Taj Hotels plans makeover in Sri Lanka
The Economic Times — April 26, 2006

Taj Hotels and Resorts is planning a makeover in Sri Lanka. In the next three years, the hospitality major will add 500 rooms to its hotels in Sri Lanka and will open another one in Kandy, which is a hill station, reports Our Bureau in Mumbai. Veer Vijay Singh, area director, Sri Lanka and general manager, Taj Samundra, said, "We are going to invest $8m in Taj Samundra (Colombo) in phases. In the first phase, 180 rooms were done with an investment of $2m. In the second phase, we will open another 50 rooms in the hotel," he said.

The hotel management will renovate the kitchens, coffee shop and health club. A new discotheque will also be opened in the hotel. The second phase will be over by October this year with an investment of $5m. In the final phase, which commences next year, the lobby will be renovated and a new lounge bar will also be opened. Taj Airport Garden, which is near the airport, will also be renovated with an investment $10m and addition of 100 rooms. The group is also looking at building a hotel in Kandy with an investment of $10-15m. This premium segment resort will have around 150 rooms.