The luxurious Xiengthong Palace has opened its doors in Luang Prabang in Sri Lanka, set to play a key role for intelligent travellers seeking a top-end hotel with modern amenities. Being located in the most serene area of Luang Prabang, adjacent to Wat Xiengthong - the revered Buddhist monastery and the temple of the last royal family - while endlessly admiring the beauty and the contentment of the majestic Mekong, Xiengthong Palace is probably the best place to be for tranquility and luxury.It has the rare distinction of being a royal palace of the former kingdom of Laos and enters a list of few such premises turned into unique hotels in the world. Coming under strict guidelines and regulations of UNESCO for construction to preserve the archeological heritage of Luang Prabang, the hotel’s architecture uniquely contributes to enriching the glorious past of this former seat of the country’s governance. Luang Prabang, as a destination, has shown a high growth potential over the years and will soon see a major boost to its visitor arrivals with the expansion of its international airport and the arrival of wide-bodied aircraft. The need for quality hotel rooms is on the rise, and the newest addition of this unique hotel property at a cost of US$4.5 million will make a significant contribution to the luxury accommodation requirement of Lao PDR. Since its soft opening on October 12 of this year, guest comments received from its customers on the location, the hotel, and its services has been extremely encouraging, and the future of the business is very promising, from an investment point of view. The chairman of the owning company of the hotel, Dr. Tran Trong Kien, is of the view that the decision to invest in Lao PDR was a timely decision, considering its steady economic growth over the recent years and especially considering its potential in tourism. Hiran Cooray, Director of Jetwing Indochina Co. Ltd., the Managing Agent of the hotel and Chairman of PATA, stated that Luang Prabang will soon be among the most sought-after destinations in the region and the infrastructure development including quality accommodation is a step in the right direction. He expressed his happiness for being able to join hands in this project.