Above: a rendering of the Best Western Haiti project

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Over the last 12 months, Haiti’s Interministerial Commission on Investment has approved 11 hotel projects totaling $161 million, according to Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism.

According to data from the Ministry, the total includes 11 hotels in Haiti, and 474 rooms. Another 454 rooms and 100 condominium units could also be on the way over the next several years through additional phases at the projects.

The developments were approved between October 2011 and October 2012, according to the Ministry.

The largest is a $47.2 million, 70-unit project by the Haiti Hotel Corporation. That project is a partnership between Haiti’s WIN Group and Argentine entrepreneur Rolando Gonzalez -Bunster. The hotel had originally been slated to bring ground by the end of 2010.

The second-largest is the renovation of the NH Haiti El Rancho hotel, a $43.7 million development that is tentatively scheduled to open in February 2013.

The third-largest is the $11.97 million Sunset Lodge Boutique Hotel and Spa, a 40-room development.

The Ministry said the 11 hotels were projected to add 1,653 direct jobs and 6,572 indirect jobs.

See the full table below (Source: Ministry of Tourism)