Jetwing tie-up with Germany-France travel groups to promote SL’s new budget hotel concept
Jetwing Hotels, one of the leading hotel chains in Sri Lanka, is linking up with major travel groups in Germany and France to promote the country’s tourism industry in Europe and attract modern travellers especially the young offering them top class budget hotel facilities for the first time, the Jetwing chief revealed.
Speaking to the Business Times on the eve of official launch of Jetwing’s new domestic budget hotel brand – Hotel J.in Negombo, Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray said that the company has deployed its own agents for tourism promotion in Germany and France without waiting for the government to do it. The private sector involved in the tourism industry should give the lead in marketing efforts which have so far failed to promote the industry in overseas after the end of war in the North and East, he added.It is high time for Sri Lanka to change its attitude and efforts of trying to attract high spending European travellers for star class hotels with very high room rates and enter into ‘No frills’ hotel segment that provides extremely high standard hospitality services at competitive rates, he added.
Jetwing has invested Rs. 200 million to set up the new Hotel J in Negombo, the sixth Jetwing hotel in the area located in close proximity to Bandaranaike International airport at Katunayake.
The new property has 35 air-conditioned rooms and one suite, all consisting of wifi facilities and an in-room safe. They are also have air conditioning, fans, telephone with IDD facility, TV and an attached bathroom with a rain shower enclosure and hot and cold water.
“Despite being a budget hotel, facilities will includes restaurant, bar and swimming pool. Rates will range from US$35 to US$70 per night on a room only basis,” he added.
Hotel J will mark Jetwing’s entrance into the budget accommodation market.
Describing the economy sector as “the wave of the future”, Mr. Cooray said that this market segment of youth between 25 to 35 years could be attracted by offering services needed to them at budget cost.
He said Negombo was also selected as it is easily accessible to travellers who have just embarked at the airport or on the way out after an extended holiday or official or any other travel purpose.
Elaborating future plans, he said ”the group will launch several hotels within the next two years under its original brand ‘Jetwing’ in Yala with 80 rooms and 10 villas, Colombo – 70 room and 28 apartments, Jaffna – 70 rooms, Uppuveli – 60 rooms and 28 apartments and Dambulla – 98 rooms.
Mr. Cooray disclosed that the company will soon open a boutique hotel at Ward Place, Colombo at his ancestral home renovating and refurbishing.
Speaking at the official opening of Hotel J, Mr. Cooray said the company decided to set up a different hotel compared to the Jetwing chain of hotels in Negombo.Even though the ownership and the management are from Jetwing “we thought we will call it a different name – Hotel J, with the idea that we can take this concept to other parts of the country”, he said.
He told the Business Times that the company plans to build “no frills hotels” that appeal to the “modern traveller” in Kurunegala, Kandy and even in Jaffna.
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