Hotel Online
News for the Hospitality Executive


advertisement



Marriott to Debut in Sri Lanka with the 200-room
Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa

To Open in 2014
Through an Agreement with Weligama Hotel
Properties, a Subsidiary of East West Properties

HONG KONG - July 10, 2012
- Marriott International has signed an agreement with Weligama Hotel Properties Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of East West Properties PLC, to open a hotel in Sri Lanka, the Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa in 2014 – this will be Marriott’s first property on the Indian Ocean island.

The 200-room, 11-storey Marriott Weligama Resort and Spa, will be operated under Marriott’s flagship Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand.

“Marriott is delighted to be extending its portfolio and opening a world-class hotel in Sri Lanka” commented Simon Cooper, president and managing director Marriott, Asia Pacific. “Sri Lanka is a destination that has great potential and opportunity and we hope to capitalise on that and establish a strong presence in the country. We are confident that the reputation of Marriott Hotels and Resorts and the power of Marriott Rewards, our loyalty programme, will create great interest from both local and international travellers and be successful in promoting the beautiful area of Weligama Bay, as well as the country itself as this is our first hotel here.”

Commenting on the project Mr. Nahil Wijesuriya, Chairman, East West Properties PLC said: “We are among the first companies in Sri Lanka to sign up with an international branded hotel company and to open as early as 2014. The resort is being built according to Marriott International’s five star brand standards, with a beach frontage of 115 meters on the Galle-Matara road in the South-East of the country. The construction is being carried out in-house by East West Engineering Services (Pvt) Ltd. so we have direct control of every aspect of the construction of the resort and are confident that it will be of the highest standards and quality.”

Marriott International is a world renowned operator and franchiser of a broad portfolio of hotels and resorts which include Bulgari Hotels and Resorts and The Ritz Carlton. Marriott International currently operates over 3,700 hotels in over 73 countries and territories around the globe. Marriott Hotels and Resorts are Marriott International’s signature and most widely distributed brand and is also known for the world’s largest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards.

Weligama, located 144km from Colombo is a popular tourist destination renowned for its sandy beaches. Famous for its stilt-fishermen perched on a cross bar of a single pole planted into the sea bed, this attraction has been captured in every corner of the world depicting Sri Lanka as a preferred destination of choice for travellers from all over the world.

The Hotel will be located in Weligama, a part of Matara which is one of the largest cities on the south coast of Sri Lanka, where tourism and fishing are the two main businesses. Tourism is the mainstay of the south-western coast of Sri Lanka. The services sector is expected to be the primary engine of growth in coming years which is expected to be led by tourism.

2011 was declared as the “Visit Sri Lanka” year by the government. The country witnessed record levels of tourist arrivals in the early months of the year; a trend that is expected to continue for the remainder of the year.

“We see great opportunity in Sri Lanka with ever-increasing visitor numbers to the country,” continued Cooper. “While India, UK and Germany are the largest source markets for hotels in Sri Lanka; the Middle East and Russia are the emerging source markets and with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (“SLTDA”) aiming to achieve a target of 2.5 million tourist arrivals by 2016 we are confident of attracting great leisure and business guests to the property.”

With some 640sq metres of flexible ballroom space, the hotel should prove extremely popular in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) market. While those travelling to Weligama Bay Marriott Resort & Spa on holiday, will be able to take full advantage of the wide leisure offering at the hotel which includes three restaurants, a pool with a pool bar, spa, fitness centre and a beautiful stretch of beach.

Marriott International, Inc.
(NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA with more than 3,700 properties in 73 countries and territories and reported revenues of over $12 billion in fiscal year 2011. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 17 brands, including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Bulgari,EDITION, Renaissance, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club. There are approximately 300,000 employees at headquarters, managed and franchised properties. Marriott is consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business operations, which it conducts based on five core values: put people first, pursue excellence, embrace change, act with integrity, and serve our world. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Contact:

Connect with [email protected]

www.marriott.com
 www.marriottnewscenter.com



Receive Your Hospitality Industry Headlines via Email for Free! Subscribe Here  

To Learn More About Your News Being Published on Hotel-Online Inquire Here

Also See: Marriott International Launches Li Yu Welcome Program Featuring Amenities and Services Tailor-made for Chinese Guests / July 2012

Marriott International Expands in Thailand with the Opening of Three New Hotels Planned in 2012; The Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, The Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit and the Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok - Sukhumvit Thonglor / May 2012

The 341-room Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center in Georgia Wraps up Multi-Million Redevelopment Project Revealing Redesigned Guestrooms and Public Spaces / May 2012

Marriott and Grupo Velutini to Open 131-room JW Marriott Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2014 / April 2012

Through an Agreement with Real Hotels and Resorts, S.A. and Grupo Poma, Marriott Hotels & Resorts to Open the 170-room Marriott Cali Hotel in Colombia in 2014 / April 2012

Marriott International to Double Footprint in the Caribbean and Latin America by 2017; Plans to Add More Than 70 Hotels in the Region / April 2012

Marriott International Opens the 288-key Courtyard Mexico City Airport in Mexico / April 2012

Marriott International Debuts in Gabon with Signing of Management Agreement with Prime Hospitality for Two Hotels in Libreville; The 250-room Marriott Hotel and the 40-unit Marriott Executive Apartments / February 2012

The San Juan Marriott in Puerto Rico Unveils its Newly Renovated Lobby and Bar; Completing a 4 Year Project with Earlier Upgrades to Guestrooms and Restaurants / January 2012

Marriott International to Open Three Hotels in Sochi, Russia, Site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games; To be Managed by Interstate Management Services / January 2012

The 412-room Boston Marriott Long Wharf in Massachusetts Completes Four Year $30 Million Renovation / January 2012

Marriott to Open 123-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel in San Diego, California Completing an Extensive Renovation and Rebranding of the Former Holiday Inn Express; Owned by Affiliates of Clearview Hotel Capital and Managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts / January 2012

The Cleveland Airport Marriott in Ohio Unveils its $22 Million Renovation / January 2012

Owned and Managed by Chase Hospitality, the 118-suite Residence Inn by Marriott Opens in Irving, Texas / December 2011

Hollander Investments and Marriott International Set to Open the 120-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Puyallup, Washinton / December 2011

The End of an Era, Bill Marriott Secedes CEO Role and is Elected Executive Chairman for Marriott International; Arne Sorenson Named CEO, Bob McCarthy Named COO / December 2011

The 171-room Courtyard by Marriott Moscow Paveletskaya Opens in Russia / December 2011

Residence Inn Brand Introduced in the Middle East with the Opening of the 80-key Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair in Bahrain; Under a Management Agreement with International Trading and Investment Co. / December 2011

Marriott International Opens the 720-room Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre in Shanghai, China / December 2011

Lodgco Management and Marriott to Open the 67-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in Midland, Michigan / December 2011

The Residence Inn Brand Debuts in the United Kingdom with the Opening of the 107-room Residence Inn Edinburgh in Scotland Managed by Gladevale Ventures Limited / November 2011

Marriott Opens First Residence Inn Extended Stay Hotel in Europe with the 125-room Residence Inn Munich City East in Germany / October 2011

Marriott International Debuts Three City Center Hotels and Three Brands in Doha, Qatar; Renaissance Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott, Marriott Executive Apartments and Saray Spa Offer New Accommodations in Qatar / October 2011

Marriott and Host Hotels & Resorts Unveil $39 Million Renovation of the 1,946-room New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square / September 2011

Marriott Names Neal Jones Vice President Global Sales Intermediaries and Europe / September 2011

Marriott Says Waikiki Owner Bankruptcy Self-Defeating and Will Ultimately Destroy Value of Asset; Marriott Will Vigorously Pursue Tens of Millions of Dollars in Damages / September 2011

Marriott Takes Back Operation of Waikiki EDITION After New York Courts Order Control be Returned / September 2011

Marriott Responds to Takeover of Waikiki EDITION by Owner Stating Action is Illegal and a Blatant Violation of Contractual Agreement; Will Aggressively Oppose Move; Remains Deeply Committed to the EDITION Brand / August 2011

Marriott Launches Hotel Stay Planning App for iPhone®, BlackBerry® and Android™ Devices / August 2011

Marriott International Opens its First JW Marriott Hotel in North India with the 165-room JW Marriott Chandigarh / July 2011

Marriott International Opens 413-room JW Marriott Hotel Ankara in Turkey Managed by Ozkar Insaat A.S. / July 2011

Marriott International Planning 12 New JW Marriott Brand Hotels to Open by 2012 in India, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Maldives, Peru, Vietnam, UAE and South Korea / June 2011

Marriott Hotels & Resorts Adding to Global Pipeline Nearly 50 New Hotels and Resorts Over Next Four Years; Focus is on Worldwide Emerging Destinations / June 2011

Marriott International to Open 153-room JW Marriott Hotel in Cusco, Peru to be Managed by Inversiones La Rioja, S.A / March 2011

World's Largest JW Marriott, the JW Marriott® Indianapolis Downtown, Opens Completing the $450 million Marriott Place Development Project / February 2011

JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Miami Opens as the 47th JW Marriott Property; Plans Include an Addtional 20 Properties Over Next Five Years / November 2010

The Soon to Open JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Miami Taking Amenities to Another Level with a Virtual Bowling Room, Virtual Golf Facility and a 10,000 sq ft NBA Basketball Court; Not to Mention Daniel Boulud's db Bistro Moderne and a Hotel within a Hotel, the Hotel Beaux Arts Miami / August 2010

357-room JW Marriott Miami Marquis Hotel Being Developed by MDM Hotel Group, LTD in Downtown, Miami; Will Include Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro Moderne / September 2009

The Metropolitan Miami Project in Downtown Miami Planning a 396-room Miami Met Marquis, a New Brand Addition to the JW Marriott Collection Hotels; Joins Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro Moderne / June 2007

Florencia Tabeni Appointed General Manager for the JW Marriott Marquis Miami and Hotel Beaux Arts Miami / December 2009



To search Hotel Online data base of News and Trends Go to Hotel.OnlineSearch

Home | Welcome| Hospitality News |
Industry Resources

Please contact Hotel.Online with your comments and suggestions.