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| Sunday, 13 July 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Travel & Tourism Browns Beach : the vintage hotel in 'Little Rome' by BEVERLEY JANSZ
One of the flagship hotels in Negombo, Browns Beach Hotel opened its doors in 1970 and became the most sought after hotel in Sri Lanka's West Coast, specially among beach-loving tourists. Originally owned by Brown & Co. Ltd. Brown Beach Hotel has turned a new lease of life after it became an Aitken Spence Hotel. Blessed with one of the best and widest beach fronts found in any hotel in Sri Lanka on an year round basis, Brown Beach has 140 air conditioned guest rooms, including 10 luxury villas five suites and one Penthouse which are all beach front guest rooms. Guest rooms are equipped with all modern facilities for the discerning traveller. All guest rooms are built with a balcony overlooking the golden beaches of Negombo, offering guests a panoramic view of the golden run rise and sun set. Although a holiday resort, the hotel caters to business and transit guests due to its close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport. A host of tour operators from all continents patronise the hotel due to its homely atmosphere and beautiful beach front.
The large 'Jasmine' conference hall and the 'Orchid' banquet hall cater to large scale conferences, seminars, workshops, banquets and weddings. The large swimming pool at Browns Beach Hotel resembles a mini Olympic pool. The hotel has two restaurants 'Orchid' and 'Carnation' offering guests set menus, buffets and an A'la carte menus with a variation of mouth watering sea food delights from the Negombo lagoon which is popular for its Lobsters, Crab, prawns and cuttle fish. Negombo's popular night club at Brown Beach 'Sun Set' where many leading bands perform during week-ends, is still alive. The 24-hour room service and Araliya Coffee Shop offer guests delicious food and other facilities. Theme Nights, 'Lobster Night', Pawn Fiesta, 'Bon Fire Night' BBQ and Sri Lankan nights are extremely popular not among foreign guests but Sri Lankans alike, but the big hit is the Sunday buffet lunch which offer a wide selection of both Western and Sri lankan cuisine. For those who seek unlimited alcoholic beverages and food, Browns Beach offer an 'All Inclusive' package. Sports activities include flood lit tennis, squash, table tennis, beach volley ball, swimming, water polo and indoor games, Kiddies are not forgotten at the hotel. It offers a kiddies corner and kids' pool.
The hotel also offers its guests safaris to the Negombo bazaar, boat riding in the age old Dutch canal in Negombo, visits to the famous 'Lellama' fish market Catamaranas etc. When I visited Brown Beach Hotel last week, it was very evident that after 33 years of its existence, 'Excellence is still alive' at this resort in Negombo with trained and experienced staff where hospitality is a priority and all guests, be them foreign or Sri Lanka are treated as VIPs during their at the hotel. The versatile GM, Felix Rodrigo is a man of a rare blend of management expertise in Finance and Travel with 23 years of hoteliering background. Browns Beach Hotel is an Aitken Spence hotel. ******************* 5-Star Explosion by CHSGA a smashing success by Beverley Jansz
The '5-star Explosion' presented by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association (CHSGA) at the BMICH last week was a big success, with the participation of five of Sri Lanka's topmost stars who got together to dish out a sensational presentation of music. The CHSGA which has ninety per cent of Sri Lanka's hotel professionals in its membership, organised '5-star Explosion' as a fund raiser for its professional development programs. As the Alumni Association of the then Ceylon Hotel School and currently of Sri Lanka Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management,under the patronage of the Ministry of Tourism, it has closely worked with the tourism industry and has grown to be a key player in this sector. The BMICH was packed to capacity at the '5-star Explosion' last week. A number of VIPs including, Chairman, Ceylon Hotel Corporation, Bodhisiri Ranasinghe and a host of leading personalities in Sri Lanka's Tourism Industry participated. '5-star Explosion' was compered by Dr . Vijaya Corea. Elephant Cream Soda was the principal sponsors of the event. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation joined hands as the print media and electronic media sponsors, respectively. Other sponsors were East-West Foods (Pvt) Limited. Weehena Farms, Nihal Traders and Three Coins Beer Company. |
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