Business
Top real estate developers identified in new RIU brand heath survey
Research Intelligence Unit (RIU)
This year’s RIU survey delved deeper than brand surveys of the past by looking into multifarious factors that included brand awareness, brand perception, brand visibility, brand attributes and top of the mind recall. Home Lands, Prime Lands, Kelsey Homes, JAT, Blue Ocean, Span and Fairway were found to be the top seven most popular developers in 2021. The findings give some victories to all seven of the top players with the top two battling for gold..
During the course of 2021, the Research Intelligence Unit (RIU) conducted a large-scale survey covering many hundreds of property buyers and investors in order to identify the top developer brands in Sri Lanka and to highlight the brand dynamics thereof. The survey covered residents of Colombo, non-Colombo residents as well as the diaspora community. The findings provide a unique insight into how buyers think and how this impacts their investment decision making. From a developer perspective, the survey has identified the top seven players in the market with each of these claiming one or more victories. However, it is Home Lands and Prime Lands that are battling for the top spot.
The Home Lands Group had the highest percentage of respondents that indicated the brand as their ‘first preference’ whilst Prime Lands Group took the top spot of the overall rankings, followed by Home Lands, based on the survey results which included local and Sri Lanka diaspora investors / property buyers.
Locals and Sri Lankan diaspora
When isolating locals from the Sri Lankan diaspora, Prime Lands remains on top, followed by Home Lands. However, amongst the diaspora, Blue Ocean was ranked highest, followed by Span.
Respondents were also asked to rate (positive or negative) based on word of mouth with the developers. Here, Home Lands, with a 57% ‘positive’ result, was the only developer that had a client base with predominantly positive word of mouth.
In accordance with the survey findings, a large number of respondents stated that they had a very favorable past experience with JAT Holdings accompanied by Span Engineering and Fairway Holdings.
Top developers were also assessed in the survey in regards to brand perception: affordability, convenience, luxury, style/elegance, trust and value for money. The results highlighted the locals reckoned properties of Home Lands to be supreme in terms of luxuriousness and the diaspora acclaimed those properties to provide a better value for money.
Brand perception
The survey also revealed how respondents associated brands with the following attributes; brand, convenience, discounts, price, quality and time delivery. In regards to the ‘brand’ factor, Home Lands had the best result, while Prime Lands topped the list in terms of ‘convenience’ and ‘quality’. Blue Ocean, albeit marginally, is placed atop in regards to ‘price’, while Span is seen to provide the most ‘discounts’. Fairway tied with Span for top spot in terms of ‘timely delivery’.
The analysis shows significant differences between brand awareness and perception levels of diaspora and locals as well as residents from Colombo as against those who live outside the Colombo district. Similarly, there are differences between those who work in the private sector as compared to those in the public sector and those that use private as compared to public transport as well as differences by age groups.
The RIU survey also finds that the buyer information source landscape has changed completely in recent years. Now, social media’s influence in the real estate market dominates all other mediums and is highlighted in the survey. It was shown to provide the highest reach compared to other modes such as TV, radio, print media etc. This underlines the important function that social media plays in the current context for diverse forms of business communication.
The Research Intelligence Unit (RIU) has just completed 18 years of service in Sri Lanka with a track record of providing advisory services to most the top developers in the island and the Asia region. Headquartered in London, the RIU also have offices in the Maldives and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
For more information about the RIU and the Real Estate Market Annual Report 2021, contact info@riunit.com.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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