Five-star club adds Hotel Central Plaza in Kohalpur

Hotel Central Plaza in Kohalpur, Banke has been awarded a five-star rating, making it a second five-star hotel in Nepalgunj. However, the total number of luxury hotels in the five-star category reached 13 with this new addition. Of the total 13 five-star hotels in the country, the Fulbari Resort and Spa in Pokhara has closed while the Everest Hotel at Baneshwor in Kathmandu has been closed after the devastating earthquake in 2015.
Hotel Central Plaza was awarded the five-star rating on February 26 after completing an evaluation of the hotel, according to the department. Hotel Central Plaza has 80 rooms with 99 beds. According to the new provision, a five-star hotel can be opened outside the Valley with 80 rooms. Earlier, the minimum number of rooms required was 100.
Likewise, Hotel Marriott Kathmandu in Naxal has also applied for the prestigious five-star rating at the Tourism Department. The department is preparing to conduct a field inspection before it will award the Marriott Kathmandu the five-star rating.
Under the Everest Hospitality and Hotel group, the proposed 235-room five-star hotel in Naxal will be managed by Marriott International. a leading hotel chain based in Maryland, US. The Naxal Marriott is the second hotel in Nepal being managed by the international hotel chain management company after the Fairfield by Marriott Kathmandu, Thamel.
We are opening the Marriott Kathmandu in Naxal on April 14, chairman of the Everest Hospitality Group Shashi Kant Agarwal said.
Apart from Marriott, two more five-star hotels – one Chhaya Centre in Thamel and another Hotel Pawan Palace in Lumbini are also being operational by June.
Similarly, the department had awarded the five-star rating to Soaltee Westend Premier in Nepalgunj in February. The Soaltee Westend Premier – formerly Soaltee Sibkrim Hotels and Resorts – in Nepalgunj had initially applied for a four-star rating but – with the new provision – it reapplied for a five-star rating.
In 2017, the Tourism Department had awarded a five-star rating to the Tiger Palace Resort at Kotihawa in Bhairahawa. The 100-room hotel – the first integrated five-star casino resort in South Asia – was developed by Australian-stock market listed Silver Heritage Group.

IFC, FMO Invest in hospitality

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a member of the World Bank Group – has invested $2.75 million in Nepal Hospitality and Hotel Pvt Ltd to develop the new 3-star hotel, Fairfield Marriott at Thamel in Kathmandu. In addition to its own investment, IFC has mobilised a further $2.75 million investment from FMO, the Netherlands-based development bank. The 115-room hotel is operated by international chain Marriott under its Fairfield brand, and is the first internationally-branded, professionally-managed mid-market hotel in Nepal.

This initiative of IFC and FMO will help in building skills of those employed in the sector and contribute to the development of local supply chains, and thereby support significant employment in ancillary industries as well, according to IFC.
International-standard hotels like the Fairfield Marriot property help emerging markets like Nepal attract business and leisure travelers, managing director of Nepal Hospitality and Hotel Pvt Ltd Gaurav Agrawal, said, adding that investments that support vital economic industries like tourism will send a strong signal to international investors that Nepal is poised for growth and is an attractive destination that continues to cater to travellers’ needs.
The Fairfield Marriott Hotel will help increase Nepal’s capacity in the mid-market hotel segment, create jobs, and promote energy-efficient hotel design, and is expected to stimulate tourism and support the economy. It will also help build skills of those employed in the sector and contribute to the development of local supply chains. State of the art construction principles have been implemented by adopting green building design in order to increase energy and water-efficiency measures, which will serve as a model for replication across the industry.
International-standard hotel like the Fairfield Marriott property help emerging markets like Nepal attract business and leisure travelers. Investments that support vital economic industries like tourism, will send a strong signal to international investors that Nepal is poised for growth and is an attractive destination that continues to cater to traveler’s needs.
According to IFC, it remains committed to promote such development in Nepal as the country and industry recover from the impacts of the 2015 earthquake. IFC’s tourism investments promote development of critical infrastructure in places where there is often a shortage and send a positive signal to other investors.
IFC also pledged to invest in hotels and tourism especially in low-income and fragile conflict-affected countries like Nepal, which contributes in strengthening their economy.

IFC, FMO to invest in hospitality sector

IFC – a member of the World Bank Group – will invest $3million in Nepal Hospitality and Hotel (NHH) to develop a three-star hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu.
The investment will increase the country's capacity in the mid-market hotel segment, create jobs, and promote energy-efficient hotel design. The Greenfield hotel will be operated by international chain Marriott under its Fairfield brand.
NHH a member of MS Group is one of the leading business conglomerates in Nepal.
The IFC will – in addition to its own investment – mobilise $3 million from FMO, the Netherlands-based development bank. The investments will help build skills of those employed in the sector and contribute to the development of local supply chains.
IFC will also help Nepal Hospitality and Hotel adopt green building design and construction principles to implement energy and water-efficiency measures.
“The deal, amidst the recent earthquake, reaffirms that the Nepali private sector, IFC, and FMO are committed towards economic prosperity in Nepal," said managing director of Nepal Hospitality and Hotel Gaurav Agarwal, on the occasion.
The 110-room Fairfield Kathmandu – the first internationally-branded, professionally-managed mid-market hotel in Nepal – will stimulate tourism and support the economy, he said, adding that the green building design will serve as a model for replication across the industry.
"The hotel will be built with a total investment of $12 million," he said, adding that they have already completed the structural work. "Likewise, electrical wiring and plumbing work is 80 per cent complete."
The finishing work is 20 per cent complete and for the remaining finishing work we need skilled manpower, which is currently no available in Nepal," Agrawal added. ""Even though, the 10-story hotel has been rated as three-star by the government. Our services will be on par with four-and five-star hotels in Nepal."
The hotel had earlier planned to begin operation in October but it has postponed for early 2016 due to devastating earthquake on April 25.
The MS Group is also constructing a five-star hotel in Naxal, Kathmandu for which it will invest Rs 350 million.
"IFC remains committed to supporting Nepal as it rebuilds its tourism industry following the devastating earthquake on April 25," IFC country manager for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan Kyle F Kelhofer said, after signing the deal. "Investments that support vital economic industries like tourism, will send a strong signal to international investors that Nepal is poised for growth and is an attractive destination that continues to cater to traveler needs,” he added.
The tourism sector accounts for over two per cent of Nepal's GDP, some five per cent of foreign exchange earnings, and employs approximately half a million people. It also supports significant employment in ancillary industries.
International-standard hotel projects help emerging markets like Nepal attract business and leisure travelers.
The FMO – a Dutch development bank – has invested in the private sector in developing countries and emerging markets for more than 45 years aiming at empowering entrepreneurs to build a better world.
Likewise, IFC – a member of the World Bank Group – is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. It works with private enterprises in more than 100 countries using its capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity.

After Sheraton, Marriott enters Nepal

After Sheraton, another global hotel chain Marriott International is planning to enter Nepal.

Marriott International – a leading hotel chain based in Maryland, US – has signed a management agreement with Nepal Hospitality Group (NHG) – under MS Group, one of Nepal’s leading business conglomerates – to open a four-star property Fairfield Marriott Kathmandu at Thamel in Kathmandu.

Though, the global FMCG chain is also mulling to establish a five-star hotel at Naxal in Kathmandu,  Marriott is going to look after the management of Fairfield Marriott Kathmandu, said vice president of MS Group Shashi Kant Agrawal, after signing the agreement here today.  

The proposed 10-storey property under construction currently will have 108 rooms and spread over two-and-a-half ropanis of land, he said, adding that the hotel will start its operation from 2016.

“It is estimated to cost around Rs 650 million,” he added. “Fairfield Marriott Kathmandu will provide branded, quality and consistent hospitality excellence that the Fairfield Marriott offers worldwide.”
“We are delighted to have signed the new Fairfield hotel in Nepal with Nepal Hospitality Group,” Marriott International’s president and managing director, Asia, Simon Cooper, said, on the occasion. “We have redesigned and configured the brand specifically for the South Asian market,” he said, adding that the company is excited that it will be its first hotel in Nepal when it opens in 2016

With 700 Fairfield properties throughout North America, the Marriott International is current in expansion spree in Asia and South America.

based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, Marriott International is a leading lodging company with more than 3,800 properties in 74 countries and territories.
It reported revenues of nearly $12 billion in the fiscal year 2012. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands.

Earlier, a Non-Resident Nepali from Australia Shesh Ghale has also signed an agreement with Sheraton to construct a Australian dollar 75-80 million five-star Sheraton Kathmandu Hotel at Kantipath in Kathmandu.

Ghale’s MIT Group Holding Nepal had signed the agreement with Starwood Hotels and Resort Worldwide Inc for the five star property with 225-room to be opened in February 2018.

Ghale (54) is on the 200 wealthiest Australians list with a fortune of $225 million.