Hotel chain Minor Hotel Group has partnered with Hemas Group to invest over Rs2.6bn ($20m) to renovate and construct two hotels in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
Around Rs550m ($4m) has been already invested by the management to renovate Avani Kalutara, which was previously known as Kani Lanka and Hotel Sinbad.
Repositioned as a four-star property, Avani Kalutara is set to open on 1 October 2012.
Hemas Group subsidiary Serendib Leisure managing director Ranil De Silva said the second hotel, which will be constructed for the Minor group’s Anantara Brand, will offer 150 rooms, dailynews.lk reported.
"The investment for this would be around Rs2bn and the construction is expected to start next year," De Silva said.
The proposed five-star property will be developed on a ten-acre plot of land adjoining Avani Kalutara, and will be located in a prime position between the lagoon and the sea in Kalutara.
To be branded as Anantara Kalutara, the property needs a major refurbishment, as it has been neglected for some time.
"This is the reason the management decided to go in for a complete overhaul of the property and also to prepare the hotel for the up-coming winter season," De Silva added.
In order to meet the Avani standards, which are maintained in all their properties throughout Asia, the hotel also needs to be upgraded.
The property will have four categories, with 16 court yard, 43 lagoon and 40 sea view rooms and six suites.
The investments for the hotel have been made primarily through borrowings and investments made from both Bangkok-based Minor Group and Serendib.
