Colombo's Hoteliering Heritage: Galle Face Hotel

by Beverley Jansz

Competing steadfastly with the much newer 5 star properties that sprung up in the late 70's as Colombo's pride in hoteliering - the Galle Face Hotel stands out as if it was an epitome of Sri Lankan hospitality, since 1864 - when it was first purpose built as a luxury hotel.

This masterpiece with its Victorian architecture and luxuries of yester year still boasts of facilities such as the oldest and largest salt water swimming pool and the vast luxury suites etc. Also among the preserved artifacts, which range from old Burmese Screens to the car that was used by Britton's Prince Phillip, when he was in Ceylon in 1946.

Over the years many celebrities ranging from personalities such as Empress Eugenie of France in 1910, Bo-Derek of Tarzan fame to the Thai Royalty early this year (2006), have been the guests of this land mark property of South East Asia.

150 years since the opening, a major refurbishment has been done to 50% of the hotels capacity and the refurbished section is appropriately called "The Regency". In this section is also the new shopping arcade and a luxury dining facility, named after the year the hotel was built - 1864. A unique feature of the 1864 which is the talk of the town already for gourmet delights, is even a wine cellar.

Presently owned and operated by the Gardiner Group of companies where the Gardiner family's ownership began in 1905. This is the basis of the vision of the present Chairman, Sanjeev Gardiner to continue in the truly colonial traditional way this hotel has inherited, but with all modern amenities and services that are now provided in this top exclusive and preserved hotel comparable to any of its kind around the world.

The Gardiner Group now has under its umbrella another two Land Mark Hotels of similar vintage, The Queens and Suisse in Kandy and with the recent purchase of major shares of Ceylon Hotels Corporation, the Gardiner Group has a net work of smaller units which are also of Colonial origin. It is the intention of the group to develop all these with a revival of the once Colonial past and its once admired service in hospitality.

Domestic Travel

Sanjeev Gardiner is determine to make this revival of the Gardiner Group Leisure Division an all round success, with a unique concept of developing tourism to an unprecedented scale. His vision also includes the elevation of his landmark, Galle Face Hotel, the Queens, Suisse and the Lihiniya Surf Hotels, for the international market and without excluding their contribution to the domestic tourism plan.

The Domestic Tourism sector expansion envisage holiday destinations with clear affordable courteous prices for the domestic travellers of different walks of life, an aspect of tourism so far being relatively neglected.

To achieve his objects, he intends attracting Sri Lanka's most dynamic professionals. The Leisure Division of the Gardiner Group is presently headed by dynamic hotelier, Chandra Mohotti in his recently appointed capacity of the Leisure Division of the Gardiner Group. Upgrading and enhance training to all the predominantly Sri Lankan staff is now well under way and the travellers patronizing the Gardiner Group are assured of good facilities for vacations.

The Galle Face Hotel now specialises in very personalised services concentrating on a high profile guest relations program to pamper its guests in keeping with the services of other exclusive properties around the world. However, the competitive prices offered are a great attraction, Mohotti said.