LOLC Group signs landmark deal with Club Méditerranée, France

The LOLC Group and Club Mediterranee, France announced their collaboration in branding, marketing and managing the Riverina Resort in Beruwala as the First Club Med Resort in Sri Lanka. The historic agreement will be finalised at a formal signing ceremony in Colombo tomorrow (25). 

The LOLC Group is a leading diversified conglomerate present in the foremost economic sectors of the country. Club Méditerranée SA, commonly known as Club Med, is a French company specialising in operating Club Resorts at a number of exotic destinations around the world.

Commenting on LOLC’s strategic partnership with Club Med, LOLC Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara said: “It is my pleasure to welcome Club Méditerranée President and CEO Henri Giscard D’Estaing to flag off our flagship venture in Sri Lanka. LOLC’s Riverina Resort in Beruwala will now become Sri Lanka’s first Club Med property. We are overjoyed that a top global brand such as Club Méditerranée will be collaborating with us as the brand will enhance the identity of Sri Lanka tourism by attracting affluent tourists to our shores, while generating valuable employment opportunities within the local community, thereby boosting the local and the national economy.” He added: “With its foray into the leisure sector, the LOLC Group has made great strides in placing its flag in prime tourism hotspots across Sri Lanka. Our vision for this sector has motivated us to enhance the group to include our own destination management company, an out-bound arm, a comprehensive family entertainment complex and more, within a relatively short span of time. In recent times, we have also made aggressive investments into the leisure sector in the Maldives, securing some of the most sought after real estate in Male and in strategic locations among other Atolls. 

LOLC...

We are proud to have attracted a pioneering brand such as Club Med to partner with us in this landmark agreement.”

Over the past 65 years, Club Med has been a catalyst in transforming emerging destinations into international high level tourist places, generating great global interest and immediate traffic wherever it settles.  Bali, Cancun, Punta Cana, the Maldives and Phuket are perfect examples of destinations launched into the list of world-class destinations after Club Med’s first resort was established in those locations. 

Expressing his views on opening the first Club Med in Sri Lanka, D’estaing said: “I am very pleased to be signing the agreement with LOLC Group which will pave the way for establishing the first Club Med in Sri Lanka. Continually in search of new exceptional locations, Club Med is proud to contribute to the wellbeing of Sri Lankan tourism and to its local economy, attracting a variety of local talent. I wish to warmly thank the Sri Lankan local authorities for their support, without which this project would not have been possible, and I commend the professionalism of LOLC’s teams, the group being a first-class partner in Sri Lanka for Club Med. Thanks to this partnership, we are hoping further projects will be developed in this stunning location. Opening by 2018 in Beruwala, this Club Med will be perfectly integrated in its setting and reflects our ambition to become the worldwide leader of premium all-inclusive holidays.”

The development of a world-class Club Med resort in Sri Lanka will strongly contribute to the tourism success of the country, while contributing to attract affluent tourists from Europe and Asia into the island, and stimulating the local economy to create hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities. 

The project design team comprise of Vinod Jayasinghe Associates Ltd., Project Management Partnership, Q-Serve Ltd., NCD Consultants Ltd., K2 Consultants Ltd., Chandana Dalugoda Consultants and Nimal Perera Associates. 

The construction team for the project consists of Sierra Construction Ltd., Sintech Engineering Ltd., Ajax Engineers Ltd., Kent Engineers Ltd. and Creations Wooden Fabricators Ltd. 

Captions 

Club Mediterranee President/CEO Henri Giscard d’Estaing

LOLC Group Deputy Chairman Ishara Nanayakkara