15 Apr Interview with Rohit Lohani, General Manager, Yogh Hotel
The hospitality sector plays an important role in supporting economic activity, business travel and tourism development, particularly in markets experiencing new investment cycles. As general manager of Yogh Hotel, how do you see the property contributing to the development of the local hospitality sector and the broader business environment and how do you see the wider hospitality sector in Suriname?
I see hospitality as much broader than just hotels — it is an important part of the service economy that bridges essential travel with comfort, efficiency and meaningful experiences. At Yogh Hotel, our goal is to elevate the standards of accommodation, food & beverage and service excellence in Paramaribo. By offering an upgraded hospitality experience, we aim to attract senior decision-makers — chief experience officers, CFOs and investors — to visit the destination themselves rather than only sending representatives.
Properties like ours also stimulate the wider hospitality ecosystem by encouraging growth in supporting services such as luxury transport, guided city and nature tours, translators, entertainment and authentic local dining.
In terms of the market outlook, Suriname still has significant untapped potential. Business travel today is largely driven by developments in the oil and gas sector, which is bringing new investment and global attention to the country. However, for long-term sustainability, tourism must also evolve through stronger global positioning, well-structured visitor experiences and international standards of safety and service. This will require a collaborative effort between government bodies and private sector stakeholders.
Hotels operating in emerging markets often need to balance international service expectations with local realities. How does Yogh Hotel position itself competitively in terms of service standards, guest experience and operational efficiency within the local hospitality landscape?
At Yogh Hotel, we bring together experienced expat managers and supervisors with skilled local staff and enthusiastic newcomers. This mix creates a strong, collaborative team that delivers great service, smooth operations and memorable guest experiences. Our expat leaders bring international best practices, while our local talents add insight into the culture and guest preferences. Together, this blend allows us to maintain high standards, innovate continuously and position Yogh Hotel as a top choice in Suriname’s hospitality scene.
Many hotels are investing in modernization and service innovation. What improvements or upgrades have been introduced at Yogh Hotel to strengthen the property’s market positioning and guest experience and are others planned in the near future?
As one of the youngest hotels in Paramaribo, Yogh Hotel was built with the latest technology and modern amenities to deliver a top-notch guest experience from day one. We keep a close eye on global hospitality trends, ensuring our services and offerings stay fresh and innovative. Whenever needed, we upgrade our tools, equipment and service standards — not just for guests, but also to create meaningful experiences for our team and vendor partners. Looking ahead, we will continue investing in technology, infrastructure, ambience and training to stay competitive and inspire everyone who is part of our journey.
Hospitality businesses increasingly rely on diversified revenue streams beyond accommodation. With this in mind, how does Yogh Hotel approach the development of its food and beverage offerings, events and other hospitality services in order to enhance the overall guest experience and financial performance?
For any hotel, rooms and food & beverage are the two core products and at Yogh Hotel, F&B is particularly crucial, contributing nearly 50% of our revenue. Food and beverage is a fast-evolving industry and we follow the philosophy of ‘go global, stay local’ offering international-standard cuisine while using fresh local produce to remain sustainable and profitable. We invest heavily in training our team, sourcing the best ingredients and constantly refreshing menus with multicuisine options, promotions and new experiences to keep our offerings ahead of the market in Suriname.
Looking forward, with our upcoming hotel in Guyana — 560 rooms, six world-class F&B venues and over 32,000 square feet of event space — we aim to redefine the F&B and events landscape in the region, while continuing to provide unmatched service and growth opportunities for our teams.
How is the hotel positioning itself to attract both business and leisure travelers and are there specific markets or customer segments that you see as particularly promising for future growth?
Suriname’s growth today is strongly driven by the oil and gas sector, but the country also has immense potential in tourism, which is gradually being recognized internationally. The efforts of past and current governments to promote Suriname on the global tourism stage deserve real appreciation — they have laid the foundation for attracting both leisure and business travelers.
At Yogh Hotel, we cater to these markets by offering world-class experiences with a local touch. With increasing regional connectivity and our two distinct properties in Suriname and Guyana, we are well-positioned to stay relevant and appealing to a wide range of guests while contributing to the country’s broader economic and tourism growth.
Looking ahead, what are your key management priorities for Yogh Hotel in the coming years and what role do you see the property playing in the evolution of the local hospitality sector?
Our priority at Yogh Hotel is to stay relevant and lead the luxury segment while expanding across South America and beyond. At the same time, we focus on sustainable growth for our team, partners and stakeholders, ensuring everyone moves forward together. We want Yogh to set new standards, inspire the local hospitality sector and create opportunities for inclusive growth for all.
Do you have a final message for our readers?
Suriname has tremendous untapped potential. With growing business activity and its unique natural and cultural assets, the country is well positioned to strengthen both business travel and tourism. Our role as hospitality leaders is to elevate service standards and contribute to building a destination that attracts global visitors with confidence.
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