business travel

UK travel agents get aerial view of coastal belt

Sixteen Kuoni agents from the United Kingdom were flown by Deccan Aviation Lanka for an aerial view of the coastal belt of Sri Lanka. “Deccan Aviation is committed to investing in promoting tourism in Sri Lanka and by showcasing the beauty of the country as seen from a helicopter is part of our contribution so that the agents can better inform their clients on the wonders of the destination”, a favourite group spokesman on behalf of Deccan said. Kuoni agents were welcomed by the Deccan staff at the beach of the Heritance Ahungalla and a familiarisation tour was conducted aboard the helicopter on several scenic flights for the visiting agents.

During the flights, the agents were given a bird’s eye view of the coastal belt, the temples, coconut plantations, mountains and Adam’s Peak.

John Topham of Kuoni, East Grinstead said they had an excellent experience.

The opportunity to see Sri Lanka, its coast and inland from such an advantageous point was exciting.

Deccan Aviation Lanka, the only helicopter operator permitted by the government represents a niche market and is a key provider of transport solutions to most of the upmarket properties in Sri Lanka including Aman Resorts and other luxury brands in the country.

“Our unique ability to transfer guests directly to the beach or grounds of their hotel from the international airport makes our services essential to attract high spending tourists who are impatient to spend hours on the road.

This applies to corporate travellers who can visit their project sites with ease through limos in the sky”

Kuoni Travel Ltd., a leading travel agent employs over 7,500 people in 300 offices around the world. Kuoni is represented by Whittall Boustead (Travel) Limited in Sri Lanka, which is a part of John Keells Holdings.

Deccan Lanka positions itself as a niche market product offering air transport services which give travellers a limousine in the sky experience. LF

Brazilian Food Promotion at Cinnamon Grand

A taste of exotic Brazil comes to the Cinnamon Grand with a Brazilian food promotion at the Cinnomon Grand from October 19-24, from 7-11 p.m. daily.

A team of leading Brazilian chefs and musicians, especially flown in - courtesy of the Brazilian Embassy in Colombo in conjunction with the Government of Brazil will do the honours.

There will be over 40 Brazilian dishes and the best of Brazilian jazz. According to Brazilian Master Chef Mara Cristina dos Santos Alcamin, the cuisine of Brazil, like Brazil itself, varies greatly by region.

Combing the comida do sertao of the northern interior with the comida mineira, of neighbouring state Minas Gerais, has created a national cooking style marked by the preservation of regional differences.

The hallmarks of this national cooking style feature flavours heavy with indigenous influences. The Brazilian promotion’s menu reflects this eclectic potpourri of regional cooking styles with its assorted dishes, she said.

Master Chef Mara, whose compulsive love for Brazilian cooking and inexhaustible creativity have earned her the nickname of “The Inventive Chef” along with Chef of the Year Awards in Brazil in 2007 and 2008, will be accompanied by a team of talented chefs: Fernando Henrique Vieira Lacerda, Orair Jose Pinto and Rodrigo de Almeida Cintra.

The Chefs have put together an elaborate menu for the promotion with chicken, seafood and meat dishes along with a range of typical Brazilian dessert options.

‘Develop skills of those in tourism industry’

The skills of those in the travel and tourism industry should be developed to meet the challenges of tourism development in Sri Lanka, said Course Co-ordinator, Diploma in Travel and Tourism Economics and Hotel Management (DTTEHM), Department of Economics, University of Colombo, Dr. Suranga Silva.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the ‘DTTEHM - 2008’ at the Colombo University.

He said the program will help students to gain analytical and managerial experiences needed for travel and tourism organisations and operate in challenging environments.

The course targets those who are already in the industry and those who aspire to enter the travel and tourism sector.It provides an opportunity for students to study in a recognised university.

The diploma provides opportunities to integrate knowledge and skills with hands on experience on various sectors of the industry. It provides competence in socio-economic, ecological, marketing, managerial, accounting and legal aspects of the tourism industry.

“The DTTEHM is a unique program as it offers students the opportunity to study in an environment that has a wide range of studies and specialise in a field”, Dr.Silva said.

The Department of Economics is one of the oldest departments in the Faculty of Arts with over 700 undergraduates including students who offer economics as one of the three subjects in a General Arts degree and those who do a special Arts degree in economics.

LF

SriLankan and Etihad in new codeshare partnership

SriLankan Airlines and Etihad Airways have joined hands in a historic partnership between the National Carriers of Sri Lanka and the UAE, which will significantly enhance the route networks of both airlines.

From October 1, SriLankan began codesharing on Etihad flights to Amman, Geneva, Dublin, Munich, Brussels and Manchester.

Etihad will do the same on SriLankan’s flights to Male in the Maldives.

The initial partnership between the two award-winning airlines commenced in September 2007 when Etihad began codesharing on SriLankan’s flights between Abu Dhabi and Colombo.