Minor unveils new Anantara hotels
MINOR HOTELS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Minor International, has opened three new hotels under the Anantara brand in Sri Lanka and Oman.
The new hotels will not only bolster Minor Hotels’ international footprint, but also affirm the position of its flagship Anantara brand as one of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands, the company says.
In Sri Lanka, Anantara Kalutara Resort, a property owned by Minor Hotels, officially opened its doors last month.
Ten minutes from the historic town of Kalutara and an hour south of the capital Colombo, Anantara Kalutara Resort is set between Sri Lanka’s southwest coast and the Kalu River.
The resort, consisting of 141 guest rooms, suites and pool villas, was originally designed by Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, the late Geoffrey Bawa, and is inspired by his vision of simple elegance and great craftsmanship.
Continuing the philosophy of connecting modern travellers to genuine landmarks, Anantara Kalutara Resort allows travellers to experience Sri Lanka’s colonial charms and sacred heritage, including the world’s tallest sitting Buddha statue and the world’s only hollow Buddhist shrine.
Anantara Kalutara Resort joins Minor Hotels’ Sri Lankan portfolio as the second Anantara property, bringing the Sri Lankan portfolio to six properties.
The company says debut of Anantara in Oman marks an exciting chapter for the brand in the international arena.
Minor Hotels manages two luxury resorts under the Anantara brand in that country.
Opened last month, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort is the highest five-star luxury resort in the Middle East. Perched 2,000 metres above sea level on the sultanate’s fabled Green Mountain, the resort is situated in one of the most spectacular settings in the world, the company says.
Guests can explore a cliff-edge platform known as Diana’s Point, named after Diana, Princess of Wales, who visited the spot in November 1986.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort offers 115 luxury guest rooms and villas overlooking the dramatic canyon and tranquil gardens in northern Oman.
In November last year, Minor Hotels opened the second Anantara resort in the country, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara. Situated between a long, scenic beach and freshwater lagoon, bordering the historic Al Baleed Unesco-recognised archaeological site, the resort brings a new |level of luxury and refinement to the region, according to the company, allowing discerning guests to discover the unique charms of southern Oman.
The resort comprises 136 guest rooms and villas offering views of the ocean, lagoon or picturesque gardens.
With the three newly opened hotels, the Anantara portfolio now consists of 38 hotels, of which 11 have been recognised in the 2016 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards as among the best in the world.
Dillip Rajakarier, chief executive of Minor Hotels, said: “We are very excited to announce the expansion of our Anantara brand in two exclusive destinations – truly exemplifying the brand philosophy of connecting modern travellers to new places and experiences.
“Sri Lanka and Oman have emerged as popular tourist destinations with promising opportunities for the luxury hospitality business. We are very thrilled to launch new hotels in these dynamic regions and look forward to exploring further expansion opportunities through both investment and management agreement to strengthen our luxury hotel portfolio.”
