Biman plans to enter into hotel business
FHM Humayan Kabir | Friday, 20 June 2008
The national flag carrier -- Biman Bangladesh Airlines -- has planned to foray into hotel business aiming to utilise its prime land in the capital for the purpose and have an additional source of income, a senior official said.
"We've a plan to construct a four-star hotel at our 1.33 acres of land in Farmgate area in the city. We have invited expression of interest (EoI) from the reputed local or foreign hotel chains or operators for constructing and operating the proposed hotel," managing director and chief executive office of Biman M A Momen told the FE.
Bangladesh has huge potentials in boosting hospitality as well as tourism industries as it has some of the world's best locations. It possesses the world's largest sea beach -- Cox's Bazar and largest mangrove forest --Sundarban.
Most of the foreigners visit Bangladesh with business missions and a very small percentage is in the category of tourists although the country has potentials for tourism as a successful foreign exchange earning industry.
Tourism expert Ahmed Yusuf Walid said there are huge potentials of promoting hospitality and tourism industry in Bangladesh and the number of foreign visitors are increasing day by day.
"Over 250,000 foreigners including businessmen and tourists visited Bangladesh last year and stayed in different hotels in the country. If any hotel provides better service its occupancy rate will not be a problem," Walid, the president and CEO of a tour operator --Galaxy Holidays - told the FE.
Biman chief MA Momen said: "Biman spends about Tk 100 million to Tk 120 million for its passengers every year for their lay-overs at different hotels in the city."
"If we can construct the four star hotel in Farmgate we will be able to accommodate our passengers during their laying over period and business of the hotel will not be a problem. Besides, it will be able to conduct its business by attracting foreign and local tourists, businessmen and others who will visit Dhaka," he said.
It is mentionable that many airlines including the Pakistan Airlines (PIA) and Thai Airlines have their own hotels where their passengers stay during the leisure or in the break of journey.
Walid said that in recent times the Dhaka city's luxury hotels have more than 80 per cent occupancy rate as a lot of businessmen and tourists visit Bangladesh.
When asked about the plan of Biman for the hotel business, MA Momen said: "After getting the EoI from the experienced private sector hotel business operators we will review their proposals. The Biman Board will decide and finalise the plan of hotel operation and construction."
"The foreign or local reputed hotel chains or operators could come make joint-venture investment with the Biman for the four-star hotel. Biman will have some stake on the hotel," Momen said.
The Dhaka city has four five-star hotels Sheraton, Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Radisson Water Garden and Westin where a lot of foreigners stay.
Another official of the Biman said that the hotel of state-owned airlines has another opportunity to grab the market of the foreign airlines working in Bangladesh for accommodating their passengers during their break of journey in Dhaka.
"We've a plan to construct a four-star hotel at our 1.33 acres of land in Farmgate area in the city. We have invited expression of interest (EoI) from the reputed local or foreign hotel chains or operators for constructing and operating the proposed hotel," managing director and chief executive office of Biman M A Momen told the FE.
Bangladesh has huge potentials in boosting hospitality as well as tourism industries as it has some of the world's best locations. It possesses the world's largest sea beach -- Cox's Bazar and largest mangrove forest --Sundarban.
Most of the foreigners visit Bangladesh with business missions and a very small percentage is in the category of tourists although the country has potentials for tourism as a successful foreign exchange earning industry.
Tourism expert Ahmed Yusuf Walid said there are huge potentials of promoting hospitality and tourism industry in Bangladesh and the number of foreign visitors are increasing day by day.
"Over 250,000 foreigners including businessmen and tourists visited Bangladesh last year and stayed in different hotels in the country. If any hotel provides better service its occupancy rate will not be a problem," Walid, the president and CEO of a tour operator --Galaxy Holidays - told the FE.
Biman chief MA Momen said: "Biman spends about Tk 100 million to Tk 120 million for its passengers every year for their lay-overs at different hotels in the city."
"If we can construct the four star hotel in Farmgate we will be able to accommodate our passengers during their laying over period and business of the hotel will not be a problem. Besides, it will be able to conduct its business by attracting foreign and local tourists, businessmen and others who will visit Dhaka," he said.
It is mentionable that many airlines including the Pakistan Airlines (PIA) and Thai Airlines have their own hotels where their passengers stay during the leisure or in the break of journey.
Walid said that in recent times the Dhaka city's luxury hotels have more than 80 per cent occupancy rate as a lot of businessmen and tourists visit Bangladesh.
When asked about the plan of Biman for the hotel business, MA Momen said: "After getting the EoI from the experienced private sector hotel business operators we will review their proposals. The Biman Board will decide and finalise the plan of hotel operation and construction."
"The foreign or local reputed hotel chains or operators could come make joint-venture investment with the Biman for the four-star hotel. Biman will have some stake on the hotel," Momen said.
The Dhaka city has four five-star hotels Sheraton, Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Radisson Water Garden and Westin where a lot of foreigners stay.
Another official of the Biman said that the hotel of state-owned airlines has another opportunity to grab the market of the foreign airlines working in Bangladesh for accommodating their passengers during their break of journey in Dhaka.