Colombo's Grand Oriental Hotel to Lure Ship Passengers Again

02nd December 2010, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Big Sri Lankan operators and international chains have responded to a call to restore the original charms of a colonial-era hotel overlooking Colombo port once popular with visitors who came by ship, an official said.

"We want to bring it back to its original form," said Gamini Wickemasinghe, chairman of state-owned Bank of Ceylon which is seeking an international hotel chain to manage its subsidiary, Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH).

The hotel is a landmark built during British times just outside Colombo harbour and served passengers who came by sea before commercial air travel was available.

The original building was built in 1837 and is "within sight and sound of Colombo Harbour", according to the GOH website.

"The GOH was most popular not only with ships' passengers but also with the Colombo City residents, as the hotel had acquired a reputation for ballroom dancing . . .," it said.

Wickremasinghe said that in future with more cruise ships calling at the Colombo port following the end of the island's war the hotel will cater to cruise passengers as well.

Sri Lanka is experiencing a tourism boom with a sharp upturn in visitors following the end of its 30-year ethnic war in May 2009.

The Bank of Ceylon had called for proposals from an international hotel chain to invest in and manage the GOH which has a capacity of 200 rooms.

Bank of Ceylon said it wanted investors with past experience in managing international hotels preferably heritage hotels.

A part of the building now occupied by the Bank of Ceylon offices will be vacated soon.

Wickremasinghe said the national police headquarters located next to the GOH will also be shifted, making more space available for the hotel, including its original car park.

"We got quite a lot of responses for our call for expressions of interest," he told LBO.

"All the big players in Sri Lanka and some big international players responded, including a lot from India."

The hotel upgrade is likely to cost around a billion rupees and is likely to include the addition of a swimming pool.

Wickremasinghe also said they would like to raise room rates after the upgrade and would be looking to charge around 250 US dollars a night.

Related Info:
170yr Old Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) in Colombo to be Refurbished Following a Management Contract