Travel / Lifestyle

Cinnamon Lodge Habarana unveiled

Cinnamon Lodge, the first resort property of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, the John Keells Group's premiere hospitality brand, was unveiled recently, a spokesman for the hotel said.

He said the re-launch saw a US$ 2.5 million refurbishment and service upgrade to the former Habarana Lodge, which was started in 1978 as a 150-bedroom hotel project during the office of the then Chairman of John Keells, the late Mark Bostock.

This is the second hotel in the Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts chain, which was re-branded with a new look and feel in keeping with the Cinnamon promise of affordable indulgence for all ages, and is expected to add a new dimension to the country's resorts hospitality option.

The chain envisages 20 hotels across South Asia and the Gulf within its portfolio, over the next seven years. The first hotel in the chain, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, a city hotel, was unveiled in November 2005.

Nestled in the heart of the Cultural Triangle 180 kilometres from Colombo, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana is a time halting destination for discerning travellers seeking the pleasures of affordable indulgence.Set on a 28-acre site, Cinnamon Lodge guarantees legendary Sri Lankan hospitality through an offering of luxury, comfort and discovery.

The property boasts of 68 superior rooms, 40 deluxe rooms complete with elegant timber floors and stylish four fixture bathrooms. Spa treatments in rooms and butler service is also available on request.

The four newly created suites - Ebony, Ivy, Cedar and Satin - offers a Master bedroom a nanny cum children's room, an exquisite lounge and special dining area with breathtaking views of the lake, garden and the lawns. Butler service and in-villa spa treatment add that extra touch of pampering for those who prefer to unwind in luxury.

Cinnamon Lodge also offers a wide array of dining options with the hotel geared to indulge a guest's every request through a choice of restaurants and services, in keeping with the brand promise of indulgence...Whatever you want, whenever you want it."

The options range from fun barbeques in the jungle, gourmet dinners on the islands to a healthy sunrise breakfast on the lake shore, whatever the preference guests can choose how they indulge.

This is in addition to the hotel's three restaurants and two bars which add more enticing options to unwind.

The Ahala which is an open air traditionally designed restaurant is surrounded by frangipane trees overlooking the garden on one side and the swimming pool on the other. It offers an exquisite array of dishes which includes a sumptuous international a la carte menu, and an option of themed dining pavilions.

There is also a roof top restaurant serving an international a la carte menu. Modern decor, a great selection of cuisine and stunning views complements the food of tranquil dining at its best.

The hotel offers a range of excursion for cultural and history buffs as well as healthy ways of unwinding in harmony, merging new age luxury with the ancient therapeutic wisdom of the region at the hotel's ayurvedic spa, offering rejuvenation to the mind and body.

'World Avenues' now in Lanka

"World Avenues" in Sri Lanka is a fully integrated branch of World Avenues in Geneva with branch offices in London, Budapest, Kuala Lumpur and Egypt.

This organisation's newest venture in Sri Lanka is headed by Muaiyyed Idroos, Executive Director, and is seen as an extremely positive gesture, which denotes the company's confidence in Sri Lanka as a generating market.

The organisation operates as a modern Destination Management Company specialising in overseas hotel and tour bookings offering competitive wholesale rates to travel agents.

"In addition to making hotel and tour bookings worldwide, we also offer special rates for hotels in Europe and the United States of America," said Idroos. "World Avenues plans to offer their Online booking system to travel agents in the very near future."

Idroos said that "World Avenues" was set up in 1995 in the UK and since its first years of operation has been a leader in all levels of its activity.

"Our success demonstrates that the concept of service excellence creates an environment in which great things may be accomplished," he said.

"We believe that quality is never an accident. It is always the result of high intentions, sincere efforts, clear direction, skilful execution and above all our success is largely due to our multilingual, experienced, highly motivated and qualified personnel," he said.

Emphasizing that since it was established, many suppliers and partners throughout the travel industry have recognised "World Avenues" solid financial stability and impeccable conduct and ethics in the industry, Idroos said, "The Management is focused on creating global partnerships with those who share our ambition of maintaining a solid reputation of unsurpassed excellence for services and market adaptability.

SLNSS, TU and employees bid farewell to Sunil

The Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) Trade Union and Employees bade farewell to Sunil Dissanayake, Head of Human Resources, SriLankan Airlines who left the company to take up a post in the senior management of a multinational Company this month.

Several farewell ceremonies were held in Colombo and Katunayake, where members of the staff gathered to wish him well, after his seven-year stint with the national carrier.

The airline's main employee union, Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, was one of the organisations that felicitated Dissanayake, which perhaps is the first occasion in the history of the national carrier where an executive has been felicitated by a Trade Union.

"Dissanayake has contributed yeomen service to the company and to all employees. During his tenure, he continuously encouraged close relations between the unions and the management of the company, which resulted in benefits to both the airline and all its employees," said J.H.S. Palihawadana, General Secretary of the SLNSS SriLankan Airlines Branch.

The staff of the HR Division also bade goodbye at a luncheon at the International Aviation Academy, which was attended by the Chief Executive Officer.

"We all wish Sunil the very best in his career. He worked very hard over the years to bring about change in the company. We'll miss you Sunil. You've led the way effectively", said CEO Peter Hill.

Dr. Anomi Jayasinghe, the Company Medical Officer, said: "The company has come a long way in terms of HR practices, and become a benchmark in Sri Lanka. It is all thanks to Sunil that this change has taken place."