Haiti’s newest hotel is a destination in its own right.

The Marriott Port-au-Prince Hotel— the result of a philanthropic collaboration between Marriott International, Digicel Group and The Clinton Foundation — opened its doors in March. The 175-room Marriott is the first of its brand in the country and aims to bring sustainability to the people of Haiti by employing primarily Haitians and enlisting local businesses for goods and services whenever possible.

Located just 7 miles from the Toussaint L’Ouverture International Airport, the Marriott Port-au-Prince offers guests easy access to the city’s commercial district as well as a wide variety of outdoor activities like hiking and swimming. It boasts the popular La Sirene Bar and Restaurant, with a variety of traditional Haitian items in addition to popular international dishes. It also features five elegant meeting rooms for corporate and social events of any size.

A Boston-based philanthropic effort that was launched in the immediate aftermath of the January 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti will transition into a new institute over the next two years, according to leaders with the Boston Foundation, which hosts the initiative. The Haiti Fund, which has distributed more than $2.1 million in grants— most of them to existing, Haitian-led organizations in rural Haiti— will be phased out over the next two years as its board pivots into a new, permanent organization that will be called the Haiti Development Institute.

“We are looking to give Haiti an independent institute that will serve local communities throughout the country while also supporting in long run the public sector by pushing issues and hopefully changing public policies,” explained Pierre Noel, who is the executive director of the Haiti Fund at the Boston Foundation. Noel, who will serve as grand marshal of this weekend’s Haitian Unity Parade in Mattapan and Dorchester, will relocate to Haiti next year to finalize the establishment of the institute.

There has been a change in leadership at the Boston office of the Haitian government. Marjorie Alexandre Brunache, who served as consul since 2011, has been re-assigned. Marie Weslyne Nicolas is presently serving as the interim consul until a new permanent consul is assigned to the post.

Brunache ended her duties in the last week in February, according to Nicolas, who worked in the office under Brunache. A new appointment will come from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti, said Nicolas.
“Everything is the same” at the Back Bay offices, where Haitian nationals often frequent to apply for visas, update passports and conduct other official business.

PORT-AU-PRINCE— The wife of Haitian President Michel Martelly registered to run for the Senate in her first attempt at elected office.

First lady Sophia Martelly filed the required documents on April 23 to compete in a crowded field for one of 20 open seats in the Aug. 9 election, representing the party created by her husband. She would represent a Senate district that includes the capital.

Haitian-Americans United, Inc. (H.A.U.) will host a series events organized in celebration of the 2015 Haitian Heritage Month in Massachusetts. H.A.U. and its partners continue to focus on “Unity” as the central theme for this year, while evoking the spirit and the determination of the ancestors that led to Haiti’s independence on January 1st, 1804. The theme for this year is "United We Stand, Stronger!"

As in past years, H.A.U. will coordinate several major events (one in collaboration with Haitian-American State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry) for the Haitian Heritage Month: