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Friday, 28 March 2014 00:50 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Best Western International said yesterday it is embarking on a major expansion strategy in one of Asia’s most exciting emerging markets – Sri Lanka.
This year, the company, which operates more than 4,000 hotels worldwide, will plant its flag in Sri Lanka for the first time in its 68-year history. Best Western International and local organization Elyon Hotels have signed a development partnership to spread the famous Best Western logo across the country, offering hospitality management expertise to existing and proposed hotels island-wide.
The inaugural property to be launched this summer will be the 60-room Best Western Elyon Colombo Hotel, bringing the company’s world famous attributes of comfort, convenience and service excellence to the Sri Lankan capital for the very first time.
This opening will mark the start of a major nationwide expansion for Best Western in Sri Lanka. Under the new agreement, Elyon Hotels will identify opportunities for new midscale and upscale hotels across the country. These are likely to include locations in the capital Colombo, or other key leisure and business destinations around Sri Lanka. The initial target for the next three years is to have four more hotels with a portfolio of approximately 400 rooms develop, which is then expected to rise to 700 rooms within five years.
Best Western’s Vice President of International Operations for Asia and the Middle East, Glenn de Souza, said he was excited by the opportunities in Sri Lanka. “The recent economic boom following the end of three decades of war has seen Sri Lanka develop rapidly,” de Souza said. “Driven by strong interest from India, China, the Middle East and Europe, international visitor arrivals to Sri Lanka have been growing exponentially in recent years, reaching one million for the first time in 2012. This is expected to reach 1.5 million visitors in 2014, and as an international hotelier, Best Western has a duty to provide to this soaring number of travellers with quality accommodation options. “I am delighted that we have formed a partnership with such a well-respected company as Elyon Hotels, and I am confident of building a nationwide portfolio of Best Western hotels in Sri Lanka,” de Souza added.
Commenting on this landmark agreement, Elyon Hotels Chairman Presantha Jayamaha said: “Tourism infrastructure development in Sri Lanka is seeing fast-paced growth and we are excited to be a part of these emerging growth opportunities. We, at Elyon Hotels, strongly believe that partnering an exceptional hospitality brand such as Best Western will enable us to provide exceptional tailored service standards to the discerning travellers to this paradise island.”
“This partnership with Best Western will also open up a whole new traveller market into Sri Lanka, due to the vast brand recognition and loyalty card membership (more than 20 million members worldwide) enjoyed by this global brand. I am personally very excited about the potential of Best Western to enhance the tourism industry in Sri Lanka,” Jayamaha added.
The first property will be a charming city hotel with amenities including an all-day dining restaurant, specialty restaurant, a bar, room service, fitness centre and meeting, and like all Best Western hotels across the world, it will offer complimentary Wi-Fi to all guests.
The new Sri Lankan properties will form part of a portfolio of approximately 200 Best Western hotels and resorts across Asia and the Middle East, and join the family of more than 4,000 hotels across the world.
