Hilton group to manage six more leisure properties in SL
View(s):The Hilton group on Wednesday signed a deal with Sri Lanka’s Melwa Hotels and Resorts to manage six new properties with an investment of US$100 million.
The properties would comprise three Hilton Hotels and Resorts and three DoubleTree by Hilton brands that would see a significant expansion of the Hilton presence in the country, a media release issued by the hotel chain said.
The six new properties are scheduled to open between 2020 and 2021. They are Hilton Kandy Resort (180 keys), Hilton Yala Resort & Spa (96 keys), Hilton Kosgoda Resort (250 keys), DoubleTree by Hilton Nuwara-Eliya (96 keys), DoubleTree by Hilton Colombo International Airport (300 keys) and DoubleTree by Hilton Negombo (106 keys). The properties are located in the southern and westerns parts of Sri Lanka, and in the cool central hills. Currently, the Colombo Hilton and the JAIC Hilton are the properties managed by the international hotel chain.
Hilton’s Vice President for South East Asia and India William Costley told reporters that they have picked key locations to attract travellers and would incorporate local and international designers and architects to design the hotels. Aiming to attract MICE, leisure and domestic travellers to the new properties, Hilton would manage the properties.
This would be the first time, steel maker Melwa would be involved in moving into the leisure sector, the company’s Business Development Director Dr. Ranjith Bandara told the media on Wednesday following the signing of the agreement between the two companies.  - SDÂ