Travel

Mt Lavinia Hotel to be refurbished

by Surekha GALAGODA

The Mount Lavinia Hotel with a 200-year rich history and tradition has launched an ambitious refurbishment program and it is scheduled to be completed by mid 2009, said the newly appointed General Manager Anura Dewapura.

The hotel will refurbish the rooms and the restaurants. Two bars will be refurbished and new concepts introduced. He said that they have planned to do the refurbishment floor by floor causing the minimum disturbance to the guests. “My goals are to work on improving standards and develop human resources as this is an investment for the future.”

He said that according to analysts the recession has affected the hospitality industry as well in the USA and according to forecasts there will be a drop of 7.8% in revenue per arrival room from next year. It further says that there is no relief until the second quarter of 2010.

He said that as usual the country is very resilient as we have faced many problems but we have to be vigilant and make the right decisions to maintain the standard and quality so that we can sail through the difficult situation.

He said that the hotel will not trim down in areas where it will affect their valued customers or the staff. Instead wherever possible the hotel will use technology to be effective and efficient and be productive.

In the hospitality industry, there is a lot of undercutting but this is a time to work as a destination to promote the industry. He said that policy-makers should have a mechanism to standardise the rates so that any customer could check it out.

Today’s customers are selective and the most recent trend in the leisure industry are niche markets such as scuba diving, cycling. Our country has all this and much more.

The unprecedented and genuine spirit of hospitality is one of the core values of our country, but we got to maintain the standards, improve the product and market it to the world by using technology to our advantage.

We have to maintain standards and deliver a good product and service to earn better revenue.

The hotel has a talented workforce and a good team of managers who are always willing to do their best for the hotel. Dewapura has more than 28 years’ experience in the hospitality industry having worked in 13 countries including USA, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean and Asia”. He returned to Sri Lanka after 29 years to assume duties as the General Manager of the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

The Mount Lavinia Hotel will celebrate the season with dinners, lunches and dances.

Aitken Spence launches Heritance Madurai in India

Heritance Hotels and Resorts will launch its first hotel in India this month with Heritance Madurai. Aitken Spence Hotels has been awarded the management rights to the five-star deluxe resort in the heart of the temple city of Madurai.

CEO Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (South India) Lakshman Ekanayake said, “We are very happy to be associated with ETL Hospitality Services Ltd in this venture and look forward to strengthening our presence in India with the opening of our first Heritance property”.

The former Madurai Club which had its origins during the times of the British Raj had its club house designed by the eminent architect Geoffrey Bawa has now been completely restored in keeping with the traditional architecture of this heritage city.

The club building is entirely of granite and the roof structure is of timber beams and posts while the ceiling is lined with hand-woven cotton.

The eighteenth century columns and antique doors from the Chettinad district have been used in the internal rooms, giving the club a distinctive character.

Heritance Madurai is a “resort in the city” built on 17 acres of lush green gardens, landscaped to make the visitors forget their presence in the heart of this bustling metropolis. “The hotel will cater to the ardent pilgrims and the demanding corporate clientele who visit Madurai to take part in the numerous temple festivals and the many events that the city plays host to.

We envision Heritance Madurai to be one of the most sought after hotels in South India”, said General Manager, Heritance Madurai Srinith de Silva.

With the opening of Heritance Madurai, which will comprise 81 rooms including 35 villas, the discerning traveller will be able to bask in the comfort of a luxury hotel designed to exceptional standards.

The swimming pool which has been designed to replicate a temple tank was inspired by the temple tank of the Thirumaya Temple and is a masterpiece creation which will be one of the key attractions within the hotel.

Chaaya Island Dhonveli receives Gold Choice award

Chaaya Island Dhonveli was awarded the Gold Choice 2008 award for the best winter 3 star accommodation by First Choice, a part of the TUI Travel PLC Group of companies, one of UK’s leading leisure travel company.

Launched in January 2008, Chaaya Island Dhonveli in the Maldives is the beacon for surfers who come from far and wide seeking the pounding surf at Pasta Point and boasts of 136 villas and bungalows apart from 24 colourful over water suites fully re-furbished to international standards.

John Keells Maldivian Resorts have four resorts in the Maldives and seven hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka.

Presidential awards for Travel and Tourism

Presidential awards for Travel and Tourism will be presented for the second consecutive year on January 26 at the BMICH.

This event is a singular tribute to those who have excelled in the development of tourism in Sri Lanka.

These prestigious awards are renowned as the highest accolade for individuals and organisations whose outstanding contributions play a significant role in the success of the country’s tourism industry. According to the committee of inaugural Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism, is aimed “to recognise and reward excellence among stakeholders of the past and present.

It also aims to encourage and ensure an even greater contribution from its stakeholders in the future, to ensure the sustainable development of the Tourism Industry.’’