The Indian luxury hotelier ITC Hotels is confident its hotel and apartment business in Sri Lanka will thrive with its first investment in Colombo, which has grabbed world attention as a hot spot for residency and relaxation, a top official of the company told journalist during a visit to Sapphire Residences that is being constructed adjacent to the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo.
Sri Lanka Sotheby’s International Reality and Sapphire Residences Experience Centre Sales and Marketing Director Charles Phillpot said ITC Hotels is extremely excited about the venture into Sri Lanka which has the best settings for holiday-making and residences. The country is quite stable and there is freedom for investments in the country.
“We have selected the best location for Sapphire Residences in Colombo which is the epicentre of Sri Lanka’s economic life, facing the Indian Ocean and and right behind the Sri Lankan flag,” Phillpot said.
The US$ 500 million mixed development project which had its groundbreaking in 2014 is scheduled to be completed by 2021. “Work on the project is progressing well and we are confident of completing work in time. We have selected the best team from designing up to the completion of the apartments and the hotel,” Phillpot said.
Comprising 132 private residences averaging a 5,000 square feet living area, penthouses 9,325 square feet all apartments are provided with a 180 degree panoramic view of the city, lakes and the ocean.
Vice President (Commercial) Welcomhotels Lanka, a subsidiary of ITC Limited India Subi Koshy George said the Sapphire Residences is open has something unique to offer its discerning clients and guest and the company is geared to compete with the rest of the hotels and apartments in the city.
“The 55-metre sky bridge comprising two swimming pools is the first to be built linking apartments and a hotel. LNT Constructions is amazed by the fete of engineering on the project,” George said.
The iconic design of the 352-room hotel and the residences is the brainchild of a world renowned team lead by the US architectural firm Gensler which created the two distinctive parallel towers linked by a sky bridge.
The residential interiors are done by London-based YOO working with Philippe Starck in Paris and landscaping by Burega Farnell in Singapore.
Managing Director WelcomHotels Lanka (Pvt) Limited Arun Pathak said, “Our objective is to develop a new icon for the country on the Colombo coastline that would be recognised across the globe.”
Located between the Beira Lake and the Galle Face Green each tower, the 224-meter residences and 140-metre hotel has been designed using a triangular plan to maximise the uninterrupted view of the ocean from each apartment.
ITC Hotels, one of India’s largest luxury hotel chains offers hospitality solutions in over 100 hotels in over 70 destinations in the country.