Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts chain will open the country’s first ‘lean luxury’ hotel, Cinnamon Red on September 1 at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 3. Deputy Chairman and President Leisure Sector of John Keells Holdings Ajit Gunewardene said they are in the business of crafting inspiring experiences and theirr goal is to create a Sri Lankan brand that is recognised internationally.

“We are proud to have introduced the unique concept of ‘lean luxury’, an evolution which is well aligned to Sri Lanka being poised to attract the new age traveller in the next decade. Cinnamon Red carries all the core aspects of the Cinnamon brand, catering to various segments of travellers.”

He said Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts plans to expand this concept to other cities too, multiplying its investment in leisure and hospitality. The project is a Joint Venture with Sanken Lanka Limited. Cinnamon Red has 26 floors housing 243 rooms. The hotel’s ultra-modern amenities include self-check-in and check-out kiosks, e-concierge services, round-the-clock vending machines, IPTV systems in all rooms and uninterrupted wireless connectivity.

The property has an infinity pool, a rooftop bar and a fitness centre located on the 26th floor, giving guests a 360 degree view of the Colombo city and the Indian Ocean. Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts City Hotels Sector Head Rohan Karr said this venture will expand the brand’s portfolio in hotel management.

The property will further enhance the room inventory within the chain’s city hotels which is collated through 501 rooms at Cinnamon Grand and 346 at Cinnamon Lakeside. He added that plans are underway to further develop the Group’s leisure assets, reiterating that this sector, where Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts has a strong footing, would be a key growth catalyst. “We see Colombo becoming the next ‘hot’ destination in Asia and given that we have taken a long-term view of the country, we’re extremely confident of the potential that Sri Lanka has.”