Rosen Renaissance to add more suites

Rosen Renaissance Hotel Kataragama, the only four star hotel in the Uva province will invest over Rs. 20 million for a refurbishment program.

This is with the intention of converting the property to add more suites hotel.

Chairman, Rosen, Sagara Palihawardane said that there is always a demand for a quality accommodation in the area and this was the reason for them to add more suites. He said that the Rosen Renaissance Hotel is a round trip hotel with an average stay of 2 days. "Most guests are using it as the transit point to Arugam Bay, Yala and Lunugamwehera sanctuaries.

Diplomats, tourists and top end businessmen and their families are their main clientele and one of the key attractions in the hotel is the large and spacious rooms, modern gymnasium, karaoke and other recreational facilities. "We are the only hotel in Sri Lanka, which has a music system in the large swimming pool, and a person can request to play their own music," he said.

Palihawardane said he is looking at investing on a Spa, which would attract clients for longer stays. He said that he invested over Rs. 300 million for the hotel and he is confident to invest further. "The set back to tourism after the tsunami is only temporary and the industry would bounce back sooner than expected," he said. He has also invested on another property in Weligama and is awaiting government approval to go ahead with it. "We are planning to build a 30 room small luxury type hotel there," he said.

The occupancy rate of the hotel is already picking up. The 105 member staff is mainly from the area and they also have a concept of taking youngsters and giving them on the job experience before recruiting them. "This is a community service we are doing as some of them take overseas appointments after our training," he said.

In addition the hotel management has also decided to maintain a ward of the Kataragama hospital on a long-term basis.

S.S.