Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups, marked its entry into Sri Lanka at a recent groundbreaking ceremony of Park Inn by Radisson Colombo.
With more than 20 years’ experience in hospitality in the U.A.E., U.K., Switzerland, U.S., Thailand and South Africa, British born Chris McFall brings a wealth of knowledge to the hotel. His most recent role was with Jumeirah Group, as Director of Sales & Marketing for Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Dubai. Prior to this, Mr. McFall was the Group Director of Sales & Marketing for Abjar Hotels International, hotel owning company, overlooking the Sales & Marketing strategy for nine properties in Dubai, and Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing for four hotels in Dubai within Accor Group. His first foray into hospitality was at the SHA Hotel Management School Les Roches, in Switzerland.
Wright brings with him over thirty years’ experience in the hospitality industry, including senior management positions within Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. He joined the Hong Kong based group in 1993, as part of the Events team, before joining the Food & Beverage department, and becoming Hotel Manager for Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. His most recent assignments include General Manager positions for Traders Hotel Singapore (now Hotel Jen); Shangri-La's Eros Hotel, New Delhi; Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu; Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok; Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort & Spa, Kota Kinabalu, and Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong. As one of the Group’s most trusted leaders, he was then appointed Group Director of Human Resources in January 2014, joining Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts corporate team in Hong Kong. British born Timothy Wright studied Hotel Management in London.
Ahead of the inaugural Asia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC), taking place in Colombo at the end of this month, a study by STR reveals that Sri Lanka's hotel market recorded strong overall performance growth through September 2016, driven by a sharp increase in average daily rate (ADR). In year-over-year comparisons with the first nine months of 2015, Sri Lanka hotels reported a 15.0% increase in ADR to LKR15,806.02. Meanwhile, occupancy was relatively flat at 66.4%. As a result, revenue per available room (RevPAR) jumped 14.9% to LKR10,495.60.
Sri Lanka today announced plans to attract tourists back to the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean' with the launch of themed tourism development zones, a public-private sector initiative backed by the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Club, a government-recognised group of industry leaders. At least five and up to eight "Themed International Tourism and Family Entertainment Zones" are being designated in state-owned land, selected for their outstanding natural beauty. They include beaches, mountain and forest regions, extending over more than 1500 acres. The full plans will be unveiled at the inaugural Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC) in Colombo in November, organised by Bench Events. Sri Lanka Tourism Club Chairman, Dr Prabath C. Ukwatte, a founding sponsor and co-organiser of AHTIC, said: "We will be working with government ministries to deliver themed international tourism and family entertainment zones, and to open them up for foreign investment. The conference will be an ideal opportunity to explain what we will be doing and to attract international finance." One of the attractions of the project for investors is that the ownership of the land is transparent – not always the case in Sri Lanka. The developments will include luxury tourism, eco-tourism, wellness and yoga, as well as adventure and family activities. They take in some of Sri Lanka's finest scenery – mountain tops, dramatic beaches, waterfalls and forest views. The Sri Lanka Tourism Club will develop the infrastructure – access roads, electricity, water and sewerage – but the major financial input will come from outside investors.
Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka has announced that Iain McCormack has joined the Shangri-La family as the resort’s new General Manager. With a wealth of luxury hospitality experience spanning an impressive 38 years, Iain’s expertise and insight will be a valuable asset to Sri Lanka’s newest luxury opening.
After years of civil war, a new stability has returned to the island. It is now officially one of the fastest growing tourist markets in the world. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts Sri Lanka's Travel & Tourism GDP will grow 6.3% /yr over the coming decade and by 2026 the industry will be worth LKR130 bn to the country's economy. In the words of one senior travel executive: "It's pretty much a blank canvas to create a new and fresh product." New developments face challenges, but the Sri Lankan government is increasingly sympathetic to the right kind of projects. One of the keys to achieving success is securing an efficient investment model. The inaugural Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC), organised by Bench Events in Colombo, will discuss the best way forward, not only in Sri Lanka, but in developing markets across the region. The gathering of international investors, business leaders, government ministers and officials will share information and intelligence during the three-day conference in November. It is being supported by Sri Lanka's president, Maithripala Sirisena, as patron. The official opening was held in the presidential residence. One of the hot topics on the agenda will be discussion of a recent tourism project, as a case study… Eight acres of pristine beach-front land, within ninety minutes of an international airport, is soon to become Sri Lanka's largest multi-purpose property development outside Colombo. But how was the project achieved and what lessons are there for the investors in the rest of the region? The island development is the first venture into Sri Lanka by the luxury Thai hotel and apartment operator, Dusit Thani. Work on the "Beachfront Balapitiya", an apartment and hotel complex, is due to get underway in January 2017. Just how crucial it has been to get the project right is highlighted by Sri Lanka's growing tourist numbers – a record two million expected this year, and the government anticipates a doubling of that figure by 2020. It is being marketed worldwide with a good response from investors eager to take advantage of Sri Lanka's recovery. They are being attracted by guaranteed six per cent net returns for five years, paid quarterly in US dollars; freehold titles for owners, as well as substantial capital gains potential of around 30 per cent. It is the only five-star beach-front property available to foreign investors, with 480 metres of private beach.
Alila’s first Sri Lankan hotel, Alila Koggala Lake is set to open in mid 2017. Sanjiva Gautamadasa has been appointed General Manager. Sanjiva returns to Alila after four years, having worked previously as General Manager of Alila Manggis in Bali. Along with his industry expertise, Sanjiva also brings knowledge of Sri Lanka having worked with Jetwing Hotels and for the Lighthouse Hotel and Spa.
The Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Gerald Lawless, will share his inside knowledge of building Dubai as a destination, as well as one of the world's best-known luxury brands, Jumeirah Group, when he addresses the inaugural Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC) in Colombo in November. The former Jumeirah CEO, now Head of Tourism and Hospitality with Dubai Holding, Jumeirah's parent company, has played a key role in the country's phenomenal growth for nearly two decades. His own track record speaks for itself: when he joined Jumeirah from Trusthouse Forte in 1997, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel was about to open. It now has 22 across 11 global destinations and more than 20 hotels are in the pipeline in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. Dubai's overall expansion as a favourite tourist destination is just as impressive. Gerald says: "I remember in 1981 the Hyatt opened a hotel with 600 rooms and someone from the industry said, 'now Dubai has seven five-star hotels – and that's enough'." It clearly wasn't. There are now approaching 700 luxury hotels in the emirate with another 67 planned over the next 12 months. Key to that expansion has been co-operation between government and the private sector. Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing built a strong rapport with hotel owners and other industry players, as a group, so issues like immigration could be dealt with quickly and efficiently. The development of Emirates Airline was crucial too, as was marketing at big international events, and the government's commitment to building infrastructure to cope with the huge influx of visitors. Visa waivers to tourists from 30 countries – often without reciprocal concessions - also aided the expansion. "I had never seen co-operation like that anywhere else in the world," said Gerald. "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum really understood the potential of travel and tourism to the country." The value of tourism as a force for good in the world economy is one of Gerald's key messages in his new roles. He argues that a worldwide trusted-traveller or e-visa programme – supported by high-level security and international data sharing – would further boost tourism, which already accounts for 10 per cent of the global workforce, while enhancing security. He also predicts that handled the right way, tourism could account for a hugely increased percentage of GDP in many emerging markets in Asia. Sustainability – environmental, but also social and economic - is another of Gerald's passions. He cites the example of a new hotel project in an ecologically sensitive area in the interior of a tropical island. He emphasises the importance of training and employing local people there, providing health and education. That way everyone's experience – including the tourists' – is enriched. "We ignore sustainability at our peril," he says. Gerald Lawless' keynote address, Building a Tourism Destination, will be delivered at AHTIC in the Hilton Colombo, November 27 – 29. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, which is organising AHTIC concluded: "Sri Lanka is on a mission to rebuild its tourism industry after decades of civil war. I am sure that everyone in the audience will be fascinated to hear, in detail, the secrets of Dubai's success and to hear Gerald's thoughts on how similar success can be achieved in Sri Lanka and elsewhere in the region".
RIU Hotels & Resorts will celebrate its first inauguration on the Asian continent with a 5-star hotel in Sri Lanka. The Riu Sri Lanka will open its doors tomorrow, August 5th and is a perfect choice for both new and loyal Riu guests who want to discover this exotic destination. The hotel's location in Ahungalla, in the south-east of Sri Lanka, makes it the perfect location from which to explore the island or as a luxurious base, having been designed specifically to offer a relaxed and laid back atmosphere.
Sri Lanka, one of the top two emerging hotel and resort markets in Asia, is to host the first Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC), a top-level gathering of international investors, business leaders, government ministers and officials. President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Maithripala Sirisena, is supporting the conference as patron and speaking at the presidential residence in Colombo, the venue for the official launch, he said: "Sri Lanka has everything you need to be a fantastic destination, from awe-inspiring ancient cities, beautiful beaches and colorful coral reefs to mist-shrouded mountains, spectacular sights and wonderful wildlife. With the new measures we are putting in place to attract foreign investment, I am confident that Sri Lanka will become an equally attractive place to make money as it is to take a holiday."The conference is being organised by Bench Events, and managing director, Matthew Weihs, said: "Sri Lanka is a perfect place to launch our Asia conference. The country's tourism development authority has prepared an ambitious strategic plan, inviting private and public stakeholders to tackle both the industry's long-standing needs and the future potential of the country as a tourism destination."A record two million tourists are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka this year and government ministers are anticipating this figure will double by 2020.Matthew Weihs said: "The conference will cover every aspect of tourism investment throughout Asia Pacific. This is a fast-growing tourism development region and there will be substantial opportunities to network with other delegates and to exchange thoughts and ideas on the sector. The conference will also stimulate dialogue between business and government."According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the direct contribution of the industry to the Asia Pacific region was USD694.1bn (3.0% of total GDP) in 2014, and is forecast to rise by 9% per annum, from 2015-2025, to USD1,177.1bn (3.2% of total GDP) in 2025.Co-Organizer and Founder Sponsor Dr Prabath Chandima Ukkwatte, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Club, concluded: "Colombo has been the host of several high-profile international conferences but with the establishment of AHTIC as a regular international event, we will, for the first time, become the home of an important international business meeting that will build in stature and influence as it grows from year to year." The AHTIC conference will take place on November 27-29 at the Hilton Colombo in Sri Lanka. For more information visit www.asia-conference.com.
Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group appoints Simon Dell as its new Vice President and Area General Manager for Sri Lanka. In his new role, Dell will oversee ONYX’s growing presence in Sri Lanka, and will be responsible for the operations of the three hotels managed by ONYX in Sri Lanka, including OZO Colombo, OZO Kandy, and Amari Galle, opening late 2016. Prior to taking on this role, he held regional responsibility across Hong Kong and China as the Vice President of Operations for ONYX North Asia.
The 300-room beachfront Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort & Spa opened yesterday on a 145-acre former coconut plantation on the southern coastline of Sri Lanka. The President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, officiated at the launch, joined by guests from Colombo and the local community to mark the arrival of a new standard of luxury in the 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'.
Centara has seen a great deal of positive change thus far in 2016 and with that has also brought in some new faces. Centara Hotels&Resorts (CHR) is pleased to introduce a number of new members to the General Managers team.
A consortium of Jetwing Hotels, MMBL - Pathfinder Group, Regency Teas and several others have invested Rs. 1 billion to open 'Jetwing Jaffna', a 55-room star class hotel changing the skyline of Jaffna. The project has also succeeded in providing employment for over 80 youths from Jaffna, who were provided with training in hospitality industry by Jetwing Hotels. Among the institutional investors is Leon Holdings, headed by a Sri Lankan expatriate hailing from Jaffna, who is a partner of a successful business venture in Europe.
Opening on Sri Lanka's stunning southern coastline on June 1, 2016, Shangri-La's Hambantota Resort & Spa will offer unrivaled amenities and activities and set a new standard for hospitality in the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean." Spanning 145 acres, the 300-room beachfront resort will boast lush tropical gardens, an 18-hole golf course, an artisan village and a wide array of innovative dining, event and entertainment options.
Construction of Amari Galle Sri Lanka is progressing on schedule, with the resort on track to open in late 2016. This upcoming opening marks the introduction of the Amari brand by ONYX Hospitality Group to Sri Lanka, and follows on the success of two earlier openings in the country – OZO Colombo and OZO Kandy. All three hotels are owned by Sino Lanka Hotels (PVT) LTD, headed by Mr Bob Kundanmal, and managed by ONYX Hospitality Group.
Colombo -- Known as the heart of Sri Lankan hospitality, Jetwing Hotels is set to launch Jetwing Kaduruketha – the first luxury agro-tourism project in the country- in December 2015. Located in Wellawaya, a prominent waystation both into the country and to the East coast, the resort features 25 dwellings overlooking fields of paddy and mountains.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is pleased to announce the appointment of Tamir Kobrin as opening General Manager of Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka. With over 20 years of hospitality experience in luxury resorts and hotels in the United States, Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia, Kobrin is leading the team at Anantara’s first resort in the country, which is scheduled to open next month.
Oakwood has expanded its portfolio of serviced apartments in Sri Lanka. Scheduled to open in early 2016, Oakwood Apartments Colombo is located in the prime residential area of Colombo 3. Tilome Nanayakkara joins Oakwood from the Global Towers Hotel in Colombo where she has been general manager since 2008.