Fairway Holdings appoints Plateno Group to manage city hotel

From left: Paul Ratnayeke, Senior Partner, Paul Ratnayeke Associates, Prasann Leange, Group Director/Chief Financial Officer, Fairway Holdings, Hemaka De Alwis, Chairman, Fairway Holdings, Saminda Jayasekera, Group Director HR & Admin, Fairway Holdings, Shivanka De Zoysa, Group Director/Chief Operating Officer, Fairway Holdings, Kevin Wallace, Managing Director Australasia, Plateno Hotels Group, Taffy Alahakoon, Group Director, Chief Marketing Officer, Fairway Holdings and Apinash Sivagumaaran, General Manager South Asia, Plateno Hotels Group

Fairway Holdings entered into an agreement with the Plateno Hotels Group of China to manage their 200-bedroom, soon-to-be-completed city hotel in Colombo Fort. 

The hotel is centrally located on Hospital Street, opposite the World Trade Centre and behind the Old Dutch Hospital premises. 

This is the first hotel to be developed by the Fairway Holdings Group, which is renowned for its leadership in real estate development and synonymous with luxury vertical living. The Fairway Holdings Group is a home-grown corporate, operating in a plethora of industries, from real estate to manufacturing and trading operations, hire purchase services, pharmaceuticals, biotechnological research and development, domestic aviation, and most recently, the leisure industry. 

Within these sectors, the group has expanded its operations with the introduction of a domestic charter airline and an aviation school. Fairway Holdings is also pioneering the use of caravans and motor homes by developing a network of caravan parks throughout Sri Lanka through its subsidiary Go Outdoors Lanka. 

GOL also imports and supplies quality caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers from reputed manufacturers in Europe. The addition of a city hotel consolidates the group’s position in these sectors. 

Founder and Chairman of the Fairway Holdings Group, Hemaka de Alwis said: “Considering the location, it was a no-brainer that it would be best suited for a hotel. The only question was what type of a hotel. There are many high-end luxury hotels being developed in Colombo. But the increasing demand and the expectations of the modern-day business traveller or the not-so-affluent tourist are not met by these developments. Therefore we decided to build a limited service hotel to cater to this segment.” 

A food court, coffee shop and cocktail bar are planned on the ground floor and a restaurant and pub on the rooftop. 

“These dining options are expected to add to the wide array of dining options already available in the area. In addition to what the hotel offers, our guests will have plenty of dining and entertainment options nearby. We believe that the entire Fort area will eventually become an entertainment hub with many restaurants, cafes, pubs and entertainment for both locals and tourist alike.” he added.

This will be the first ZMAX branded hotel in Sri Lanka managed by the brand owner the Plateno Hotels Group of China. Plateno, the seventh largest hotel group in the world has recognised Sri Lanka as one of the fastest growing markets and has established their regional office for South East Asia in Colombo. The Plateno Group has already taken over the management of a resort hotel under their Portofino brand in the south of Sri Lanka and are in negotiations with several other hotels to enter into similar management contracts.

ZMAX Fairway Colombo will be one of the most technologically advanced hotels with a state-of-the-art energy management system supported by a fully integrated IPTV and property management system. Other than being located in possibly one of the best locations in city, the hotel aims to provide an exceptional shower and sleep experience. The hotel will also have an advanced guest interaction and communication system putting the guest in charge of the services provided. ZMAX Fairway Colombo will open its doors for business in March 2016.