I knew the Haiti earthquake of 2010 was absolutely massive the moment I noticed the chandeliers in the lobby of the hotel I was staying at begin to rattle frantically from the aftershocks. And I was in Puerto Rico.
Besides the obvious thoughts and prayers that went out for all the people who lived there, I also had a matter of business that I was concerned with. I had a feature story slated to run in Travel Agent magazine later that week, titled, “Haiti on the Rise,” which chronicled the massive efforts and investments that were being made to make the destination a viable option for tourists heading to the Caribbean. The sheer irony of the title alone was enough to make me cringe at thought of it running in our magazine as reports flooded in of building after building being toppled with ease.
I got my editor on the phone, asked him to yank the piece immediately and dodged what would have been a publishing disaster. In the two years following, I constantly monitored the situation in Haiti. The story I originally wrote has long since been deleted since most of the content in it is now either irrelevant or incredibly outdated. But I knew the time would come where I would be able to use that headline again and, in a sense, turn a negative experience into hope for a country that desperately needs it.
So why is that time now?
It appears as though enough repairs have been done to the country to make leisure tourism a primary focus again. The first sign that Haiti’s sights were set again on tourism came in 2011 when United Continental Holdings, Inc. announced that Continental Airlines would begin nonstop flights between its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.
Then in early 2012, Aimbridge Hospitality announced that it has been chosen to manage the new Best Western Premier Petion-Ville Hotel in Haiti. The Best Western Premier Petion-Ville, which is being built near Port-au-Prince, is the first U.S. branded and managed hotel in Haiti. The Best Western Premier Petion-Ville is owned by Carabimmo, Inc., which is based in Haiti and saw a need for a higher-end hotel project to host business travelers in the Port-au-Prince area. The hotel is located about five miles from the airport in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Petion-Ville.
In December, Digicel and Marriott International announced they had broke ground on the $45 million 175-room Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand hotel in the Turgeauarea of Port-au-Prince, with an opening expected in early 2015, making it the first four-star branded hotel in Haiti.
The latest piece of evidence that Haiti’s has continues its bid to become a major player in Caribbean tourism came when the all-inclusive giant, Occidental Hotels and Resorts, announced earlier this week that it had opened the Royal Oasis by Occidental in Haiti. The property is sprawled over three acres in the heart of Petion-ville, formerly an upscale residential suburb which has now gradually evolved to become Haiti’s most important business and commercial hub. Located in one of the area’s safest and most desirable neighborhood, the Royal Oasis is earthquake resistant and hurricane proof. The largest hotel in Haiti features crisp and modern design in its 128 luxurious rooms and is just a 30-minute drive from Port-au-Prince International Airport.
And if its safety agents are concerned about, Caribbean News Digital recently reported that Haiti is one of the safest destinations; not just in the Caribbean, but throughout all the Americas. This is the general finding of recent studies on crime in the region, which show that Haiti has the lowest rate of violent deaths in comparison to previous years.
Now, Haiti is still a very delicate situation. The country is emerging, but emerging at a very slow pace. There are still major concerns surrounding Cholera in the country as well as the ongoing process of repairing the damage left behind by the hurricane. Book this for seasoned Caribbean travelers, old or young. We would suggest couples or singles, but we are going to wait a few more years before we’re comfortable enough to recommend Haiti for children.
So here’s to you, Haiti. Keep up the good work and, in the words of the legendary musician, Bruce Springsteen, “Come on rise up!”