GABRIEL GUNESEKERE:

200 Hotels Under the Clarks Brand by 2025

Gabriel David Gunesekere, Head of Development at The Clarks Hotels & Resorts for Sri Lanka, The Maldives and International shares with TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE the development strategy of The Clarks Group for the coming years aiming to turn it into an international leading hotel chain.

“With around 2 to 3 properties being opened in India on a monthly basis in the next few months, we are looking at opening at least about 12 Hotels & Resorts internationally under the Clarks Brand in 2023,” said Gunesekere highlighting that The Clarks Hotels & Resorts has over 100 properties in India itself.

According to Gabriel, the future is looming for The Clarks Group. “Our plan is to have over 200 hotels under the Clarks Brand by 2025 and in addition to India in key regions. This in-turn will include over 30 properties with key strategic Tie-Ups Internationally by 2025,” he said.

On the other hand, he stresses that the Balkans in general and Albania in particular is being viewed with a lot of interest by the Indian travelers who are in search of new unexplored destinations.

“With Indian traveler's looking for new destinations to travel and try new countries like Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania and the Mediterranean countries where there will be a tremendous influx of Indian travelers that will include many other Asian and Middle-Eastern travelers soon visiting these countries in the coming months,” the accomplished hospitality and tourism professional said.

Full interview below:

What does The Clarks Hotels & Resorts pipeline actually look like?

The idea of Clarks Hotels & Resorts has always been to expand internationally, initially to the Regional Countries... Having been offered this opportunity – with Sri Lanka being the first country The Clarks Owners had in mind and with my international experience I personally saw a Greater potential in the Clarks Hotels expanding to other countries more rapidly with an opportunity to manage more properties and The Maldives was added in the same period of September 2022. The Clarks Hotels & Resorts with a strong network and presence of over 100 properties now in India itself was key and we knew by this strength that more properties can be part of The Clarks Hotels network internationally.

How has the group’s development strategy evolved?

Our plan is to have over 200 hotels under the Clarks Brand by 2025 and in addition to India in key regions. This in-turn will include over 30 properties with key strategic Tie-Ups Internationally by 2025.

Which regions do you deem as having the most probable for The Clarks Hotels & Resorts properties?

Yes! The Regions are - the Indian Ocean Islands, Europe, Middle-East & North Africa and the Asia Pacific Region (APAC) with the American continents, the Caribbean and the rest of the world being included over time… Thus, Clarks Hotels & Resorts becoming a leading hotel chain globally in the coming years.

Which of The Clarks Group brands will be most aggressively developed over the coming years?

Well, I see a lot of potential with Luxury Boutique Villas, the upscale 5 Star Hotels and Resorts and of course Resorts that are close to nature & peaceful environments, Wild Life & National Parks and that surround hills and even snow-capped Mountains that also add to the Safari Brand.

What is the target of The Clarks Group when it comes to the new openings during 2023?

With around 2 to 3 properties being opened in India on a monthly basis in the next few months, we are looking at opening at least about 12 Hotels & Resorts internationally under the Clarks Brand in 2023.

6. The Clarks Group is ambitious towards the Balkans’ growth strategy – can you unveil something more about it?

 

We see a great opportunity to enter this market as the region intends to increase the Hospitality & Tourism Sector in the next couple of years and has opened opportunities both for business and travelers... with Indian traveller's looking for new destinations to travel and try new countries like Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Romania and the  Mediterranean countries where there will be a tremendous influx of Indian travelers that will include many other Asian and Middle-Eastern travelers soon visiting these countries in the coming months… We also see that travelers from the Balkan countries also visiting India, Sri Lanka and The Maldives similarly.

What direction do you see the group’s hotel developments heading in over the next years?

As mentioned with The Clarks Vision - We are looking at Managing more properties internationally and strategic tie-ups and our plan over time is to also build the Clarks Presence significantly in multiple countries in key geographical areas. Indeed we are delighted and open to discuss your requirements thus building those win/win opportunities that we all strive for.