New star hotel Grand Palace opens doors in Dhaka

Dhaka : A new star hotel "Grand Palace Hotel Dhaka" opened on January 9 in the Kakrail area of the capital.

The owner of the hotel is SA Group of Companies. It is the group's third venture.

The move comes at a time when the country's hospitality sector is facing a decline in the number of expected guests due to the aftermath of the July uprising and ongoing New Year vacations worldwide.

Industry insiders claimed, on average, the occupancy rate at star-rated hotels is currently between 40pc and 45pc, and it is expected to remain at this level for now, due to the new year celebrations.

Also, the visa and travel restrictions imposed by certain countries have discouraged foreign visitors to Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, 2024.

However, hotel owners are optimistic about a positive flow of guests starting in late January.

"I have been investing for the last 10 years. Even if we didn't open now, the maintenance costs would continue. Therefore, since everything is ready, I have decided to open the hotel during this somewhat lean season," said Salahuddin Ahmed, Managing Director, Grand Palace Dhaka Hotel.

Regarding the hotel's facilities, he said, "The hotel will offer state-of-the-art design, spacious rooms, premium cuisine, a swimming pool, a health club, a bar, and conference facilities, catering to both domestic and foreign tourists."

"The Grand Palace will boost the tourism industry, create jobs, and offer Dhaka residents a full-service five-star venue for social events," he added.

This hotel chain's first star hotel began operations on March 3, 2018, in the heart of Rangpur, offering all facilities for tourists, including a helipad. The second star hotel opened on March 3, 2020 in Sylhet.