Sri Lankan Billionaire Plans Two Luxury Hotels by 2025
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The Philippines Dept. of Tourism said estimated visitor receipts from tourists into the Philippines reached US$4.84 billion in the first six months of the year. That was up 32.8% compared to the same period last year. The DOT said the Philippines welcomed 3,173,694 inbound tourists this year as of July 10th, of which 92.6% were foreigners. South Korea remains the nation’s top visitor source market with 824,798 visitors followed by the US with 522,667. China is still way down at only 199,939.
Marriott International announced the opening of a new AC Hotel in Gunpo City in southern Gyeonggi in South Korea. AC Hotel by Marriott Seoul Geumjeong is the first international hotel to open in Gunpo. The hotel is in Gunpo’s Geumjeong neighborhood about an hour’s drive from Gangnam District in Seoul. This is the second AC property to open in Korea, following the one in Gangnam District that opened in 2022. The AC Hotel Seoul Geumjeong is 23 stories high with 191 rooms, including 20 suites. The largest penthouse suite is 132 square meters in area and is equipped with a spacious living room and two bathrooms. Hotel amenities include an all-day dining venue, fitness center, meeting room and a rooftop infinity pool and bar.
MGM Shenzhen, a beachside hotel in a mainland city close to Hong Kong and Macau, had its official launch. Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality Ltd said the hotel has 321 guest rooms and is located at Shenzhen city’s Xiaomeisha Beach, in the Yantian district. Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality Ltd. is a joint venture between US-based casino company MGM Resorts International and China’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
Hotel COZI in Tin Shui Wai has announced it will cease operations on September 30 this year. The hotel is close to Shenzhen Bay Port which is why the closure is surprising so many people as that is a major entry point for tourists from mainland China and the hotel’s occupancy rates have historically exceeded the 90% level (with 336 rooms) with room prices ranging from HK$500 to HK$1,000 per night. Billion Development and Project Management Ltd., the hotel’s owner, had expressed intentions as early as November last year to sell the hotel along with its license for an estimated HK$838 million. DimSumDaily said they believe the closure is part of a strategic reconsideration of Billion Development’s assets amid a real estate market that continues to be in flux.
Sri Lanka billionaire Dhammika Perera plans to open two luxury hotels by the end of next year. Perera is chairman of Greener Water Limited, a fully-owned subsidiary of Vallibel One Plc. In February 2020 he signed two MOUs to establish a JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton in Sri Lanka. The 500-room five-star JW Marriott in Negombo was supposed to launch in the fourth quarter of 2021 while the 228 key Ritz-Carlton in Mirissa was supposed to open in the second quarter of 2022. Construction was impacted by the economic downturn the past few years. Construction is to resume on both hotels with the aim to open by the end of 2025.
Amara Holdings is set to complete the renovation of its 38-year-old flagship Amara Singapore by September. Renovations have been underway at the 389-key hotel in Tanjong Pagar for the past 12 months. The first phase of refurbishment was completed in April with all room enhanced with energy-efficient AC, motion sensor lighting and in-room filtered water tap. The hotel’s ballroom and function rooms completed renovations in May. The redesigned Amara Singapore is expected to cater to the new breed of bleisure travelers. The hotel hosts MICE attendees in the CBD so the ballroom and meeting rooms were refurbished.
The Indochina Kajima Development Company Limited announced that the Mandarin Oriental, Bai Nom, had been awarded its construction permit from the Department of Construction – the People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province on June 11. This marks a significant milestone in Indochina Kajima’s development of the ultra-luxury resort in Vietnam. Mandarin Oriental, Bai Nom will be an exclusive resort and branded residences project situated in Phu Yen Province along a pristine beachfront site. The resort will feature 72 villas and pavilions, including 25 branded residences for sale ranging from three to five bedrooms with the property and amenities managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
Pan Pacific Perth is undergoing renovations, including redesigned guest rooms, ballrooms and a grand Presidential Suite, to be completed by late 2024. Refurbishments have been underway at the Adelaide Terrace hotel since May 2023. Already completed is the work on the 390 guest rooms and suites along with the redesign of the convention-level ballrooms and meeting rooms, along with the lobby and exclusive Pacific Club Lounge on Level 7 thoroughly underway. The plans will see the unveiling of the Presidential Suite. The next stage of the project includes the revitalization of 96 Pacific Club rooms and suites along with a reimagining of the arrival experience with the transformation of the porte cochere.
Fortune Hotels, a member of ITC’s hotel group, announced the signing of Fortune Select Airport Road, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The hotel is expected to open in FY2027-2028 with 123 rooms, all-day dining restaurant, banquet hall and other facilities.
Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts said they expanded their portfolio with the addition of Stamps Kana in Jodhpur. Stamps Kana by Eight Continents is designed to cater to corporate travelers, leisure guests and MICE events. Chamka is the hotel’s restaurant while Chaska is the hotel bar. Chaupal is the name given to the banquet hall, the largest pillar-less multi-purpose event space in central Jodhpur.