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From the Dover Mercury 15 January 2004.
Glasses raised to hotel's opening.
THE Ramada Hotel at Whitfield has been officially opened by Tory Party
leader Michael Howard.
CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION: Mr K. Rajamenon, Mlchael Howard MP, Mrs Sandra
Howard and Mr K.
Rajaseelan at the official opening of the Ramada Hotel at Whitfleld on
Friday.
Known formerly as the Dover Court Hotel and
before that the Dover Post House, the hotel is now part of the worldwide
Ramada chain, under a franchise agreement.
A £2million refurbishment has
led to 10 more jobs being created at the hotel and work on a new suite
to expand its conference and banqueting facilities - due to be completed
by the summer - will lead to more jobs.
The hotel, in Singledge Lane,
now employs 30 people, under manager Rohan Karunaratne.
Mr Howard, MP
for Dover's
neighbouring constituency of Folkestone and Hythe, opened the hotel at a
champagne reception, attended by 120 guests. Among them were members of
the Ramada organisation, Dover Mayor George Allt. Sandwich Mayor and
speaker of the Confederation of the Cinque Ports Joe Trussler, and
district council leader, Paul Watkins.
At the reception, Mr Howard told
guests: "If anyone is surprised that the MP for Folkestone should open a
hotel in Dover, my answer is that Dover and Folkestone are dependent on
each other and we are more effective by working together."
Referring to
the recent job losses announced by P&O Ferries, Mr Howard added: "The
east Kent economy has had some recent difficulties but there are also
tremendous opportunities."
He continued by commenting that Ramada's
investment in the hotel would benefit the entire area and was "great
news" for east Kent.
The hotel was bought by businessmen K. Rajamenon
and K. Rajaseelan two years ago.
The massive refurbishment started last
January and the hotel has been trading as the Ramada since October.
The hotel has 68 bedrooms, a coffee lounge and restaurant. Services
offered now include a licence to hold civil weddings.
Ben Ancher,
vice-president of Ramada's operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa,
told guests at the reception: "Dover is a very important location to
Ramada.
"The port links continental Europe with the UK and, of course,
Dover's white cliffs are
known worldwide.
"This is a magnificent hotel, and we at Ramada are very excited by it."
At the ceremony, Mrs Ahusa RajameIion and Mrs Nanthini Rajaseelan - the
two wives of the hotel's owners - presented bouquets to Mr Howard's wife
Sandra and Sandwich Mayoress Sandra Scott.
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