The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) held its Annual Awards and Dinner on Saturday evening, spotlighting both the industry’s strides and a commitment to raising standards at all facilities.
In her address, THAG President Dee George reflected on Adriana Younge’s death at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, Region Three.
She said that tragic incident should not have happened and now, stakeholders must work assiduously to prevent any recurrences.
According to George, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) began work on regularising tourism standards before the recent tragedy.
THAG President Dee George
As part of these efforts, a decision was made to identify and license all unregistered hospitality properties across the country.
That work will continue and George said THAG will be a key stakeholder in these efforts.
“We are going to make sure it is done, one property at a time. So never again we as a nation will have to go through losing a child or any citizen,” George said.
George further related THAG’s continued advocacy on behalf of its members and the industry. Acknowledging a growing labour shortage, she stressed the importance of introducing young people to careers in tourism.
“There is a shortage of labour in our industry, outside of meeting with the minister of labour, we thought it is important that we include and indoctrinate our little ones to understand that tourism is a choice,” George revealed.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips
George said THAG has launched initiatives in secondary schools to encourage students to consider tourism as a career path and gain hands-on experience through hotel internships.
Another key area of focus has been the strengthening of the local supply chain. Last year, THAG, in partnership with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), hosted a ‘speed dating’ networking event that brought together hotel and restaurant owners and farmers. The initiative aimed to help these businesses better understand local production capabilities and work together to meet supply demands.
Looking ahead, George said THAG is eager to “restore Georgetown to its former glory.”
And so, she called for cooperation among government bodies, the private sector and the general public.
THAG also pledged to advocate for duty-free concessions for tour operators, noting that with Guyana’s rapid growth, tourism is also poised to expand.
Additionally, George further advocated for inclusivity and sustainability in the sector, encouraging openness to LGBTQ+ tourists and support for community-based tourism.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips delivered the keynote address, underscoring the government’s commitment to developing diverse tourism offerings. He highlighted nature-based, adventure, heritage, sports, festivals, and family-oriented tourism as key pillars of the national strategy.
“Over the past five years, we have begun to reap the dividends of the investment and time we put into developing our tourism sector,” the Prime Minister said.
Over the past five years, Guyana has seen an increase in air connectivity with major airlines such as British Airways, JetBlue, Avianca, United Airlines, Sky High Dominicana, LIAT 2020, Fly Allways, InterCaribbean, and KLM.
By the end of 2025, Guyana expects to add over 600 new hotel rooms, with major developments from brands such as Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, King’s Hotel, and the recently completed Aiden by Best Western and Pegasus Suites.
The Prime Minister said over 65 new tourism experiences were also added, including culinary tours, hikes, ATV adventures, and kayaking.
Training and capacity building have been a central focus, with over 8,000 individuals trained in the tourism and hospitality sector between 2020 and 2025. During the same period, Guyana earned 11 international awards, marking a period of global recognition and industry transformation.
“Nearly 22,000 people are now employed directly and indirectly in the sector across the country,” the Prime Minister said.
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