Aitken Spence Hotels, a Sri Lanka-based hotel operator, has announced its acquisition of two new properties in the Maldives. According to TTG Asia, the company has invested US$5 million to lease the Raafushi Island in Noonu Atoll, where it will build a four-star resort. A further investment of US$50 million will go into developing a 163-key five-star property on Aaarah Island in Raa Atoll. The new additions to its portfolio will make Aitken Spence the largest foreign hotel operator in the Maldives. The developments will join some 1,700 rooms currently within the Maldives’ new supply pipeline. In the first quarter of 2015, the destination enjoyed a slight growth in international visitor arrivals, attracting 329,968 arrivals in the first three months, a 2.6% increase from the first quarter of 2014. The Maldives received a record 1.2 million visitors in 2014, an annual growth of 7.1% from 2013. Its top five feeder markets include China, Germany, the UK, Russia and Italy.
HVS APAC HOSPITALITY NEWSLETTER.
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