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| Sunday, 12 March 2006 |
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Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Facelift for Taj Samudra Colombo by Elmo Leonard
Taj Samudra Colombo is in the process of renovating and upgrading 120 rooms using $7.5 million of which $1 million has already been spent. In the next financial year, to end March 2007 $4.5 million will be spent, to renovate a further 60 rooms, the food and beverage areas, fitness centre, swimming pool and spa, Taj's area director for Sri Lanka and general manager, Vee Vijay Singh said. To complement the renovated hotel, the quality of services is also being improved, based on the TATA Business Excellence Mode, followed in India. Twenty of the local Taj Hotel staff will be sent to India and Taj Hotels outside India, to bring back the best practices and benchmark, Singh said.
Taj, which marked its presence in Colombo, since 1983, has the Taj Airport garden near the Katunayake International airport and another in Beruwela. Taj, with over 100 years in existence, and claimed the leading hotelier in Asia, counts 75 properties around the world. The Taj chain includes the hotel in Mumbai, one of the best beach resorts in the Maldives, in Mauritius, Seychelles, Lankawi in Malaysia and in Sri Lanka. Taj, recently took over Pierre Hotel in New York, one of the leading hotels in New York city, which was earlier managed by Four Seasons Group, a leading luxury hotel management company. Taj, also recently took over Blue Hotel, in Sydney, which was called W Hotel, earlier. Taj also has a good presence in the Middle East, Africa, and London. Taj has plans to open hotels in China, Indonesia, Dubai and France besides, Singh said. Jetwing Hotels to set up luxury eco lifestyle project Vil Uyana, a project of Jetwing Hotels within 5Km of Sigiriya is the creation of a truly 'Lifestyle Hotel'. Vil Uyana which is within view of the Sigiriya rock, on the flatlands that stretch to the West, integrates into an ancient plan-a plan to irrigate, in the tradition of the Sinhala kings. The total investment for the project will be Rs. 350 million.
The introduction of a wetland on abandoned agricultural lands within the Dry Zone, provides the unique backdrop for this exciting new property. The design of the buildings is inspired from local and rural traditions. A private nature reserve provides a haven for wildlife and a setting of peace and tranquillity. The hotel is the first in the world to construct a wetland system with lakes and reed beds to form a private nature reserve. This has allowed for the first time in Sri Lanka for rooms to be built over water Jala Mandapa (Water pavilions), Vel Mandapa (Marsh pavilions). Centered around water bodies are parklands and woodlands, designed for leisure; an extension of the ancient practice of planning gardens for pleasure. A challenge has been overcome, for the conversion of Dry Zone chena lands formed by slash and burn agriculture, to a seasonal wetland (land that is inundated by water for part of the year). The colonisation of the new habitats by local fauna and flora has been accelerated by the planting of reed beds and groves of trees. Five acres of land were used to re-grow paddy using traditional methods of farming and harvesting, providing a new and exciting feature. Rooms have been placed within the paddy fields, thereby giving the guest a unique opportunity of participating in the farming and harvesting if they wished. The regeneration of the forested groves create a feeling of ultimate privacy and seclusion in the Vana Aavasa (Forest dwellings), the largest of the rooms. The tastefully designed rooms boast space as its hallmark of luxury. Dine in the privacy of your room or 'under the stars' or simply relax and pamper yourself at the Island Spa with a range of treatments to choose from. The many components of the ecosystem will be subject to continuous monitoring. The hotel is unique in building a research facility from inception. Comfortable accommodation will be provided to researchers locally and internationally, overcoming one of the key logistic hurdles to field work. The research centre will be a participant in the metamorphosis of tourism as a champion of conservation. The environmental awareness will be an important aspect of a new ethos. As part of Jetwing's responsibility towards local communities an English teaching program is being held in two Buddhist temples near Vil Uyana, namely, Rotawewa and Kimbissa. Unemployed youth now attend these classes where they are trained to read, write and speak English. Halfway through their six- month training program they will receive hotel craft training in a field selected from Hotel Housekeeping, Reception, Restaurant and Bar and Cookery. The objective of this initiative is to make them gainfully employable. Some of them will have the opportunity to join Jetwing while others can look for employment in other companies locally or even overseas. The target market for the hotel includes dream vacation escapists, wildlife enthusiasts and cultural travellers seeking the very best in accommodation. This prestigious property is scheduled for opening in Autumn 2006. Air Arabia offers Ski package Air Arabia LLC, the first international low-fares airline in Sri Lanka, has launched a unique Ski Holiday for those who like offbeat holidays and are looking for a new experience. "As the first low-fares airline in the region we offer our customers the opportunity to go on holiday more often with their families. This offer is ideal for frequent holiday makers who have been to the Far East and other routine holiday destinations and are looking for new and exciting destinations, coupled with novel shopping experiences" said Air Arabia's Country Head, Mayank Dhingra. Air Arabia now offers you the opportunity to test your skills on the world's first indoor black run or practise turns on the gentle beginner slopes. "Skiers and snowboarders at all levels will enjoy these various slopes and snowboarders can also practise stunts on the 90-metre long quarter pipe. Children and parents can enjoy the huge interactive Snow Park, which at 3000 square meters is the largest indoor snow park in the world". |
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