Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, a collection of 13 properties in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, has broken ground on the Rs. 6.5 billion Cinnamon Red Kandy in the Sri Lankan city of Kandy.
The project, the result of a joint venture between Cinnamon and Sri Lankan investment company Indra Traders, is expected to open in two years. Cinnamon will be the managing partner for the property.
"The hotel will be strategically located in close proximity to the Kandy-Colombo highway and well-positioned to cater to the demands of the new-age traveler and millennials," said Krishan Balendra, chairman of Sri Lankan conglomerate JKH (the company behind Cinnamon). The highway is slated to open around the same time the hotel does, and is poised to boost traffic and accessibility to the city.
"It is the most opportune time to introduce this fresh and innovative concept to the city," said Indra Kumara Silva, chairman of Indra Hotels and Resorts Kandy, which was created by the joint venture and is behind the project. "The entire building would feature ample natural lighting, smart ventilation and would also run in an energy-efficient manner to ensure that it is as eco-friendly as possible."
The 13 open Cinnamon properties in Sri Lanka and the Maldives total 2,400 rooms.