MONROVIA, Montserrado – A long-rumored Marriott Hotel for Liberia is finally taking shape, as the hospitality management company, Aleph Hospitality, has announced an agreement with Marriott International to launch the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Liberia.

Set to open in 2020, the hotel will be the first internationally branded hotel in post-war Liberia.

A press release issued by Aleph Hospitality noted that the hotel would have 111 rooms “along with meeting facilities and a multitude of food and beverage outlets, including one all-day-dining venue, one specialty restaurant, a beach bar and grill, and a rooftop bar.”

In announcing the hotel, Aleph Hospitality’s managing director drew attention to President George Weah’s call for a more simplified visa system.

“With President Weah announcing plans just last month to greatly simplify the visa entry system and look to develop a national tourism board to drive inbound visitor numbers, Liberia looks set to significantly grow its share of voice in the African tourism industry,” Bani Haddad was quoted as saying.

During his second Annual Message to the legislature, Weah promised to “implement a visa-upon-arrival program, as well as the issuance of tourist visas.”

Liberia currently does not officially have a visa-upon-arrival program and visitors to Liberia must often travel to another country hosting a Liberian consulate or embassy to obtain a visa.

The new hotel will be located on 2^nd Street, Sinkor, at the site of the Golden Beach Restaurant and adjacent to Pan-African Plaza and the Monrovia City Hall. The hotel, though managed by Aleph Hospitality, is owned by Sea Suites Hotel, LLC, which already owns other properties in the city.

According to the press release, the new hotel is expected to create over 100 new jobs when open.

This is the second internationally branded hotel to be announced in Liberia in the past three months. In December 2018, a US$48 million 192-room Hilton Hotel was announced for Paynesville, along SKD Boulevard. While the Hilton Hotel is set to open in 2023, Marriott’s Four Points hotel is due to open next year. Construction had already been ongoing at the proposed site of the Four Points for years.

Featured photo courtesy of Aleph Hospitality