serve business travelers, set to open fall 2012.

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Laurent Lamothe, Haiti's new Prime Minister (PM), flew to New York on June 16, 2012 to conduct exploratory talks with Haiti Consul General Charles Forbin about New York labor laws. As part of his visit, PM Lamothe was scheduled to meet with Oscar-winning Actor, Robert De Niro, to discuss his plans to build a hotel in Haiti. If the actor commits to building one, this would be more good news for Haiti, who needs to ramp up its tourism trade as part of the recovery effort from 2010's earthquake, which completely leveled the Port-au-Prince region. Recently, U.S. Best Western began construction on a luxury hotel in Petionville, near Port-au-Prince.

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