Labasa is set to welcome its first internationally-branded hotel through a collaboration with Ramada Encore, which will manage and operate a 40-room hotel under the Damodar Group at Damodar City. The establishment, named Ramada Encore by Wyndham at Damodar City Labasa, is anticipated to enhance the local tourism industry and Fiji’s overall tourism sector.
Div Damodar, CEO of Damodar Group, announced the news this week, highlighting the potential positive impacts of the development. He expressed optimism that this initiative could act as a catalyst for attracting more hotel brands to Vanua Levu, setting a new trend for the region.
Damodar explained that the hotel project will significantly influence the local economy, benefiting businesses, tourism rates, and employment levels in Labasa. He referred to the ongoing development at Damodar City Labasa, which boasts over 60 tenants and has created more than 1,500 jobs.
Initially, there were no plans for a partnership with the Wyndham hotel chain. Damodar noted that the original concept was to run the hotel under the Damodar management after construction completion. However, last year, Wyndham approached them with the possibility of collaboration, recognizing the opportunity for an internationally-branded hotel in the area.
The motivation behind this initiative is to attract more investors to the northern region, aligned with the Look North policy introduced by the previous government. Damodar emphasized the untapped economic potential in Vanua Levu, countering the stigma that it lacks opportunities.
He recalled how the announcement of Damodar Group’s expansion into Labasa met with skepticism, but the subsequent success has proven the decision to be strategic and rewarding. The establishment of Extra Supermarket in Labasa has already began benefiting local farmers, further stimulating the local economy, with other brands also showing interest in expanding to the area.
The new hotel is expected to open by late this year or early 2025, featuring 40 rooms, inclusive of three suites, a swimming pool, an 80-seat conference area, a restaurant, a gym, and a bar, all designed to meet the demands of leisure and business travelers. Damodar encourages further investment in Vanua Levu and anticipates more growth and development in the coming years, envisioning success stories to emerge from this evolving region.