Riu Hotels & Resorts, the Spanish chain, has made its debut in Asia with the launch of a new resort in Sri Lanka.
The Riu Sri Lanka opened its doors on 5 August, located in a beachfront setting at Ahungalla, on Sri Lanka’s southeast coast. A new-build property, Riu Sri Lanka will follow the brand’s 24-hour, all-inclusive service concept.
The hotel has a total of 500 rooms, all of which feature a balcony or terrace, plus three large swimming pools and a children’s pool, sunbathing terraces, a jacuzzi, gym and the Renova Spa which includes a hairdressing salon and massage rooms.
Guests can also choose from a variety of F&B and entertainment outlets, including Asian, Italian and two buffet restaurants, a beachfront barbecue, two lounges, a swim-up pool bar, and even a Pacha nightclub.
“After a detailed study of the markets and opportunities, Riu saw this destination as the ideal location from which to launch its operations in Asia. Sri Lanka, known as “the tear drop of India” due to its shape and proximity to the country, is a tourist destination which attracts European guests, as well as customers from India, China and Australia,” Riu Hotels said in a statement.
The launch of Riu Hotels will mark the start of the company’s Asian expansion strategy, with up to three more new-build hotels expected to launch across the region by 2019.
The first will be in the Maldives, where two hotels will be inaugurated offering a combined total of 422 rooms, including over-water suites. In addition, Riu plans to open its first hotel in the Middle East in 2019, with a 750-room property in Dubai’s Deira Islands. All future properties will be all-inclusive.
Based on the Spanish island of Majorca, Riu now has more than 100 hotels in 18 countries. And it is also expanding from all-inclusive resorts into city hotels, following the opening of its first US property in New York.
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