Saloni Bhatia – New Delhi
Anantara has expanded its portfolio in Sri Lanka with another resort property, the Anantara Kalutara Resort. This will be Anantara’s second resort in the country apart from Anantara Peace Haven- Tangalle Resort, which started functioning in December 2015. Edoardo Giuntoli, general manager, Anantara Kalutara Resort, shared, “Our focus is to attract the premium segment of leisure travellers from India, while also targeting the wedding and MICE segments.”
The property will open in September 2016, and feature 141 rooms including leisure rooms, villas with private pools and one presidential suite. It will have three restaurants including an all day dining, an Italian restaurant and an Asian restaurant featuring Indian cuisine by a designated Indian chef. The property will also include a separate kids and teen club, along with a spa with 11 treatment rooms providing various therapies. In addition the property will introduce a conference hall with a capacity of 400 people in January 2017.
Anantara’s other property at Goyambokka Estate, Tangalle has been functioning for over six months now. Tamir Kobrin, general manager, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, informed, “While the current number from the India market stands at two-three per cent, our target is to reach 10 per cent, as India is the fourth most important market for the brand in Sri Lanka.” Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort is a 152-key property including 32 villas and 120 rooms with six food and beverage outlets.
Speaking about their expectations from the India market, Kobrin added, “First of all we are looking at high net worth individuals (HNI) who belong to the main urban cities. The second would be the wedding and MICE segments, as India is one big source for business travellers as well. Many outbound tourists to India from the US and Europe also add Sri Lanka to their lists and we would wish to tap that market too.”