Best Western International is expanding to Sri Lanka. Launching this summer, the Best Western Elyon Colombo Hotel marks the start of major development for the brand in the area.
“The recent economic boom following the end of three decades of war has seen Sri Lanka develop rapidly,” says Glenn de Souza, Best Western’s vice president of international operations for Asia and the Middle East. “Driven by strong interest from India, China, the Middle East, and Europe, international visitor arrivals to Sri Lanka have been growing exponentially in recent years, reaching one million for the first time in 2012.”
New properties are likely to open in locations in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, or other cities such as Kandy, Mirissa, and Tangalle. The initial target for the next three years is to have four more hotels in the region with a portfolio of approximately 400 rooms, which is then expected to rise to 700 rooms within five years.
In addition to Sri Lanka, Best Western is planning a major expansion across Bangladesh, with new midscale, upscale, and luxury hotels opening in Dhaka and the coastal resort town of Cox’s Bazar. First to open will be a 232-room property in Cox’s Bazar and a 56-room hotel at Dhaka Airport. In 2015, the company also expects to launch a 448-room Best Western and 720-room Best Western Premier luxury hotel in Cox’s Bazar.
