The Marriott Hotel Development in Tobago

The_Honourable · Postby **The_Honourable** » September 21st, 2021, 11:46 pm

By 2025, Tobago is expected to see a 4-star $500 million hotel constructed on the island. On Tuesday, the announcement of this new tourism product was made. Construction has no government funding and is all private sector driven.

Media Conference to announce the development of a first class hotel and property development at Rocky Point, Tobago.
Skip to see the hotel video presentation at 9:22.

The_Honourable · Postby **The_Honourable** » September 21st, 2021, 11:47 pm

John Aboud is the Chairman of Superior Hotels Limited.

New $500m hotel, development in Tobago by 2025

A $500 million first-class hotel and property development, bearing the Marriott brand, is to be constructed in Tobago in 2023 to boost the island's tourism sector. The estimated completion date is 2025.

Evolving Tecknologies and Enterprise Development Company Ltd (eTeck) chairman Imtiaz Ahamad made the announcement at a news conference on Tuesday at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands.

He said the proposed development, which is being undertaken by Superior Hotels Trinidad & Tobago Ltd, will be built at Rocky Point on approximately 28 acres of land on the western side of Grafton Road and south of Pleasant Prospect.

Ahamad said the project is expected to provide jobs for 750 people during construction.

The development comprises a 200-room hotel, 28 duplex residences, 11 single-family luxury villas and 12 fully outfitted townhouses. It will also include facilities for scuba diving, jogging, cycling and the sale of local food and craft.

Source: https://newsday.co.tt/2021/09/21/new-50 ... o-by-2025/

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 21st, 2021, 11:53 pm

Its all good having lovely hotels but let's be real Tobago is not tourist friendly and the local service is terrible.

Extensive training is needed and a need to de red governmentise the behaviour of employees.

Again as I said we are an islands of waiters and chambermaids. Slavery start back

Low paying jobs.

SuperiorMan · Postby **SuperiorMan** » September 22nd, 2021, 12:14 am

what is the point

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 22nd, 2021, 12:17 am

SuperiorMan wrote:what is the point

Profit while paying ppl small money

sMASH · Postby **sMASH** » September 22nd, 2021, 3:30 am

So this resort will be a secluded oasis away from the typical tobago... If they like it so, if you that's them.

Habit7 · Postby **Habit7** » September 22nd, 2021, 6:47 am

This is an awesome opportunity and an endorsement of the potential of the Tobago tourism product.

timelapse · Postby **timelapse** » September 22nd, 2021, 6:52 am

Habit7 wrote:This is an awesome opportunity and an endorsement of the potential of the Tobago tourism product.

Will it operate in "Tobago Time"?

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 22nd, 2021, 7:06 am

Habit7 wrote:This is an awesome opportunity and an endorsement of the potential of the Tobago tourism product.

Had dis been in a non red government term you would have sung a different song .

Dizzy28 · Postby **Dizzy28** » September 22nd, 2021, 10:19 am

That John Aboud is the Amalgamated one?

Habit7 · Postby **Habit7** » September 22nd, 2021, 10:21 am

Dizzy28 wrote:That John Aboud is the Amalgamated one?

yip

The_Honourable · Postby **The_Honourable** » September 22nd, 2021, 10:54 am

Habit7 wrote:
Dizzy28 wrote:That John Aboud is the Amalgamated one?

yip

Yep... he got into the hotel business when his company took over the Carlton Savannah (formerly Pelican) and renamed it "The Brix" in 2017.

He expanded to Guyana in 2020 also using the Marriott brand.

Dizzy28 · Postby **Dizzy28** » September 22nd, 2021, 11:00 am

The_Honourable wrote:
Habit7 wrote:
Dizzy28 wrote:That John Aboud is the Amalgamated one?

yip

Yep... he got into the hotel business when his company took over the Carlton Savannah (formerly Pelican) and renamed it "The Brix" in 2017.

He expanded to Guyana in 2020 also using the Marriott brand.

IIRC that Guyana Mariott is embroiled in one set of scandals though.
Men who were involved fled to Dubai and the US when parties changed and now they back in the country.

MaxPower · Postby **MaxPower** » September 22nd, 2021, 11:14 am

Love the Abouds!

People of vision!

Habit7 · Postby **Habit7** » September 22nd, 2021, 11:16 am

Dizzy28 wrote:
The_Honourable wrote:
Habit7 wrote:
Dizzy28 wrote:That John Aboud is the Amalgamated one?

yip

Yep... he got into the hotel business when his company took over the Carlton Savannah (formerly Pelican) and renamed it "The Brix" in 2017.

He expanded to Guyana in 2020 also using the Marriott brand.

IIRC that Guyana Mariott is embroiled in one set of scandals though.
Men who were involved fled to Dubai and the US when parties changed and now they back in the country.

Dont get it mix up. There is Marriott Georgetown which is govt owned and involved in bacchanal like everything in Guyana. And there is AC Hotel By Marriott which is what Aboud is proposing to be built in Ogle, which is close to the small airport in Georgetown and their 2 malls.

Dizzy28 · Postby **Dizzy28** » September 22nd, 2021, 11:19 am

Habit7 wrote:
Dizzy28 wrote:
The_Honourable wrote:
Habit7 wrote:
Dizzy28 wrote:That John Aboud is the Amalgamated one?

yip

Yep... he got into the hotel business when his company took over the Carlton Savannah (formerly Pelican) and renamed it "The Brix" in 2017.

He expanded to Guyana in 2020 also using the Marriott brand.

IIRC that Guyana Mariott is embroiled in one set of scandals though.
Men who were involved fled to Dubai and the US when parties changed and now they back in the country.

Dont get it mix up. There is Marriott Georgetown which is govt owned and involved in bacchanal like everything in Guyana. And there is AC Hotel By Marriott which is what Aboud is proposing to be built in Ogle, which is close to the small airport in Georgetown and their 2 malls.

Ohh.
Good for Guyana that they getting more internationally branded hotel rooms.

Dizzy28 · Postby **Dizzy28** » September 22nd, 2021, 11:31 am

One of the principles in John Aboud's Hotel company is the former cricketer Richard Smith. He was implicated in some TSTT scandals a few years ago.
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/tstt-de ... 83add147ef

Doesn't take too long to find some level of malfeasance with the ppl associated with major projects in TT and beyond.

Mmoney607 · Postby **Mmoney607** » September 26th, 2021, 9:17 am

Anybody saw when the REOI went out for this? Why was the REOI only published from the 13 of April to the 30 of April and why was it limited to only local entities. It sounds like someone wanted to give this land away to a particular group of people. This was not a fair process with the intention of securing the best proposal through a competive process.

Redress10 · Postby **Redress10** » September 26th, 2021, 9:26 am

Habit7 wrote:This is an awesome opportunity and an endorsement of the potential of the Tobago tourism product.

This is modern day slavery. Bro are you a modern day "house" slave? Who the hell gets excited about low paying hotel jobs in 2021?

All sorts of industries such as data mining, bio tourism etx to get excited about and you are getting excited about low paying hotel jobs?

What new level of PNM dunce is this?

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 26th, 2021, 11:07 am

Redress10 wrote:
Habit7 wrote:This is an awesome opportunity and an endorsement of the potential of the Tobago tourism product.

This is modern day slavery. Bro are you a modern day "house" slave? Who the hell gets excited about low paying hotel jobs in 2021?

All sorts of industries such as data mining, bio tourism etx to get excited about and you are getting excited about low paying hotel jobs?

What new level of PNM dunce is this?

He means it an opportunity for the hotel owners.

As I have always said TT especially Tobago is an islands of waiters and chambermaids. Yes they will be on low pay.

To habit 7 that's progress since 1956

j.o.e · Postby **j.o.e** » September 26th, 2021, 11:20 am

Redress10 wrote:
Habit7 wrote:This is an awesome opportunity and an endorsement of the potential of the Tobago tourism product.

This is modern day slavery. Bro are you a modern day "house" slave? Who the hell gets excited about low paying hotel jobs in 2021?

All sorts of industries such as data mining, bio tourism etx to get excited about and you are getting excited about low paying hotel jobs?

What new level of PNM dunce is this?

Do you guys walk around with that inferiority complex all day every day ? Yes there are high paying jobs but it doesn’t mean there isn’t space for service jobs in the hotel industry. Do you guys look down on hotel staff when you vacation ?
The waiter in first world countries is of no value either ?

Redman · Postby **Redman** » September 26th, 2021, 11:34 am

Well said J.o.e

Service isn't servitude.

Postby **eliteauto** » September 26th, 2021, 11:39 am

Redress10 believes service is servitude, he also knows the pay scale of this hotel. He talks about bio tourism but doesn't that also require accommodation? Not necessarily a hotel but whatever form it takes doesn't also require staffing? Or maybe he knows the pay scale of bio-tourism sites as well

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 26th, 2021, 11:50 am

eliteauto wrote:Redress10 believes service is servitude, he also knows the pay scale of this hotel. He talks about bio tourism but doesn't that also require accommodation? Not necessarily a hotel but whatever form it takes doesn't also require staffing? Or maybe he knows the pay scale of bio-tourism sites as well

https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/hotel-waiter-waitress/trinidad-and-tobago

$54000 to $73100 tt per year avg

Selling beneball and juice is a higher income. Beneball $15000 per month.

Tobago ppl are supposed to be their bosses and own their guesthouses ect.

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 26th, 2021, 11:58 am

Redman wrote:Well said J.o.e

Service isn't servitude.

You want Tobago ppl to be employed or be their own bosses ?

Redman · Postby **Redman** » September 26th, 2021, 12:27 pm

You act as if 100%of tobago will be forced to work at this hotel or in the industry.

A taxi driver is his own boss.
As is any service provider that could be used by the hotel.
As is any professional who would also support the additional demand.

zoom rader · Postby **zoom rader** » September 26th, 2021, 12:51 pm

Redman wrote:You act as if 100%of tobago will be forced to work at this hotel or in the industry.

A taxi driver is his own boss.
As is any service provider that could be used by the hotel.
As is any professional who would also support the additional demand.

So you believe that TT $54k hotel wage is good enough for Tobago folk?

Who's the winner here

TT Hotel charges International rates but pays Workers at TT rates .

A UK waiter makes £20 to £25k per year compare to 54k TT and they all change International Hotel rates in US

Redman · Postby **Redman** » September 26th, 2021, 1:09 pm

You in tobago doing your thing.
Goat farming.

What you pay the workers?
You pay international rates?

Tobago folk like all folk should get what their experience education and work ethic can attract.

Postby SR » September 26th, 2021, 1:36 pm

How are all the other already established hotels in tobago doing currently?

Redress10 · Postby **Redress10** » September 26th, 2021, 1:42 pm

A couple of things to clarify.

Hotel jobs are more or less classified as low skilled jobs. The problem with that is we as a country has spent a significant amount of money investing in our human capital to increase their skillsets. We are no longer a low skilled uneducated workforce. Programs such as GATE has made sure of that. You can't come at this late hour and say that your building hotels for ppl to be employed in. That is just wasting our human capital and will result in little being gained at both ends. You can't tax low income earnings which is what most hotel jobs are.

Another thing is this. In most countries that you travel to you will hardly see locals working in areas such as hotels. This labour is usually imported. In the USA, it is the immigrants mainly mexicans who do this low wage type of job and in Western Europe, the eastern europeans who do this. In places such as Dubai, I think these sort of jobs are done by Indians and Bangladeshis etc. So unless its the venezuelans etc who will be working in these hotels servicing Trinbagonians then we are not going anywhere as a country and economy.

This hotel is carded to begin in 2025 I believe. That is more than enough time to put things in place to transform the economy to make it that Tobagonians wouldn't need those jobs. Why is there always a need to create an employee and not an entrepreneur with the PNM? Why couldn't Tobagonians be allowed to invest, build and staff this hotel as some sort of co operative? Why give land and favourable terms to someone from TT who has no experience in the hotel business and not local to the land?