AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Marriott Hotels to debut in Belize

I don't blame the developers. Hell, if I owned an expensive property, I would want to maximize my return. It is the governments responsibility to provide the infrastructure for the amount of development it allows and additional people that it brings.
There seems to be a mentality that more jobs are what is in the best interest for the island. That logic only holds true if the infrastructure is in place to support first the people already there and to expand to accommodate the additional people that further development brings.
Of course some of the esteemed politicians might find other logic, a kinder word for motive, that is more personally beneficial.

ECI Development unveils first Marriott branded property in Belize

On Thursday, April 19th, the ECI Development group announced plans to bring the Marriott Hotels' signature brand to Belize. During a private event south of San Pedro Town, the project was revealed as a 203-unit hotel, combined with as many as 70 branded residences. In attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr., Vice President of Marriott Hotel Brand Rahul Vir and other invited guests. "We are thrilled to bring the Marriott Hotels' brand to Ambergris Caye, one of the Caribbean's most beautiful island destinations with famed access to the Belize Barrier Reef and dive sites," said Michael Cobb, Chairman, and CEO of ECI Development. "We are particularly excited about the opportunity to deliver top-quality lodging and residences in this special place with a beloved global brand."

The Marriott Hotel's branded residential project represents a $43 million investment in Belize. The project will fuse old-world British charm, complemented with modern amenities while preserving the heritage and history of Belize. In addition, the development will feature first-class restaurants, a rooftop lounge, conference and event space, spa, fitness center, retail outlets and a dive center. The Marriott Residences Belize Ambergris Caye is expected to open in 2020, with construction expected to begin in the third quarter of 2018.

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun

Since Hilton entered Belize via the Mahogany Bay project, it sort of makes sense that other major hotel brands would now look for ways into the country. That will make three that I know of (including the Radisson in Belize City).

Hi Gringo - Four Seasons Caye Chapel is another .....

Thanks, Diane! Good to know!

"We will have massive cisterns and so from 12 midnight to 5AM when nobody on the island is using the water we will fill our cisterns,"
Let me get this correct, is Mr. Cobbs saying that they will be depleating the already limited supply of water that is so desperately needed for the people who live on the island?

Yes he is!!

Any and all new resorts on this island need to be required to have there own desal plants. We will be installing one here soon. Bel is only going to get worse. In fact potable water is getting to be a country wide problem.

I had to log in on this.
There is an unregulated and unaddressed issue with desal , the produced by-product brine from desalination is currently being fed back into the ground via dug shallow water wells by almost all the desal plants on the island and it has an immediate and dramatic effect on our natural fresh water table. Wells in the surrounding area go to salt. Plants, animals and people use this natural critical water supply and it's rapidly being destroyed.

Interesting. How does BWS handle that?