MIAMI—Haitian hotelier Dominique Fombrun Carvonis has received the NABHOOD Emerging Hotel Owner of the Year Award for 2014.
The 18th annual International African-American Hotel Ownership and Investment Summit and Trade Show, organized by NABHOOD, took place here.
Each year the award is presented to a hotelier who attracts investment interest in the hotel industry, and who has vested interest in the industry. Carvonis received the award for her efforts to launch the Hilton Garden Inn Port-au-Prince Louverture Airport in Haiti, according to NABHOOD President and CEO Andrew Ingraham.
The Hilton Garden Inn is scheduled to open in September 2016 and will mark the brand’s introduction to the Caribbean, as well as the company’s first hotel in Haiti. The upscale, full-service property is being built next to Visa Lodge Hotel, near Port-au-Prince’s international airport. It will be the first internationally branded hotel by the airport, according to the company.
The hotel will feature 152 guestrooms, including eight suites, with LCD HD flat-screen TVs, an alarm clock with MP3 connectivity, a work desk and “hospitality center” with a mini-refrigerator and coffee maker.
Dining options will include a full-service restaurant and lobby lounge with full, cooked-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel will also feature the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry shop with ready-made meals, beverages and snacks. Recreational facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a complimentary fitness center, featuring cardio and strength training equipment by Precor.
The Hilton Garden Inn Port-au-Prince Louverture Airport will also have access to meeting space with a pre-function area, three flexible meeting rooms and one boardroom. Signature Hilton Garden Inn brand attributes such as complimentary Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center are also offered.
“Our joint efforts with Hilton Worldwide will help boost the environment of this industrial area, creating nearly 100 direct and 300 indirect jobs,” stated Carvonis. “With Hilton Worldwide’s comprehensive hotel training programs, we will develop skilled human resources and increase the standards and quality of service to our guests. This will ultimately enhance the prestige of our beloved Haiti.”