Six Senses invests USD 10 m in Sri Lanka
 

by Shirajiv Sirimane

One of the leading hotel chains, Six Senses Resorts and Spas will invest in Sri Lanka to build a six star luxury hotel on a 10 acre land bordering Triton Ahungalle.

The hotel chain based in Thailand has hotels in 17 countries would be investing ten million US dollars with Aitken Spence to put up this 60 luxury villas property. The construction of the hotel would commence next June and would be opened towards the end of 2007.

Managing Director Aitken Spence Hotels, Malin Hapugoda said that they would be investing USD 10 million for this project. "Though Six Senses Resorts and Spas have been managing their own properties they have decided to give the management of this proposed hotel to us," he said. This is a clear indication that the Sri Lanka hotel management has reached international standers.

Six Senses is a resort and spa management and development company operating properties and products branded as Soneva Resorts, Evason Hideaways, Evason Resorts, Six Senses Spas and Six Senses Gallery. The company owns the multi-award winning Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. It also has equity in several of the properties under management and development.

Hapugoda said that unlike some of the local hotel chains they would not go for are banding by way of a name change but would do more to bring out the best in their brand name, Aitken Spence.

He said that the fully re furbished Triton Hotel would be opened this month and said that this would be their flagship property. "New features have been introduced without damaging the architecture initially done by Bevis Bawa. "We have invested nearly Rs. 2 million for this," he said.

In addition Kandalama Hotel which was also closed for refurbishment for nearly six months would be opened this month.

Chairman Aitken Spence Hotels, Rajan Brito said that they are on the lookout for a property in Colombo and several properties overseas.

He said that they are closely following the developments of the Colombo Hilton, as they are very keen in it. Brito said that Aitken Spence would be investing in the region and are on the look out for buy a hotel or construct a new one. "We want to expand our portfolio out of Sri Lanka and the Maldives," he said.

Despite a drop in tourist arrivals and the temporary closure of its two flagship hotels, (Kandalama and Triton) for refurbishment, Aitken Spence recorded a net profit of Rs. 408 million in the six months ended September 30, 2005.

The group recorded a net revenue of Rs. 5.74 billion, which is an increase of 14.4% from the same period last year.