The long-awaited Hyatt hotel development on The City’s historic waterfront is slated to commence in January, creating 1,500 jobs and providing a significant boost to the local construction industry. This was announced by developer Mark Maloney during the groundbreaking ceremony for the WestBeach Barbados project last Friday.
The Hyatt Ziva all-inclusive hotel, which will extend from the Pierhead along Lower Bay Street, will feature 367 hotel rooms and 28 luxury condominiums. The project is expected to be completed within two years. Maloney emphasized the scale of the development, describing it as a “major undertaking unlike anything previously seen on the island” and a key contributor to the economy and tourism sector.
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“It’s wonderful to witness new projects coming to life. We’ve been working closely with Hyatt over the past year,” Maloney stated.
While optimistic about the project’s potential, Maloney acknowledged the challenges in securing enough resources, given the numerous large-scale developments currently in progress on the island, including Pendry, Port 49, Royalton, and Pierhead.
“The new Hyatt hotel is a massive win for the construction industry, but the reality is that Barbados lacks sufficient resources to handle all these projects,” he noted. “We need additional resources, but this will lead to tremendous growth, and that’s exciting.”
Maloney also commended the government for improving the efficiency of planning procedures, which he said has provided investors with the confidence to move forward with large developments.
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“Town planning processes have improved. Permissions are now granted more quickly and efficiently, and that’s encouraging because it provides the certainty we need,” he explained.
He further highlighted the time and effort involved in planning and securing financing for projects of this magnitude: “It takes considerable time to plan and secure financing, even for smaller projects. Certainty is crucial, and we’re definitely seeing that now.”
Maloney provided an update on the project’s progress, revealing that financing is on track with a $90 million loan secured from the African Export-Import Bank, along with other financial arrangements. He also discussed the innovative soil improvement techniques that will be used at the construction site, which differ from the conventional piling method.
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“We’re not using piles. Instead, we’re applying advanced technology to improve the soil, excavating the site and constructing rock piers with specially made rocks from Barbados, combined with cement and other materials,” Maloney explained, noting that the necessary equipment is currently en route to the island. “We’ve contracted a French company to handle this, and we expect work to begin within the next month.”
The project is being spearheaded by TLDI, an international beach resort firm renowned for building hotels for Sandals, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton across the Caribbean. The development is backed by a team of international, regional, and local experts.
“We have a strong team in place,” Maloney remarked, expressing confidence in the collaboration between TLDI and local professionals.
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