Til Bahadur Dewan, a retired British Army officer, has invested Rs 100 million in the hotel. Dewan inaugurated the hotel amid a function on Tuesday. He had started works on the hotel four years ago.Talking to Republica, Dewan said the hotel reflects the identity of Ilam district and local people. "Summit Hotel, as the name suggests, aims to take Ilam"s tourism to a new height," Dewan, who spent 15 years in British Army, said. 'I am hopeful that the hotel will increase flow of tourists in Ilam district.'
Dewan has used cut stones brought from Pokhara for external decoration of the hotel. Altogether 14,000 cut stones have been used in the hotel. Dewan, who lives in Pokhara, said he opened Summit Hotel in Ilam because he wanted to do something in his birthplace. 'Though I have been living in Pokhara, I had a desire to do something in my own district. Summit Hotel is my long-cherished dream,' he added.
Summit Hotel has 38 luxurious rooms in a six-storied building.
Dewan joined politics in his hometown following his retirement from the British Army in 1987. After a disappointing run in politics, he tried his luck in Pokhara"s hospitality sector which resurrected his career.
'I have made huge investment because I see great tourism potential in Ilam. Ilam has beautiful tea gardens, favorable weather and hospitable people with unique culture tradition and lifestyle,' he said, adding, 'But without quality accommodation, you can"t expect foreign tourists to come and stay here," Dewan said.
He claimed that Summit Hotel, which has created 40 new jobs, has all the facilities of three-star hotel.
'Our target clients are tourists visiting areas like Paathivara and Sandakpur,' he added.
Though 330 hotels are registered with Ilam Chapter of Hotel Association of Nepal, most of them lack even basic facilities.
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