Conrad Sangma, the Meghalaya Chief Minister today inaugurated the first-ever 5 Star Hotel of the state, ‘Vivanta Meghalaya’ in Shillong. After a long wait of 36 years, this historic occasion initiated.
Since 1986, construction for the hotel had been ongoing, Sangma emphasized that “truly mos occasion in the history of Meghalaya”, but after a strong push delivered by the current NPP-led administration, it could only be completed.
He expressed gratitude and congratulated the concerned stakeholders, including – Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Limited (MTDC) for completing the project, despite the COVID-induced disruptions and Meghalaya Tourism.
The Vivanta Meghalaya, has been leased out for a time period of 33 years to be operated by the IHCL, on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The hotel is built within an area of about 8,800 sq. metres, and it incorporates of 101 rooms and including a speciality restaurant, coffee shops, bar, retail shops, and a banquet hall.
The Meghalaya CM twitted on his twitter handle, “With a huge feeling of fulfilment and after a long wait of 36 years, I am filled with immense joy today to inaugurate Meghalaya’s First 5 Star Hotel ‘Vivanta Meghalaya, Shillong’. The former Crowborough Hotel stood abandoned in Police Bazar, the marketing hub of Shillong for almost 4 decades and was a long unfulfilled dream of the people of the State. We are happy to finally achieve this milestone in 50 years of our Statehood.”
Sangma further added, “I congratulate team @meghtourism, @MTDC_Meghalaya, @vivantashillong and all the officials who have persisted through the years to complete the project of our people’s dream. It is a matter of great pride to welcome #IHCL, India’s largest hospitality company, to #Meghalaya with the handover of @vivantashillong today. Our new 5 Star Hotel will encourage more tourists to visit our beautiful state to discover its rich history, heritage & culture”
However, to transform Meghalaya into the most preferred eco-tourism destination, this model will be further replicated in the future.
Sangma expressed that the state government has taken a number of initiatives to augment the accommodation infrastructure in the State; which includes – construction of large resorts & tourism infrastructure in Sakaladuma in West Garo Hills, Thadlaskien in West Jaintia Hills and Pelgawari in South West Garo Hills, Shnongpdeng in West Jaintia Hills, Mawlyndep and Nongmahir in Ribhoi, Nongkhnum in West Khasi Hills, Sohra in East Khasi Hills.
