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| Sunday, 16 February 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Lanka Oberoi lures world-wide interest Asian Hotels Corporation Ltd (AHC), one of the largest listed property companies and the owner of the 530-room Oberoi Hotel in Colombo, has received wide interest from international operators for the management of the hotel, which will be handed over by Oberoi Hotels of India at end of March. "The prospects for the hospitality industry with the peace process is the main reason we received both solicited and unsolicited requests in the bidding process," said Viren Perera, Director AHC. He said that Requests for Proposals have been dispatched at the request of operators, and "we are expecting the proposals to come by the end of the first week of March". AHC is hoping to make a final decision on the new operator within eight weeks of receiving proposals from the interested parties. Some of the international operators who have shown interest are Mariott International, which owns the Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance Hotels; Starwood Hotel, owner of Sheraton and Westin; Le Meridien; Hyatt International, owner of Hyatt Regency and Grand Hyatt; and Accor, owner of the Sofitel and Novatel brands. He said that all operators were optimistic about tourism and business travel in Sri Lanka due to the ongoing peace process in the country. Perera said: "Due to the present situation in the country, we are in the pleasant position of being able to attract the interest of most reputed hotel operators in the world and are confident that we will be able to engage the best operator on the best terms". AHC and Oberoi Hotels of India, the manager of the Colombo Oberoi, reached an amicable decision in the best strategic interest of both parties to terminate the agreement. The Indian group had managed the 530-room hotel property since its inauguration in 1973. |
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