Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort and Spa will open on Sri Lanka’s southern coastline on 1 June, 2016.
The 145 acre, 300-room (including 26 suites) beachfront resort features tropical gardens, an 18-hole golf course, an artisan village and a wide array of dining, event and entertainment options.
“Sri Lanka is one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Indian Ocean and a beautiful country with incredible natural attractions, wonderful people and more than 2,000 years of culture. We are delighted to be opening the first international luxury resort in Hambantota and look forward to bringing Shangri-La’s hallmark hospitality from the heart to this exciting destination,” said Shangri-La President and CEO Greg Dogan.
Sri Lanka is one of the best places to see wildlife in Asia, and Hambantota is located near several national wildlife parks that are home to an array of animals, including wild elephants, the Sri Lankan leopard and thousands of rare and exotic birds.
The resort has a 2,525 square metre multi-purpose event space that includes outdoor pavilions for up to 1,000 guests, as well as Kandy, Hatton and Badulla conference rooms for 100 guests each, and 70.5 square metre Haputale and Nuwara Eliya rooms with capacity for 84 people each.
Guests arriving to Colombo International Airport can enjoy Shangri-La’s private luxury coach transfer, the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. Seating up to 25 people, resort guests will enjoy refreshments, cold towels and snacks served during the drive along the scenic coastal route.
In addition to Shangri-La’s luxury coach transfer, Fly Dubai and Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Jet, fly direct to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which is 35 kilometres from the resort. Local-based Cinnamon Air and Sri Lankan Airlines also run regular domestic flights from Colombo.
Shangri-La Hambantota Resort and Spa is the first of two Shangri-La hotels under development in Sri Lanka and the group’s third resort in the Indian Ocean. The second hotel – Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo – is slated to open in 2017.
