Full occupancy expected in major city hotels during CHOGM

By Jithendra Anthonio

Galadari hotel

Hilton Colombo

Colombo’s major city hotels including Colombo Hilton, Galadari, Kingsbury, Cinnamon Lakeside and Cinnamon Grand will accommodate thousands of CHOGM delegates and high profile state executives during the coming days until November 19. The public would not be able to book any rooms in these hotels during this period.

According to official hotel sources, Hilton hotel will be closed for the public from November 11, Kingsbury Hotel will be closed from November 9, Cinnamon Grand will be closed from November 8 and Cinnamon Lakeside will be closed from November 11. all these hotels will accommodate CHOGM 2013 delegates reaching full occupancy until November 19.

“This is the first time that Colombo’s major city hotels are experiencing over 100% occupancy and will be able to maximise revenue within a short period of an average of 10 days” a hotel reservations manager from Cinnamon Grand said.

Hilton Colombo has 384 rooms, Galadari has 446 rooms, Kingsbury has 229 rooms while John Keells group owned Cinnamon Lakeside which has 340 rooms and Cinnamon Grand has 501 rooms. Over 1900 rooms will be occupied by CHOGM delegates and a total of 33 hotels were selected as partner hotels for the CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka. Four principal hotels will accommodate Heads of State, along with nine delegates from their governments.

Security in the hotels will be strengthened with Ministerial Security Division (MSD) staff and Allied forces staff including the Police who will provide security to VVIP delegates.

However, a hotel official from Hilton Colombo said that the public could have access to the restaurants and other premises on prior approval and clearance passes issued by the authorities.

Meanwhile, a premier Equity Research firm, Amba Research has forecasted Financial Year 2014 Third Quarter Earnings revenue from the two city hotels of Asian Hotels and Properties (AHPL) to bring in 34% of a full-year revenue from the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in a Research Report issued to the Colombo Stock Exchange for the information of investors.

These major hotels have increased hotel rates ranging from US $ 215 per room to US $ 500 per room this month in view of the CHOGM 2013 period anticipating an increase in revenue.

Sri Lanka expects over US $ 2 billion revenue from CHOGM by accommodating over 5,000 visitors and 1,000 journalists during the event.