4,000-capacity Int’l Convention Centre set to rise in Itahari

KATHMANDU: A grand convention center is set to be built in Itahari. It is set to be called AB Hospitality (Wyndham Resort and Convention Center), with a capacity to accommodate 4,000 people at a time.

The facility, designed to accommodate around 4,000 people at once, is expected to become one of the most significant hospitality infrastructure developments in eastern Nepal, enhancing both tourism and business event capacity in the region.

The project is being led by veteran hotel entrepreneur and AB Investment Holding Chair Deshbandhu Basnet (Ajit), who has described it as his “dream project.” Financial arrangements for the venture have already been completed, with Everest Bank Limited leading the financing consortium and NMB Bank participating as a partner institution.

Basnet, who recently introduced international hotel brands such as Mercure in Kathmandu and Ramada by Wyndham in Itahari, is expanding his footprint further with this third major international-level hospitality project.

The new development will operate under the global hospitality brand Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Located in Itahari, the project is expected to position the city as a leading destination for tourism, weddings, national and international conferences, and exhibitions.

Industry stakeholders believe it will significantly elevate eastern Nepal’s profile in the regional hospitality market.

The development is also expected to strengthen tourism flows to nearby destinations such as Ilam, Kanchanjunga region, Chatara Dham, Barahakshetra, Koshi Tappu, and Bhedetar, while helping promote emerging destinations across eastern Nepal.

Entrepreneurs involved in the project highlight its strategic importance in linking the Biratnagar–Itahari–Dharan economic corridor into a major tourism and business hub of Nepal.

The initiative is also expected to attract increasing numbers of visitors from India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, particularly for weddings, leisure travel, and business events.

Once operational, the convention centre is projected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, boost demand for local products, and contribute significantly to the regional economy.

Project planners describe the development as more than just a hotel or convention centre, calling it a transformative step toward reshaping eastern Nepal’s tourism industry and strengthening private investment in large-scale hospitality infrastructure.