Galle Face Hotel spends Rs. 950 m on reopening ‘The Regency’

Shirajiv Sirimane

EXPANSION: The Galle Face Hotel international management has invested Rs. 950 million to re-open their Southern Wing, ‘The Regency’ that was closed for over 20 years.

Sri Lanka as a destination is now attracting up-market clientele and this section was re-built to meet this

 demand.

Chief Operating Officer and Director Rajiv Khanna said the investment was made utilising company finances and there were no external borrowings.

“The group has already received many bookings and will be operating the hotel on a 90 percent occupancy. This once again shows confidence international travellers have for Sri Lanka and also for the hotel,” he said.

The hotel suite prices would go up to over 1200 US dollars and he said that their main markets are from UK, USA, India and Australia.

The Regency offers over 50 rooms including 16 suites with each having a Jacuzzi, Wi-fi and many other facilities. A foreign company would operate the Spa and it would also be open for local corporate clients.

The hotel ended the year with profits and next year this would increase further.

The Regency has its own entrance from Galle Road and would be operated as a separate hotel. The Regency maintains a boutique atmosphere and would be catering to both business and leisure travellers.

The Regency also has a 1864 museum showing off a super collection of memorabilia from the 1800s.

The main show piece is a classic car once owned by Prince Philip during British reign.