Carlton Savannah hotel re-branded as The BRIX

The hotel located at Coblentz Avenue, Cascade in Port-of-Spain will re-open its doors in January 2019 as "The BRIX"; a member of Marriott International's Autograph Collection.

The rebranding reveal took place yesterday (Tuesday) in a conference room at the hotel. That's where Chairman of Superior Hotels Limited, John Aboud, announced that by the time The BRIX opens, approximately TT $300 million would have been spent; 50 percent of that on renovations.

Previously known as the Carlton Savannah hotel, the property went into receivership in 2013 but seeing an opportunity to get into the hotel business, a local group of investors formed the company, Superior Hotels Limited, and recently concluded a successful private bid to buy the hotel from First Citizens bank.

In the years prior to the Carlton Savannah being in operation, there was another hotel at the same location - The Pelican.

The BRIX's main target will be business travellers, along with those looking for a "bold, elegant, diverse" getaway.

Aboud credited this, along with the hotel's larger rooms, for it not being in competition with other high-end hotels in Trinidad, such as the Hyatt Regency and Hilton Trinidad.

"When we are open, we will be above the rest and we will enjoy our market share. So I don't like to say we are competing. Our rooms are much bigger - 525 square feet, there isn't another hotel room in Trinidad that is even two-thirds that size. So as a business person travelling to Trinidad, you have a nice, big room with a desk, all the technological amenities. We have some built-in advantages that guests will enjoy."

Renovations are expected to start by November 1. Once open, the hotel will employ about 200 people. Aboud said former Carlton Savannah employees are welcome to "re-apply and whoever we can take back, we will gladly (do so)."

Tourism Minister, Shamfa Cudjoe, welcomed the investors' confidence in TT's tourism sector.

"This project symbolises a message of support for our efforts to develop the tourism sector, expand our economy, and maintain a decent standard of living for the people of our country."

Cudjoe also highlighted the importance of good customer service. She said Government is "establishing mandatory standards and revamping the hospitality assured programs...because at the end of the day, no matter how luxurious your property, or how aggressive your marketing, nothing is more important than service quality."