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| Sunday, 1 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Lighting the way to greater success The Lighthouse Hotel Ltd (LHL) the first 5-star hospitality unit of the Southern capital for the year ended March 2004 recorded a turnover of Rs 247.1 million, a 52 percent increase over that of 2002/03.
LHL's after-tax profit was a high Rs 93.3 million, from Rs 42.4 million during the previous year, chairman Herbert Cooray told shareholders at its 10th AGM held last week. A tax free- dividend of 10 percent was paid, in addition to an interim dividend of 10 percent. The current year has been one of hope and promise for the hotel industry after a prolonged negative spell of nearly 20 years, Chairman Cooray said. Tourism was the key beneficiary of a peaceful situation in the country with the year 2003 ending with over 500,00 visitors - a 27 percent growth from the previous year. Plans are now underway to set up a Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) as an independent corporate entity led by the private sector. The key function of the TPA will be to promote the image of products of Sri Lanka tourism in the overseas and domestic markets. An international public relations agency, Bateys (PR agents for Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Airlines) has been engaged to conduct a widespread PR campaign for Sri Lanka. LHL, during year 2004 enjoyed an occupancy rate of close to 80 percent, from 65 percent during the previous year. Lighthouse Hotel, opened in 1997 is embedded on a cliff overlooking the foamy waves of the Indian Ocean. It is meant as a beacon depicting two living aspirations: One of providing a view of the lighthouse of the Galle Fort, two as a lighthouse for the development of tourism into the unexplored southern sector of the island. Coming under the Jetwing umbrella, Lighthouse Hotel and Spa, boasts of being well positioned in the global market place, as a leading member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World and a member of the Great Spa Hotels of the World. In line with value additions, the hotel revised its rates favourably which resulted in healthy profits. With the current repositioning of the hotel, the strategy of the hotel is to increase the FIT business whilst taking the existing business with tour operators and travel agents to a higher yield generating position. The hotel has currently undertaken an extensive in-house capacity building initiative to achieve the Jetwing vision to become a world class brand, Chairman Cooray said. ############## Health and beauty spa in Colombo An exclusive lifestyle spa was opened in Colombo last week. The Lotus Spa at Poorvarama Mawatha, Colombo 5 offers its clientele a wide range of traditional Ayurvedic treatments, Aromatherapy, a herbal shop and a herbal salon which focus on rejuvenation and cure. A Rs. 10 million Board of Investment (BOI) project, the Lotus Spa specialises in skin care, stress relief and wellness enhancing treatments such as mud therapy, hip-bath, floral-bath, steam-bath and rejuvenation therapy.The Lotus Spa was inaugurated by the Minister of Posts and Telcommunciations D.M. Jayaratne who commended the investors from Kerala in India for their efforts in promoting longevity among Sri Lankans through Ayurvedic practices. Director of The Lotus Spa, Suresh Kumar, said: "The Lotus Spa will be an extraordinary experience that eases guests away from the commotion of daily life towards a state of serenity longed for by many who live fast-paced lives." Serendib barman shows skills Serendib Leisure hotels winning several first places in the regional competitions leading the final round of the Marie Brizard Bar Tenders competition 2004, held on Sunday 18th July at the BMICH. Talented young Barman of Hotel Sigiriya Suresh Gunaratne surprised the audience with his unique flaring skills which even included the tunes and moves of the popular Macarena. In the regional competition Suresh was placed 1st from the Cultural Triangle for his innovation of the 'Doosra' a unique cocktail dedicated to Sri Lankas spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan. The Bronze medal of the flaring competition was also won by W. Wijekoon from Club Hotel Dolphin who was also placed 2nd in the Negombo regional competition. ############## Four regional offices in China by RCI RCI will establish four main regional offices in China, its President and General Manager,(Asia,China and India) Raju Shahani said. 'Hotel Dynamics' and RCI Company is a subsidiary of the cendant corporation and recently announced the range of solutions for the hotel industry in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka with its scenic beauty and great food is a popular tourist destination. We see an increasing demand for resorts in Sri Lanka from our members and we are upbeat about the business opportunities here, Shahani said. Shahani also said that they will initially focus on netting in more resorts in Sri Lanka, which will affiliate with RCI.This will immediately open their doors to global network members. He believes that there will be an increased demand for our product given Sri Lanka's booming hospitality business, and in delighted to launch our products for the local hotel industry. Currently, RCI has one affiliated, resort in Sri Lanka at Hambantota Shahani said. He said,that the Hotel Dynamics group is a hospitality services company specializing in the design,evaluation, implementation and management of tailored marketing programs for the hospitality industry. RCI is an US-based company that specializes in the design, evaluation, implementation and management of programmes for the hospitality industry while Hotel Dynamics is an RCI company,a subsidiary of cendant corporation, a provider of travel and real estate services. Already they have over 3,700 resorts in 100 countries and over three million member families living across 200 countries. RCI is the undisputed world leader in the vacation ownership industry. ############## 'Brit' tourist arrivals up, Indians, Germans down by Anton Nonis Tourism in Sri Lanka has shown improved results within the first six months of this year compared to last year, Ceylon Tourist Board Director General S.Kalaiselvam told the `Sunday Observer'. Total arrivals from January to June had been 224,905 indicating an increase of 4.5 per cent It is revealed that tourists from Britain topped the list, registering 43,410 in numbers an increase of 20 per cent on the year 2003. However, there had been drop in the tourist arrivals from India and Germany within the January to June period compared to that of last year's. Indians recorded 38,312 arrivals which indicated a drop of 10.6 per cent. Germans arrivals were 24,118 which was 14.2 per cent lower than that of last year. Kalaiselvam said that investigations into these shortages had indicated that elections in India had been the cause for the Indian drop. Arrivals during April and May were significantly low, he said. The drop in German tourist arrivals had been due to recession. Analysts have pointed out that loss of revenue by these decreases in the influx could be substantially offset by the augmenting of British tourists. "We have predicted that the Kandy Perahera and the Asia Cup cricket matches in the country would have a prolific effect on our tourism these days," Kalaiselvam said. |
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