By Isanella Patoir
The Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre at Kingston, Georgetown officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday evening and boasts modern and exquisite amenities that will add to the dining and hotel experience in Guyana.
The project was lauded as inspirational, transformational and iconic where guests can enjoy scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean, the East and West Coast of Demerara, and Georgetown.
Guests can further indulge in cuisine from around the world at one of several fine-dining restaurants inside the hotel.
The project took about four years to complete at an estimated cost of US$100 million; it comprises a 12-storey glass tower providing long-term accommodation and a seven-storey office complex providing first-world corporate offices.
“It’s historic for our company Pegasus Hotel, but also for the City of Georgetown and our beautiful Guyana. I’m humbled by the outpouring of congratulations, excitement, anticipation and joy among the business community and from all of Guyana; not to forget our many friends from overseas and among the diplomatic community,” Robert Badal, owner of the Pegasus Hotel, said during remarks.
Badal said he is proud to be among the first to redefine the city’s skyline.
“This is the new symbol of our One Guyana, from a dumpsite of over 50 years to two magnificent buildings comprising 100 executive suites on this 12-storey Atlantic Tower and 180,000 square feet of Grade A corporate offices and restaurants and the adjacent seven-storey Podium Tower, all surrounded by well-manicured lawns,” Badal boasted.
He highlighted that the development is unrivalled in the region and significantly adds to the local hospitality sector.
“Our guests will now have the facility to live upstairs and work downstairs, business meetings or lunch at our spiralling 10,000 square feet, fusion Restaurant and Bar and any of our other three restaurants, then relax at our iconic poolside.”
This development brings the Pegasus Hotel rooms to 230 and offers accommodation at all price levels – from standard rooms to executive suites.
There is parking accommodation for over 250 cars and renewable power is provided by 20,000 square feet of solar rooftops along with CCTV surveillance.
While Badal said that the hotel was built by Guyanese, skilled labour was procured from China Harbour Engineering Company and materials were sourced from the United States, China, Germany and Spain.
At the posh opening ceremony, the country’s President Dr Irfaan Ali lauded Badal for his vision turned reality.
“This is iconic, this is transformational, no Guyanese living 30 years ago could have imagined this, but will we celebrate it as a people,” President Ali said during his remarks.
The Head of State did a walk-through of the buildings a few months ago and described it as ‘mind-blowing’.
The infrastructure and interconnection linked to such developments will be supported by the government, the Head of State stated.
He highlighted that an “energetic and innovative” plan to market Guyana will be led by the tourism industry and Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest).
The Head of State also used the opportunity to urge the private sector and business community to think strategically and positively, embrace opportunities and prepare to make changes and investments to develop their businesses.
“Doing a business and paying an engineer and financial analyst to do your business proposal is not a cost, it is an investment. I want the private sector to hear this,” President Ali said.
To ensure Badal’s legacy lives on for generations to come, President Ali said he hopes the businessman will take up the opportunity to lecture at the University of Guyana about “how he did it and how he accomplished it.”
