Over the next few years, key areas of the Pegasus Hotel interior will take on a new look as its US$3 million upgrade unfolds.
Businessman Robert Badal, who leads the team of investors that recently acquired the renowned property, said on Monday night that massive upgrading works will be conducted over the next few years, including the redecorating and remodeling of key facilities. He also announced a special rate of US$100 a night for locals wishing to experience the ambience of the Pegasus.
Robert Badal
Speaking at a cocktail reception at the Savannah Suite of the hotel, Badal said that the US$3 million upgrading process will see a variety of changes to sections of the hotel. These include the remodelling of the rooms on the circular tower, the introduction of ultra-fast satellite internet services, as well as the addition of indoor and outdoor sport facilities to incorporate the existing poolside. The reception area as well as the famous Browne’s Café is also expected to be completely remodelled. Badal told the gathering that the upgraded rooms will contain replicas of famous historical and cultural sites of Guyana. He said a team of competent and experienced consultants has already been hired to undertake the upgrading process.
Badal said visitors have been forecasted to increase over the next decade as Guyana is quickly becoming an international alternative to traditional Caribbean tourist destinations, with her rich cultural and historical heritage including exotic sites such as breathtaking mountains, rivers and the famous Kaieteur Falls. He said that while ownership has changed, the new management team will continue to build on the reputation the hotel has achieved over the years.
Badal expressed confidence that the Pegasus will continue to headline Guyana’s hotel industry. He recounted various aspects of business he has entered over the years including the rice industry with the Angel Parboiled Rice brand which is sold overseas only, fast-food outlet Popeye’s as well as the Guyana Stockfeeds and he noted that his investment in the hotel will ensure meaningful job creation for youths.
Businessman Yesu Persaud, speaking at the function, lauded Badal for his investment in the hotel. He said Badal has been known for trying new aspects of business. He expressed hope that the hotel industry will create new jobs for Guyanese as he noted that many youths with university qualifications are currently unemployed.
Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad told the gathering that he was pleased that the hotel is now owned by Guyanese. He said in that Barbados, a country which has been “giving Guyanese problems recently”, 95% of the hotels are foreign owned. He said this country’s hotels are almost 100% Guyanese owned. Prashad said this shows Guyanese are confident in investing in their country. He recalled that over the years calls had been made to the Pegasus Hotel to introduce special weekend packages for locals.
Prashad said eco-tourism in Guyana is headed in a positive direction, pointing out that rooms at interior tourist locations such as Surama in the Essequibo River are booked until 2010. He said since he was appointed a government minister, he always admired Costa Rica and Belize as excellent tourist destinations and had hoped the time would come when tourists would add Guyana to that list.
He noted that most of the tourists visiting these shores are Europeans who have been following this country’s 800 species of birds. He said birding has been creating waves on the international scene and noted that Guyana is rated next to Peru as an international birding destination.
Meanwhile, starting this weekend, the Pegasus Hotel will introduce a special rate of US$100 per night for Guyanese to experience the luxuries of the hotel. The hotel management team also plans to introduce special weekend events in the coming months as part of its upgrading process.
The Pegasus Hotel was built in 1969 by the British Overseas Airways Corporation and changed ownership several times operating under several brands such as Le Meridien and recently Lehwood Netherlands Holdings.
The hotel has accommodated a number of famous international personalities in the past including cricket star Brian Lara, visiting cricketing teams during World Cup 2007, Sir Shridath Ramphal and Queen Elizabeth 11 on her visit to these shores in 1994.
MANNIE AH HOPE YO NA LOOK FO NO FREE BEE AT DE PEG. DEM STAFF GAT TO BE RETRAINED TO MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARD. RECENTLY I PAID A VISIT TO DE POOLSIDE FO LOOK LIL IMPRESSIVE. DE WAITA COME AN ASK ME, ‘AH WHA YO GAN TEK’? ME ARDA WAN GLASS WATA.
Roast Poke your creole writing is fantastic you had me laughing my a@@ off.
Ever think about writing books in creole?
Roast Poke that was real funny, bannas
i stayed in this hotel 2 years ago and i have to say that i was not impressed. the bed linens were faded and the bed was hard and uncomfortable, the mini fridge was old and rusted and so was the bathtub and wash basin and the mini balcony was decayed with woodants
The standard will drop because of the employees they may not keep the present staff for long..
I agree with Shelly that they will fire most of the present staff that do not reflect the optics of the new owner or the PPP party.
I also agree with shelly especially how nothing mantain a standard in Guyana. Mr. has taken on a very big risk.I know what I am talking about, being the ex-wife of a businessman (just like Badal venturing in anything that spells BUSINESS)being in that line of job your concept has to be TOPPER. Got to know what are your UNIQUE buying and and selling points, there is where your turn-over and profit lies. if he is aware of all that he would make it to an international standard.Mr. Badal also has to be aware the product that he is selling…and that is certainly not CHICKEN AND RICE
Mek sure you create a green zone around that thing badal.
Question how come Badal getting rights to install ultra fast internet services and no one else can get those rights?
Is he getting this through GT&T or is he connecting via satellite?
How come the usual skeptics ain’t asking to know who the investors are?
We have been seeing a lot of `major’ investments taking place in Guyana recently.
From housing estates to mega malls to fast foods to rice factories to hotels. Now we see the Pegasus in local hands.
Can the Guyana government (or the US gov’t) commission forensic audits to determine the source of funds many businesses used over the years to develop enterprises?
The amount of money some people are investing in Guyana has no bearing on their previous legitimnate undertakings. In fact, words are abuzz about the sources of financing for some of these projects.
No wonder, as Dr. Luncheon said recently, some of these so-called entrepreneurs are not willing to disclose the source/s of financing because they will be exposed.
Many shield under loans from commercial banks which are repaid in a jiffy.
Guyana has become a haven for the investing of capital which was sourced from questionable endeavours.
Respected individuals like Dr. Yesu Persaud must be very careful of where he goes and what he endorses since “all that glitter is not gold”.
What jobs for youths? Hotel jobs are low quality jobs.
What a joke for university grads to go work in a hotel!!
And how many is he gonna hire? About ten thousand youths to get them off the street? Big Joke.
There you go “HOTEL JOBS ARE LOWQUALITY JOBS”do you knoe how many gradutes have done that to help them through their study and in the goodold days the tips would go over the salary of many who sit in an office. one also have to have certain skills to be doing such jobs even the chef cook must be able to calculate..Have you seen what Jamie oliver and Gordon Ramsy have achieved…Have you got such a SIZABLE bank account? and further more “TO WORK WITHTHE HANDS DOES NOT LOWER A MAN BUT MAKES HIM A BETTER ONE” you would be surprised to know that one has to do social hygiene,temperatures,familiarity with different beverages ect. as for supervising and management it more difficult than an ordinary business management. so don’t you go looking down on hotel work. THE IDEA IS TO EARN AN HONEST LIVING…
If the standard is brought back to what in the 70s they would make it. The Peg has the most important requirement for the that line of business=LOCASION with REASONABLE PRICE>QUALITY SERVICE there is nothing to stop them.I always enjoyed going there in the 70s got scared since the 80s with all the stories I heard couldn’t risk the life of my three babies.Mr.Badal can also cater for these Tropical Weddings.Good planning, promotion and management I see a very bright future for the Peg>>>>>Trained staff is one very important requirement for quality service.
SUCCESS SIR!
what are u talking about dont u like to see progress shake your head..
Good luck with your overpriced 100 room hotel.
I was there in 2004. Almost $200.00 for a room worth $75.00.And these folks do not take AAA.Overpriced for a seedy country where you are constantly looking over your shoulder,and as usual found wanting.