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| Monday, 24 January 2005 |
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Construction work on $3m Yala hotel begins next month by Shirajiv Sirimane The Browns Group and Tropical Leisure Management Ltd. will invest US $ 3 million to construct a luxury hotel in Yala.
The two companies have decided to go ahead with their investments despite the tsunami creating major damage to the site for the proposed property. According to Susane Fillippin Executive Director, Tropical Leisure Management Ltd, Sri Lanka's first purposely built designer lifestyle hotel investors should not panic in the aftermath of the tsunami. "This is only a temporary set back," she said. Construction work of the complex would commence next month and it would be completed in six months. The new hotel 'Jungle Bay' will have 20 ultra luxury tents with cable television, mini pools and many other facilities. In addition private garden Barbecues, special morning breakfasts and personalised services are some of the other features. "We are hoping to sell this for around US 250 per day," she said. She said that the concept which is new to Sri Lanka has been already marketed to the travel agents and they are very positive about it. The hotel is located in close proximity to Yala and this is another plus point for marketing. The opening of the Jungle Bay they would be able to promote two way destinations. "Clients visiting the Elephant Corridor would have an experience in culture and the Jungle Bay would be to enjoy the beach and adventure," she said. Air Taxi, helicopter services and domestic air travel would also be offered to clients to cut down on transport time between the two destinations. She said that many people who did not know about Sri Lanka now have heard about the country and this should be a good marketing strategy. "What the country now needs is a good publicity campaign," she said. She said that they are also hoping to introduce a special concept highlighting the unexplored areas in Sri Lanka. "What we are planning to do is to take tourists to areas in Mahiyangana, Horowopathana, Wasgamuwa, and ask them to camp in paddy fields that have been abandoned after harvest," she said. There are tourists who respect Asian culture and like to stay in village surroundings. "This is our target market and they would be staying in portable tens powered by solar power," she said. The 200 acre Elephant Corridor with an investment of 4 million US dollars was opened in 2003 and Fillippin said that their aim is to convert the hotel to the most expensive hotel in Sri Lanka. "We want to sell at 500 US dollars per day from 2007," she said. |
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