Dear All,

I am pleased to update everyone on the opening of Minor Hotel Group’s first Avani hotel – Avani Bentota Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka, which welcomes its first guests today, December 1^st.

Formerly the Hotel Serendib, the hotel is operated by Serendib Leisure, MHG’s joint venture partner in Sri Lanka. Hotel Serendib closed earlier this year and has undergone an extensive Rs. 650 Mn (THB 180 Mn / USD 5.7 Mn) refurbishment.

Last Friday, along with members of MHG’s Corporate team and representatives from Hemas and Serendib Leisure, I attended a press conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, to announce the opening of Avani Bentota Resort & Spa to approximately 40 Sri Lankan media. Then on Saturday we all travelled to Bentota for an official flag hoisting and signage unveiling ceremony to launch the new Avani brand and new hotel, followed by religious blessings, speeches and a firework display in the evening.

Located on the best beach strip along Sri Lanka’s south western coastline, 64 kilometres from Colombo and 96 kilometres from the Bandaranaike International Airport, the new-look hotel offers the ultimate in relaxed comfort and contemporary style. Facilities include 75 guest rooms and suites, three bars and two restaurants, accompanied by private dining options on the beach. Complementing this is the chic Cigar and Wine Lounge, while meeting rooms seat up to 100 people.  The Resort was originally designed by Sri Lanka’s celebrated architect Geoffrey Bawa, regarded as one of the most influential Asian architects of the 20th century. Although the refurbished property reflects a modern and chic ambiance, it still retains Bawa’s signature style and offers an inimitable Dutch-colonial charm.

A second Avani property – the 105-room Avani Kalutara Resort – will follow in Sri Lanka in mid 2012, and there are plans for the brand to be developed into MHG’s other regions of operation including Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Watch this space for future Avani hotel announcements.

Please join me in congratulating GM Steven Phillips together with his hotel team and our partners at Serendib Leisure, for their tremendous hard work in bringing the first Avani hotel to fruition and also join me in welcoming the Avani brand to MHG’s growing portfolio.

Kind regards

Dillip Rajakarier