Marriott International boss in town next week to explore fresh prospects

• Inaugural 200-room resort in Weligama in partnership with Nahil Wijesuriya progressing, with opening slated for end 2014

President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International Arne Sorenson will be in Sri Lanka late next week to explore further prospects in the leisure industry, which has been enjoying a rebound following the end of the war.

Marriott has already set its footprint in Sri Lanka when it tied up with business tycoon Nahil Wijesuriya last year to manage his upcoming 200-room luxury resort and spa in Weligama, which will also be the tallest resort hotel in the country.

East West Properties Plc Chairman Nahil Wijesuriya told the Daily FT that Sorenson will make a special trip to Sri Lanka from 5 to 7 April to inspect the progress of Weligama Marriott Resort & Spa as well as fly to the east coast, hill capital and Cultural Triangle to see firsthand the scenic beauty and the potential for new resorts.

Wijesuriya said East West and Marriott have an understanding to expand the portfolio of resorts and hotels in the country over the next five years, covering the areas of the Cultural Triangle, Kandy, Trincomalee, Colombo and Hambantota.  

The Marriott boss will be accompanied by teams from Indian operations during the visit. Marriott International is a world-renowned operator and franchiser of a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts which include Bulgari Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz Carlton. Marriott International currently operates over 3,700 hotels in over 73 countries and territories around the globe. Marriott Hotels and Resorts are Marriott International’s signature and most widely distributed brand and it is also known for the world’s largest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards.

The 200-room, 11-storey Marriott Weligama Resort and Spa will be operated under Marriott’s flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand. Wijesuriya said so far construction has progressed to the sixth storey and will be completed for its opening in end 2014.

The resort is being built according to Marriott International’s five star brand standards, with a beach frontage of 115 metres on the Galle-Matara road in the south-east of the country.

“The construction is being carried out in-house by East West Engineering Services Ltd., so we have direct control of every aspect of the construction of the resort and are confident that it will be of the highest standards and quality,” he added.

In making its original announcement last year on the first Sri Lanka resort, Marriott said it was delighted to be extending its portfolio and opening a world-class hotel in Sri Lanka.

“Sri Lanka is a destination that has great potential and opportunity and we hope to capitalise on that and establish a strong presence in the country. We are confident that the reputation of Marriott Hotels and Resorts and the power of Marriott Rewards, our loyalty program, will create great interest from both local and international travellers and be successful in promoting the beautiful area of Weligama Bay, as well as the country itself as this is our first hotel here,” Marriott’s Asia Pacific President and Managing Director Simon Cooper said.

With some 640sq metres of flexible ballroom space, the hotel should prove extremely popular in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) market, while those travelling to Weligama Marriott Resort & Spa on holiday will be able to take full advantage of the wide leisure offering at the hotel, which includes three restaurants, a pool with a pool bar, spa, fitness centre and a beautiful stretch of beach.

Weligama, located 144km from Colombo, is a popular tourist destination renowned for its sandy beaches. Famous for its stilt-fishermen perched on a cross bar of a single pole planted into the seabed, this attraction has been captured in every corner of the world depicting Sri Lanka as a preferred destination of choice for travellers from all over the world.