Sri Lanka: An integrated resort experience takes root in Colombo with Nuwa, at City of Dreams

When City of Dreams Sri Lanka opened its doors on 2 August 2025, it added South Asia’s first integrated resort to Colombo’s growing skyline. The project has a model that combines ultra-luxury accommodation, large-scale gaming, curated dining, shopping, and entertainment under one roof.

For Colombo, still recovering and repositioning itself after the economic shocks of recent years, the launch has drawn regional attention and redefined what the city can offer to both high-spending tourists and domestic visitors.

The main part of the resort is Nuwa at City of Dreams, a 113-key property managed by Melco Resorts & Entertainment, the global group best known for its holdings in Macau, Manila, and Cyprus.

Nuwa sits alongside Cinnamon Life, which accounts for 687 rooms, bringing the total capacity of the resort to around 800 keys. Together, the partnership between John Keells Holdings and Melco represents one of the most notable joint ventures in Sri Lanka’s hospitality and leisure space.

“Nuwa is an ultra-luxury concept, and it’s the first in Sri Lanka as well,” explained Warren Hakel, Front Office Manager at the property. “It was inspired by a Chinese goddess, and the vision is about personalized attention and curated details at every stage of a guest’s journey.”

113 rooms with uninterrupted Colombo view

Nuwa’s scale may be smaller than Cinnamon Life's, but the distinction is deliberate. Out of its 113 rooms, 93 are deluxe categories, all offering uninterrupted views of Colombo. Guests can choose between cityscape rooms overlooking Lotus Tower and Beira Lake, or ocean-facing rooms with vistas of the Indian Ocean and Port City.

The remaining 20 keys are dedicated to suites. These range from one executive suite and 15 premium suites to three presidential suites and the showpiece Dragon Suite, the highest category, named for Melco’s top loyalty tier. Space, design, and service separate these rooms from typical Colombo luxury offerings.

“At the Presidential Suite, one of the unique features is that it comes with a designated butler,” Hakel said. “From the time the guest lands at the airport until they leave, the butler is serving them throughout their stay.”

Warren Hakel, Front Office Manager

Suites also offer curated touches like in-room kitchens for bespoke dining, private wine cellars, and digitally operated bathrooms with customizable temperature and pressure settings.

Even standard rooms highlight exclusivity through details: Walter’s Bay Sri Lankan teas in flavors such as tamarind and lavender, a “maxi bar” where the first round of drinks and snacks is complimentary, and Italian La Bottega bathrobes. As Hakel put it: “We ensure that from the time the guest steps into City of Dreams, into Nuwa, that they are well looked after.”

Dining and lounges

Crystal Lounge serves as the main all-day dining restaurant, offering a daily breakfast buffet and à la carte menus at lunch and dinner. On select evenings, live musicians, a violinist, a flutist, or a cellist add atmosphere to the dining experience.

The most interesting concept is The Vault, which Hakel described as “the first premium whiskey and exclusive cigar lounge in Sri Lanka.” With just 22 seats divided into three zones, a main area, a smoking room, and a section for humidors, The Vault positions itself as a destination for connoisseurs. It opens daily from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and is accessible to both in-house and external guests.

Nuwa’s pool bar, running from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., is reserved for hotel guests. Yet in terms of dining breadth, Nuwa leans on its proximity to Cinnamon Life. The integrated resort’s 12 specialty restaurants span Chinese, Japanese, and steak concepts, as well as a wine bar called Cloud Wine.

“Our guests at Nuwa can patronize the features and facilities at Cinnamon Life as well,” Hakel said. “That way we don’t overcrowd Nuwa with outlets, but guests still have a wide array of options.”

Integrated resort model

The decision to design City of Dreams as an integrated resort reflects Melco’s experience in markets like Macau and Manila. For guests, it means every element of travel, from dining and shopping to entertainment and gaming, is contained within a single precinct.

“A guest who is coming into City of Dreams does not have to step out to have an experience of a lifetime,” Hakel noted. “You have the entertainment, the specialty restaurants, the spa, the gym, even a kids’ club. If you’re coming with a family, parents can leave their kids at the club and explore the facilities.”

In Hakel’s view, the city was ready for a project of this scale. “Colombo is a hub when it comes to tourism,” he said. “Especially after the economic crisis, the way Sri Lanka has bounced back has been rapid. Growth has been continuous, and having an integrated resort within the city gives guests something very different.”

Gaming at the core

Currently located on Level 6, the casino includes 119 gaming tables and 250 slot machines, with popular titles like poker, blackjack, and Dream Blackjack. Food and drink flow directly into the gaming experience through Spice 8, which offers both seated dining and table service.

The casino is only in its first phase. Levels 7 and 8 are earmarked for expansion, which will consolidate it as Sri Lanka’s largest gaming space. “It is state-of-the-art, and guests really do enjoy the experience,” Hakel said. In practice, the casino also feeds directly into occupancy, since many patrons book rooms as part of their gaming itineraries.

Inside the casino

Shopping and entertainment

Retail is another dimension of the integrated model. The City of Dreams shopping mall opened in August with 13 outlets and is expected to expand in phases, eventually becoming one of the largest malls in Sri Lanka. A Scope Cinema and food court are among the planned additions.

Hakel stated: “During our grand opening, we did a soft opening for the shopping mall. Phase two and three will be coming up, and it will be one of the largest shopping malls in Sri Lanka.”

Culture and local inflections

While Nuwa imports a global luxury template from Melco, the project also incorporates local touchpoints. One visible example is art. “At City of Dreams, the art that you see is all done by local artists,” Hakel says.

“Each piece has a different story, and we want to give exposure to Sri Lankan talent.” From reception to The Vault, artwork doubles as both a design element and a cultural showcase.

Cuisine also offers nods to local and South Asian tastes, with Sri Lankan dishes featured at buffets and regional cuisine available through Cinnamon Life’s restaurants. The layering of global and local is intentional, designed to make the property resonate with both international patrons and domestic guests seeking aspirational experiences.

Early performance

Occupancy patterns in the first month suggest steady traction. “Weekends have been very strong, between 70 to 80 percent, while weekdays range between 45 and 55 percent,” Hakel reported. “For a pre-opening hotel, it has been doing very well.” Promotions, casino events, and star guest appearances have supported the ramp-up.

Inside the casino

The clientele is diverse. While gamers remain central, Hakel noted that families are also checking in, encouraged by the resort’s scale and variety. Online travel agencies have contributed to additional demand, widening the guest mix. Reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor have so far been positive, suggesting that service delivery is matching the promise of the physical product.

The future

With phases two and three of both the casino and shopping mall on the horizon, the integrated resort will expand further in the coming years. For Hakel, the measure of success is how well service standards keep pace with the luxury positioning. “The service standards have to match that, or even eclipse that, in order to maintain the brand and the product.”