Digicel, Marriott Open Haiti Hotel

The new Marriott Port-au-Prince Haiti Marriott Hotel today checked in its first guests. Among the 200 new Haitian hotel workers who welcomed them were young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Haitian-Americans who want to share their hospitality skills to help boost Haiti's tourism economy.

The stories of these new associates include Luccardo, who was recruited to work at the hotel's front desk from the Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs orphanage, and Hermine, who was part of the hotel's intern program and will be an entry-level supervisor.

In addition to members of a Haitian-American executive team, the Haiti Marriott is led by a veteran Marriott general manager who was previously at the Marriott Champs Elysees in Paris.

Joined today by Haiti President Michel Martelly and former U.S. President Bill Clinton at a celebration ceremony, Digicel Group Chairman and Founder Denis O'Brien and Marriott International President - Caribbean & Latin America Region Craig S. Smith thanked the Kier Construction Company workers, sub-contractors and skilled Haitian construction workers who built the hotel and the Marriott associates who will host its guests. The hotel officially opens March 1st. A formal grand opening event is planned for June.

The journey to build the Marriott Port-au-Prince began four years ago when Marriott International reached out to the Clinton Foundation to propose a new hotel to help Haiti rebuild its tourism industry after the devastating 2010 earthquake. The company found an eager partner in Digicel Group, which has invested US$45 million to build the 175-room hotel.

The Clinton Foundation worked closely with Marriott and Digicel Group to develop the hotel project. The Foundation visited proposed construction sites with the parties, facilitated introductions to the Haitian government and the Haitian Tourism Association, and encouraged all parties to use the hotel as an opportunity to create an economic anchor for the community.

In addition to creating good, sustainable jobs for Haitians, the hotel incorporates Haitian art and artisan products into the hotel's design and integrates green technologies such as solar to reduce the hotel's environmental footprint.

The Clinton Foundation also worked closely with Marriott and Digicel Group to identify and contract with Haitian entrepreneurs, small businesses and agricultural cooperatives that could provide goods and services to the hotel. This local procurement component has been an important aspect of the hotel's development for all parties.

Digicel Group and its Chairman, Mr. O'Brien, are committed to attracting foreign direct investment to Haiti and to helping the country rebuild in the wake of the earthquake. Mr. O'Brien is Founder and Patron of the Digicel Foundation, which to date has constructed 150 schools in Haiti, and rebuilt the iconic Iron Market in Port-au-Prince. He is also the Chairman of the Clinton Global Initiative's Haiti Action Network and has been instrumental in driving the activity of 80 support organizations in Haiti to deliver on their commitments.

TDSA, the development company established by Digicel, managed the design/build contract and chose Marriott International's flagship Marriott Hotels brand as its operating partner under a long-term management agreement. The hotel created more than 1,100 jobs throughout the construction stage.

Marriott's interest in investing in Haiti was inspired in part by its associates, including thousands of Haitian-Americans who, after the earthquake, urged the company to help Haiti rebuild by planting the Marriott flag.

Through this project, Marriott is demonstrating how a hotel can be a model for social innovation and community investment. Working with Haiti's Ministry of Tourism, Marriott selected 8 Haitian youth to train in hospitality operations at the new JW Marriott® Hotel Santo Domingo. The youth recently returned to Haiti after their 12-week internship in Santo Domingo and have been hired as entry-level supervisors at the Marriott Port-au-Prince Hotel.

Marriott is also collaborating with Haiti's Ministry of Tourism and World Central Kitchen to build the skills and training of Haiti's hospitality workforce through newly designed hospitality curriculum for local culinary students. Marriott has provided funding to help support the innovative new program, which is currently being delivered to its first culinary class of nearly 40 students in a school located near the Marriott Hotel Port-au-Prince. The program will be expanded when a new Ecole Hotelier, currently under construction, is completed in 2015

In addition to the 200 new hotel jobs and hospitality training, the hotel is sourcing goods, food and amenities from local small businesses, social enterprises, farms and Haitian artisans.

The unique craftsmanship of more than a dozen Haitian-based artisans, including the hotel's art curator, Philippe Dodard, is showcased throughout the hotel's guest rooms, corridors, great room, conference areas, restaurant and Courtyard. From signature metalworks, paper mache masks and voodoo flags, to contemporary photography and stone and wood sculptures using natural and recycled materials, the deep, vibrant art culture of Haiti is on display. The hotel will also feature weekly art markets where guests can purchase art from local artists on the hotel grounds.