Travel / Lifestyle

Aitken spreads tourism wing to India

Aitken Spence Hotels, the first Sri Lankan company to venture into the Maldives in 1993 recently with an investment of over US$ 40 million to upgrade and brand their properties locally has now ventured into India to broadbase the tourism portfolio. Today the company owns and operates four resorts in the Maldives.

Managing Director Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd., Malin Hapugoda said that these are many initiatives in the pipeline while the following have been finalised and are at different stages of implementation.

New Delhi - Signed a management agreement for Aitken Spence Hotel Managements to manage a 5 star medium size hotel with extensive banquet/meeting facilities, which could cater to 1,500 to 2,000 at any given time.

The rooms are to be increased to 150 in year two. The hotel is under construction and scheduled to go into operation in December this year.

A second similar hotel under construction will also be managed by Aitken Spence Hotel Managements on completion. It is scheduled to be completed by October/November next year.

Kerala - Have entered into a joint venture with an Indian company and have finalised the purchase of a 15-acre land on an island in the backwaters of Kerala, overlooking a vast span of water and plans are being finalised to construct a unique 50-room luxury resort with floating villas and spa.

This would be the first 'Heritance' brand hotel in India and would be managed by Aitken Spence Hotel Managements.

Madurai - Have finalised an agreement to manage a unique garden resort in Madurai with 80 rooms. Plans are also being finalised to renovate/refurbish the complex without distorting the ambience of the existing resort.

The theme would be a garden resort of 80 spacious luxury rooms, in clusters, spread out on an extensively landscaped garden with banquet/meeting facilities and excellent guest facilities. Madurai is on the cultural route of Tamil Nadu.

The resort is scheduled to go into operation in mid 2007.

Two other projects in India are under negotiation and would be finalised in the near future.

SriLankan Holidays takes top 12 Agents to China

SriLankan Holidays took its top twelve agents to Beijing in China, on a five-day tour of the great city.

The representatives from leading local and international travel agencies visited the Tiananmen Square which was the venue of some of China's famous historic events, Great Wall of China and the grand palaces of Chinese Emperors including the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.

The tour group also savoured a variety of Chinese cuisine at a variety of restaurants in Beijing. Each day ended with a shopping spree in Beijing's small districts that host a range of international designer brands.

"The tour is an ongoing initiative to give our partner travel agents a first hand experience about the destinations they sell on our behalf," SriLankan Holidays General Manager Amith Sumanapala said.

"The first hand knowledge of a destination allows our partner agents to give potential holiday makers a realistic account of destinations they sell. We will continue to invest in educating our agent partners," Sumanapala said.

China has long been a popular holiday destination, with its vast territories to explore and its imperial history.

Sri Lanka and China also share over 50 years of friendly relations, highlighted by the numerous goodwill gestures extended by the Chinese government.

Emirates packages to Singapore

Attractive packages combining air fares and accommodation have been unveiled by Emirates, the award-winning Dubai-based international airline, to promote travel from Colombo to Singapore.

Effective immediately, travellers with Emirates can spend three to four days in the Lion City with accommodation in star-class hotels on a twin sharing basis. The packages include an Economy class return air ticket, taxes and fuel surcharges.

Accommodation in superior or deluxe double rooms at the popular Royal Peacock Hotel or the Garden Hotel includes breakfast, room taxes and service charges. These packages are valid for travel exclusively on Emirates.

Emirates Sales Manager Colombo Devika Ellepola said: "These packages provide great value for money, and provide an affordable opportunity for many to experience Emirates' service on a business, shopping or leisure visit to Singapore."