The FINANCIAL -- In Haiti, where new economic activity is critical in the midst of the tremendous efforts to rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in 2010, Marriott International announced it would open the $45 million, 173-room Port-au-Prince Marriott Hotel, under management agreement with ownership group Unigestion Holding a subsidiary of Digicel Group.

In addition to creating 175 new jobs, Marriott will invest in hospitality training to benefit Haiti's tourism sector.       

Digicel Group is responsible for designing and building the hotel and chose Marriott International’s flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand as its operating partner under long-term management agreement. Construction on the property is expected to begin in 2012, with opening expected in mid-2014.

With roughly 500 hotel rooms operating in the city, the Port-au-Prince Marriott will add 173 rooms to the capital city and create much needed lodging and meeting space for business travelers seeking to invest in the country, non-government organizations, humanitarian organizations, reconstruction teams, financial institutions and visitors to the capital. Port-au-Prince is located in the southern part of the country on the Gulf of Gonave and is home to approximately 20 percent of the country’s population.Digicel is the single largest private investor in Haiti and the country’s largest telecoms provider.

Mr. O’Brien is also founder and patron of Digicel Foundation, a charitable organization actively involved in rebuilding Haiti which to date has constructed a total of 70 schools. The Digicel Foundation has collaborated with the Clinton Global Initiative, which was founded by President Clinton.  As chairman of the Clinton Global Initiative’s Haiti Action Network, Mr. O’Brien has been instrumental in supporting 80 support organizations in Haiti and reconstructing the iconic Iron Market in Port-au-Prince.

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