Above: the lobby and bar at the Best Western Premier Haiti (Photo: Aimbridge Hospitality)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti’s Best Western Premier has opened its doors to guests in the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Petion-Ville.

The hotel, which will officially open next week, is a partnership between Dallas-based Aimbridge Hospitality, Haiti-based Carabimmo SA and Best Western International.

The $15 million, seven-story hotel has 106 guest rooms, each of which has a flat screen television and Wi-Fi internet.

“We are very excited and privileged to open the newest full service hotel on the beautiful island of Haiti,” said Rich Cortese senior vice president of Caribbean operations and development at Aimbridge, in a release.

According to Cortese, the company has hired 95 new employees, with the majority being local Haitians.

The property is targeting business travelers, according to Aimbridge.

The Best Western is second high-profile hotel to open its doors in Port-au-Prince in four months, following the Royal Oasis, a hotel by Spanish firm Occidental that opened in December.

“The opening of this hotel is a historic moment for Port au Prince, and marks the ongoing revitalization and rebirth of our country,” said Kenny Narwani, principal at Carabimmo. “This is a personal triumph for our company, as well for our employees and residents of Port au Prince. We look forward to welcoming our first and future guests to their new home away from home in Haiti.”

The hotel, which was designed by Dallas firm Studio 11 Design and Haitian architects, includes a restaurant, Le Michel, along with a whisky bar and a full-service bar.

Best Western Premier is the company’s highest class of hotel.

Aimbridge currently owns or manages more than 180 hotel properties in the United States and the Caribbean.