Colombo’s newest `lean luxury hotel,’ the Cinnamon Red, built on Green Path (Ananda Coomaraswamy Mw.) at a cost of Rs. 3.55 billion, which opens its doors tomorrow plans to sell its luxury rooms at around USD 80 way below prevailing five-star rates.

The new property’s majority owner is Sankem, the well known builder, with 55 percent of the owning company with a Singapore company, Cresenda owning 29% and John Keells Holdings’ leisure segment which has a management agreement the balance.

Asked about the room rate, JKH Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunawardene who heads the groups leisure segment said that pricing would bew flexible and depend on the market but confirmed that to would be around the USD 80 rate.

The property which rises 26 floors and offers 243 rooms has been built on just 60 perches of land acquired at around Rs. 6 million a perch. The hotel boasts “ultra-modern’’ amenities including self-check-ins and outs, 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 center on the 26th floor “giving guests a panoramic view of the city of Colombo and the Indian Ocean.’’

The hotel had sold some rooms in time for its opening and hopes to have a fair occupancy once news of the property and what it offers at what price get around. Analysts said that new hotels usually take a little time to reach target occupancy.

“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 traveler in the next decade,’’ said Gunawrdene. “Cinnamon Red carries all the core aspects of the Cinnamon brand, catering to various segments of travelers.’’

Rohan Karr, sector head of the Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts chain, noted that the new hotel is set to expand the brand’s portfolio in hotel management, further enhancing the room inventory within the chain’s city hotels.

Currently Cinnamon Grand offers 501 rooms and Cinnamon Lakeside 346 rooms now complemented by Cinnamon Red’s 243 spacious rooms “where business and comfort meet.’’

Analysts said that the modest price offer would hurt older non-five-star hotels and privat accommodation in homes that have been attracting considerable guest volumes.

Source : http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=109419