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Aman Resorts to sign Rs.500 m management contract with Queens, Suisse

by Tharika Goonathilake

Global leisure magnate and owner of one of the world's most exclusive luxury hotel chains, Adrian Zecha of Aman Resorts fame, will shortly sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the expansion and management of two Kandy hotels - Queens and Suisse.

The mega expansion program, which will see two of the oldest hotels in the hill capital to the standards of the Aman chain, will be worth Rs. 500 million. Zecha will be investing Rs. 250 million while the remainder will come from Colombo based banks.

The signatories to the MoU, which is expected be signed shortly, will be by the nominees of Silverlink Holdings Ltd., the holding company of Amman Resorts and the Kandy Hotels Company (Pvt) Ltd., the owning company of both the Queens and the Swiss," Chairman Ceylon Hotels Corporation and Kandy Hotels Company (1938) Ltd Managing Director," Bodhisiri Ranasinghe said.

Under the MoU, Zecha will sign a 30 year lease which aims at managing these two hotels known for their picturesque locations and colonial charm.

The Indonesian developer will take over the management of the two properties for a period of 30 years, providing the two hotels a fixed annual lease rental and a percentage of the profits which will be gradually increased.

"These properties have immense potential, however we lack funds for refurbishment. This venture will help to infuse much needed capital which will upgrade these hotels to first class travel localities," Ranasinghe said.

With Aman resort chain enjoying wide patronage of high end travellers who are willing to pay between US$ 500- US $ 1000 per day for Aman resort hospitality, prospects for Sri Lanka attracting up market tourists is well on the increase and this is indeed a huge vote of confidence in Sri Lanka as an upmarket destination, Ranasinghe said.

Zecha, who owns and operates a chain of 15 exclusive upmarket boutique resorts in some of the most exotic destinations including Indonesia, USA, French Polynesian Islands, France, Morocco, Mexico, Cambodia, Philippines, is a known stamp of luxury and for creating the ambience for respite, seclusion and style.

According to Attorney at Law, S. G. Senaratne of Simon Associates, representing Aman Resorts interest here, "Sri Lanka is poised to become the second Bali" and "their client has realised the true potential of this country."

"From an innovative pioneering venture which kicked off with the Amanpuri Resort hotel in Phuket, Thailand- Zecha's first hotel established fifteen years ago, he has been successful in catering to the demands of the upmarket traveller," Senaratne said.

He reiterated that "Zecha's recipe for success has worked in many destinations and Sri Lanka is now next in line."

According to Senaratne, Zecha also hopes to take over the development and management of the New Oriental Hotel Galle and the Old Dutch Hospital Building in Colombo.

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