SuryaJyoti invests 25% in Sudurpashchim’s first five-star hotel

KATHMANDU: SuryaJyoti Life Insurance Company has acquired a 25% stake in Club Choulani Limited, marking a significant investment in the hospitality sector of Sudurpashchim Province.

The project will operate under the internationally acclaimed Holiday Inn Dhangadhi, part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts group, and will become the region’s first five-star international hotel.

Expressing his enthusiasm about the collaboration, Club Chaulani Chairman Dr. Rajendra K. C. said, “We are excited to bring the Holiday Inn brand to Dhangadhi in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. Dhangadhi is rapidly emerging as the commercial and tourism gateway of western Nepal, offering great potential for international-standard hospitality services. With IHG’s global expertise and quality benchmarks, we aim to provide guests with a reliable and welcoming stay experience.”

The hotel will feature 115 modern guest rooms, including five premium suites, and world-class facilities such as an 18,500-square-foot state-of-the-art casino, a grand banquet hall accommodating up to 700 guests, a rooftop swimming pool, multi-cuisine restaurants, a fully equipped modern fitness center, meeting and conference rooms, and exclusive private dining options.

Investors expect the hotel to meet the growing business and tourism demand in Dhangadhi while playing a pivotal role in developing the region’s tourism sector.

Highlighting the strategic rationale, Prakash Bikram Khatri, CEO of SuryaJyoti Life Insurance, said, “Considering the long-term potential of Nepal’s tourism sector, this investment is aimed at generating sustained returns, strengthening our presence in the market, and contributing to the development of tourism infrastructure in Sudurpashchim Province. This partnership not only consolidates SuryaJyoti Life Insurance’s investment but also promotes high-quality tourism infrastructure in western Nepal, positively impacting the national economy.”

Currently, SuryaJyoti Life Insurance is Nepal’s first ISO 9001:2015 certified life insurer, with a paid-up capital of Rs 501 crore, life fund of Rs 4,617 crore, investments worth Rs 5,120 crore, net worth of Rs 618 crore, over 107,000 agents, and 3.63 million active policies across 176 branches nationwide.

The company also provides financial protection of up to Rs 50 lakh against 35 critical illnesses, making it a leading provider of comprehensive life insurance services in Nepal.