$10M airport hotel

Construction magnate Mark Maloney is taking the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) to new heights with the building of an airport hotel.

Maloney told the Sunday Sun he has submitted plans to the Planning & Development Department (PDD) for the $10 million project and was awaiting approval. Once approval is granted, he said the hotel should be completed in 12 months.

It is being built exclusively for all commercial flight crews.

“It’s a new addition to our aviation business which has already set the standard in excellence,” Maloney said. “We will continue to add on additional services to meet the needs of the discerning client.”

The new hotel, which will carry the signature M logo, a prominent feature of the aviation business at the GAIA, is an extension of the joint venture M jet FBO (Fixed Based Operation) facility at the airport, which is a partnership developed in 2023 between Maloney and Universal Aviation.

The M jet FBO facility provides aviation services as well as a private jet facility for wealthy travellers.

Maloney said the split-level airport hotel would feature 25 rooms and employ 20.

“It will bring another level of amenity that doesn’t exist now,” he said, pointing out that the hotel would include a 24-hour laundry facility, dining, spa, urgent care, pool and car rental service.

This coincides with the services already provided by Mjet, which includes the private jet facility, ground handling, Customs, Immigration and port health along with a pet clearing facility.

Asked about possible clashes with the many construction projects under his belt, including the much anticipated Hyatt Zika Hotel at Bay Street, St Michael, Maloney said his company was expanding its development as well as its construction group to undertake these projects.

Back in 2023, Universal Aviation, the worldwide FBO and ground support division of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., announced it had expanded its presence in the Caribbean with a joint venture agreement with M Jet in Barbados at GAIA.

An FBO is an organisation granted the right by an airport to operate at the airport and provide aeronautical services such as fuelling, hangaring, tie-down and parking, aircraft rental, aircraft maintenance, flight instruction and similar services.

The M Jet facility includes a 3 200-sq-ft terminal with a passenger lounge, crew suite with private shower facilities and kitchenette, a 12-seat conference room, business centre, concierge and a pet relief area and inhouse Customs and Immigration. The FBO also possesses a private apron and 36 000 square feet of hangar space that can accommodate Boeing Business Jets and Airbus ACJ bizjets.

On June 18, as is required by the PDD, Maloney placed an advertisement in this newspaper announcing the submission of the application for the construction of the hotel at Lot 2B GAIA. It carried a 14day objection time frame. (MB)