Above: the groundbreaking on Friday

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The new Courtyard By Marriott project in Kingston officially broke ground on Friday.

The hotel, one of eight being developed in the region by Caribe Hospitality, will also be the first LEED-certified building in Jamaica.

The property, which will have five stories and 130 rooms, is being developed at a cost of around $22 million, higher than initial estimates.

It is scheduled to open in 2015.

“As we promote Brand Jamaica, the raising of a Marriott flag in our destination is a welcome development,” said Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill. “This complements our strategic vision for the capital city of Kingston as a major tourist destination.”

Former Tourism Minister and current Opposition Spokesman on Tourism Ed Bartlett said the project represented “another chapter in the annals of tourism development and expansion in Jamaica, as well as a testament to private sector leadership and dynamism in our country.”

Caribe Hospitality, which is based in Costa Rica, is partnering on the project with Pan-Jam and Trinidad-based Victor Mouttet Limited.

Early estimates point to the potential for around 430 jobs upon completion.