CHITTAGONG, Oct 9: Construction of the port city's first five-star sea-view airport hotel was kicked off Sunday afternoon near the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong.
Housing and Public Affairs Minister Mosharraf Hossain laid the foundation stone of The Peninsula Chittagong Airport Garden in the Naval Area of the Airport Road as the chief guest.
Owners said it is also the country's first airport hotel that will have 201 rooms, three multi-cuisine restaurants, three ball rooms, one infinity pool and many other modern facilities.
Construction of the five-star standard hotel will be completed in two years, said the hotel officials.
Addressing the foundation laying ceremony, the Minister said the new hotel will represent Chittagong with its long tradition, culture and heritage. Chittagong, according to him, has an international airport with no five-star hotel of international standard near it, although most of the international airports have such standard hotels.
Considering the visit of a greater number of foreigners, tourists and crews of ships and airlines in near future, the hotel management has decided to construct a world-class hotel having the airport and the Bay of Bengal views.
He said Chittagong has a huge potential, which will be fully exploited after construction of the Karnaphuli Tunnel, Chittagong Bay Terminal, Sonadia Deep Sea Port, Economic Zones at Mirsarai and Anwara and the Elevated Expressway.
"As foreigners in growing number will arrive in the port city after completion of these major projects, the city will need to host the investors, airlines pilots, ship captains, crews and officials as they need sophisticated boarding," he said.
Terming the new hotel an iconic one, the Housing and Public Works Minister said it will have a modern structure in the port city.
Another five-star hotel of international standard will be developed in the capital city, he noted.
Chairman of the Chittagong Development Authority Abdus Salam, who was present as the special guest in the programme, said setting up of a five-star hotel near the airport in the port city has been the demand of the time to accord greater hospitality service and comfort to the local and foreign tourists.
Chairman of Chittagong Zila Parishad MA Salam, Chairman of The Peninsula Chittagong Limited Mahboob-Ur-Rahman and Managing Director Mustafa Tahseen Arshad, among others, were present on the occasion.
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