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Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday, 5 September 2013 01:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Necessary agreements for this project were signed recently with the Board of Investment by Hemas Holdings PLC Group Director Abbas Esufally and Serendib Leisure Hotels Managing Director Ranil de Silva. Hemas will provide 50% of the investment.
To be built on a unique property in the deep south acquired by Hemas Group over 20 years ago, the proposed 154-roomed project will cater to up-market tourists. It will have luxurious hotel rooms and private villas with their own plunge pools. The hotel will also boast three restaurants and a purpose-built spa.
The property will be operated under the Anantara brand, will epitomise the very best in indigenous Sri Lankan design, and will be complemented with all the luxuries sought-after by the modern-day traveller.
Construction and implementation of the project will commence immediately, with the resort scheduled for opening in February 2015.
Hemas’ current portfolio of properties includes Club Hotel Dolphin, Hotel Sigiriya, Avani Bentota Resort and Spa, and Avani Kalutara Resort, with a total room strength of 410. With the upcoming project, the number will increase to over 560.
Hemas is also the only Sri Lankan hotel chain that manages an international brand. The ‘Avani’ brand is owned by Minor International, one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region.
Its leisure sector, which also includes Serendib Group of Hotels and Diethelm Travels, in FY13 enjoyed one of its best years, posting a revenue growth of 38.6% and a profit growth of 275.4% for the year under review. The sector closed the year with revenues of Rs. 1.6 billion and a profit of Rs. 464 million.
On the back of tourist arrivals in 2012 surpassing the one million mark, both Destination Management business, as well as hotels, posted significant growth in terms of revenues and profits.
Average occupancy across Group hotel portfolio was above 75%, and Club Hotel Dolphin and Avani Bentota in particular performed exceptionally well. Kani Lanka Resort, which is 20% owned by the Serendib Group and managed by Serendib Leisure Management Ltd, underwent a Rs. 550 million refurbishment during FY13 and was reopened, newly branded as Avani Kalutara, in November 2012.
Hemas Holdings PLC – one of Sri Lanka’s most respected conglomerates – has investments in multiple disciplines ranging from FMCG, healthcare, transportation, leisure and power generation.
Minor Hotel Group (MHG) is a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 52 hotels and 42 serviced suites in operation under the Anantara, Avani, Per Aquum, Elewana, and Oaks brands across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.
