Douglas Martell – President and CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group (third from left) with Walgampala Winil – Chairman of Winil Gems and Winil Holdings  at the signing of the management agreement for Amari Colombo. Others from left: Russell Cool – Area General Manager of Sri Lanka for ONYX Hospitality Group; Nigel Harris – EVP and Chief Growth Officer, ONYX Hospitality Group; Dinesh Walgampala – Director of Winil Holdings and Gayan Ranatunga – CEO of Winil Holdings

The ONYX Hospitality Group, one of the region’s leading hotel management companies, will launch a brand new Amari hotel in Colombo.

Developed in collaboration with Winil Holdings, a subsidiary of Sri Lanka-based Winil Gems Group, Amari Colombo will be strategically located in the Kollupitiya commercial district of the capital, within close proximity to the official residence of the Prime Minister, the US Embassy and the Kollupitiya bus and train stations. Other nearby attractions include the National Museum of Colombo, Gangaramaya Temple and Park, a wide range of shops and restaurants and Kollupitiya market, one of the city’s most vibrant trading hubs.

Upon completion in mid-2019, the 24-storey property will offer 180 rooms and suites along with signature Amari features including the street food market style Ahara Gourmet Gallery, Breeze Spa and Voyager Lounge. Other highlights include a rooftop pool, bar and recreation centre and an elevated Thai specialty restaurant, all offering unparalleled views of the ocean and the city skyline. The hotel will also offer dedicated executive floors with access to an executive lounge.

Located at No. 254 Galle Road at the junction where the Colombo Plan Road (formerly known as Marine Drive) meets Galle Road, Amari Colombo is also perfectly situated for direct access to the planned underground highway linking this vibrant Colombo 3 district to the businesses and attractions of the downtown Fort area.

“Since launching our first hotel in Sri Lanka with the opening of OZO Colombo in 2014, the ONYX Hospitality Group has remained committed to this market and has built up a network of three hotels in three unique destinations,” said ONYX Hospitality Group President and Chief Executive Officer Douglas Martell. “We are proud to be in partnership with Winil Holdings and its Chairman Walgampala Winil to bring our iconic Amari brand to life at this exceptional location in the Sri Lankan capital.”

Internationally renowned gems businessman Walgampala Winil, Chairman of Winil Gems and Winil Holdings, added: “Having personally experienced Amari hotels in Thailand and witnessed the expansion of the ONYX Hospitality Group portfolio across Asia and Sri Lanka, I am excited to be working closely with the ONYX team and drawing on their hospitality management expertise as we launch our first hotel in this unmatched location. I look forward to the coming years of successful partnership.”

Originally from Thailand and expanding rapidly across Asia, Amari is a flagship brand of the ONYX Hospitality Group with a rich and longstanding heritage of over 52 years. Amari celebrates the colours and rhythms of modern Asia, with each hotel in its portfolio highlighting the textures and flavours of its unique setting through architecture, design, cuisine and service.

2017 has been a significant year of expansion for Amari, with the brand being launched in new locations including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and China. Amari Colombo will be the second Amari-branded hotel in Sri Lanka, and will complement the recently launched Amari Galle, located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka near the historic Galle Fort.

Based in Bangkok, the ONYX Hospitality Group has a growing regional portfolio of 44 operating properties across three core brands in eight countries. The group has a robust development pipeline of over 20 new properties in markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, and has set a target of having 99 hotels open by 2024 as part of its journey towards being the best medium-sized hospitality player in the region.

Source : http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/ONYX-continues-Asian-expansion-with-new-Amari-hotel%C2%A0in-Colombo-with-Winil-Gems-Group/27-643372