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| Sunday, 8 September 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Club Palm Bay and Sigiriya Village under one group by Chitra Weerasinghe Two important and remunerative properties - Marawila's Club Palm Bay and Sigiriya Village which hitherto operated individually though handled by the same leisure group of hotels - the York Hotel Management Services Ltd., will now come directly under this group. Both Club Palm Bay and Sigiriya Village have been in existence for six years; had established themselves as prime properties; but had not done well for the tourism sector nor for the investors who pumped in a massive Rs 1 billion, said Channa Gunasinghe, Managing Director, York Hotel Management Services Ltd. Attributing the reason to "certain unforseen events of the past" he said it was high time they did something to restore these properties as tourist attractions and since peace was in the offing his company proposed to invest heavily in the tourism industry. "Though money is scarce, we are trying to spend heavily in the tourism sector particularly as this is one industry where Sri Lanka could benefit since it has more to offer by way of culture and nature than most of our neighbouring countries. The investments on these two properties would enable them to market Sigiriya Village as an eco friendly hotel and Club Palm Bay as a first class beach hotel. Amaranath Mahawaduge, Director Operations Sales & Marketing said he expects to go all out to ensure that those who come to Club Palm Bay would extend their stay from one night to a much longer one and that in Sigiriya to at least two nights. According to him although they had ensured certain facilities to make the tourists comfortable, they had done nothing to "pep up the tourism industry". Club Palm Bay was the first purpose built all inclusive hotel in this country. That being so a guest was entitled to an all 'inclusive package' which covers not only food and drink but sports and recreation facilities. This property comprises a 9-hole course, two flood-lit tennis courts, a gym and an assortment of other facilities which make it a convenient place for the guest who was not keen on scouting around for such facilities. With the advent of peace there will be more tourists and a resurgence of this market in Sri Lanka, said Mahawaduge. Nimal Sangakkara, General Manager, Sigiriya Village talked of the hotel being there for 18 years - having started operations in the 1980s and at a time when no one was thinking of nature. "Mr Channa Gunasinghe was more concerned about preserving the jungle the gas kolan, (trees) the wanduro (monkeys) and the samanalayo (butterflies) though the Tourist Board was the owner of the land. He has preserved those in the buildings for when this building was planned we never thought of it as a two, three, four or five star property - priority being given to the trees around."The rooms at Sigiriya Village, he said, were right now hidden under trees; that they collected 1000 eggs a day; that it boasts of a mini golf course, tennis courts; that the staff live in the hotel premises; are provided with food and accommodation and also that they live like a family. The new improvements to this hotel would see many changes. |
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