Travel

P.G. Martin Holdings launches Paradise A

'Paradise A', the event Management arm of P.G. Martins is the latest venture of the group. Launched last month the company has already handled corporate events as well as individual clients. P.G. Martin Holdings operates in the space of three industries, one of which is the event management under the brand name 'Paradise A'.

Harsha Nimalasiri

Paradise A an event management company seeking to infuse creativity and uniqueness in all possible dimensions of the event. Paradise A offers a wide variety of themes and packages to choose from, that perfectly blends with your aspiration and desires.

The Chairman of the company Sean Harsha Nimalasiri said that the future is promising with the dawn of peace.

We give the best service to suit the needs and budget of the customer.

The head of Brands and Marketing, Arshard Nauman, said that the company is all set with the latest entertainment packages designed to suit the corporate and individual needs.

The challenge is to infuse creativity at every level and make the total package different to the previous package purchased.

The strength of 'Paradise A' is that we use the expertise of a French chef for the preparation of the food.

Already we have done two corporate events including that of Tigo and CIMA and 'Paradise A' was able to do both events at 25% less than the price quoted by other event management companies reinforcing one of its unique strengths.

'Paradise A' specializes in events including Corporate events Corporate Hospitality, Gala Dinners and Corporate family fun days, private parties, birthdays, farewells, valentines, anniversaries and special days, seasonal parties, Christmas and Halloween party.

Harsha Nimalasiri who is also the chairman of Rated A and E-Gate Networks and Intiqab Rawoof, the head of International Business made their intentions very clear about serving international markets with the other company 'Rated A'. Rated A will focus on providing services to international clients seeking BPO solutions.

This is a lucrative market which needs attention to make it a successful business venture.

The investment for this plan is under way for the establishment of a solid infrastructure.

Rated A currently specializes in enhancing the value of the organizations intellectual capital through a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the business environment. We offer solutions to your staff and impart techniques of applying what is trained, than simply disseminating information that can be useful in casual conversations and not to the advantage of the organization.

Leaders of Trichy Travel Federation with General Manager of Sri Lanka Convention Vipula Wanigasekera.

Trichy Travel Federation on a fact finding mission

A delegation led by T.H. Radhakrishnan, President of the Trichy Travel Federation and leading personalities in the fields of Higher Education, Medical Institutions and Hospitality Industry who are members of the Trichy Travel Federation visited Sri Lanka on December 20 with the objective of developing and promoting bilateral relations with their respective counterparts in Sri Lanka. With an initiative by Donald Kurian, Manager SriLankan Airlines in Trichy, the visit was organized by Lanka Sportreizen and the delegation was hosted by Sri Lanka Convention Bureau on December 20 where presentations were made by sector leaders of both sides.

The areas covered were tourism related to medical, education, leisure, MICE. Among the Sri Lankan participants were Director General of Tourism Development Authority S. Kalaiselvam, General Manager and Marketing Manager of Convention Bureau Vipula Wanigasekera and Kumudu Hennedige, Tilak Weerasinghe and Dirk Grigson of Lanka Sportsreizen.

Aitken Spence Hotels expands

Aitken Spence Hotel's latest foray into the Indian market, takes the company to New Delhi, where a brand new property is due to open February/March 2010.

The 130-roomed, Ramada Hotel and Convention Centre will be laid out on a spectacular property spanning twelve acres, just ten minutes from the international airport on the Gurgaon airport expressway.

Malin Hapugoda, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotels with Indrajit Singh Executive Director of Sartaj Hotel Apartments and Villas after signing the management agreement.

The hotel's diversity of dining options will include a speciality restaurant, a coffee shop and a trendy bar. The entrance to the speciality restaurant will be via a bridge, suspended over an abundance of lush foliage, creating a luxurious ambience. For a more down-to-earth, yet splendid spread, the multi-cuisine coffee shop is open for all-day dining.

Additionally, the hotel will incorporate a fully-fledged business centre and a range of conference and banquet facilities. Situated next to the hotel, accessible by a hanging walkway, the ballroom will be able to accommodate up to two thousand guests. The hotel will also have at its disposal, two breathtaking garden locations ideal for functions with a guest-count up to another thousand. Malin Hapugoda, Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotels, said Aitken Spence has become renowned for our operational and strategic management strengths and it is for this reason that we were approached by the owners of the property. We are both excited and delighted to enter into this partnership to manage the Ramada Hotel and Convention Centner, as we are aware that Northern India has immense potential and this will unquestionably gain us a stronger presence in the sub-continent.

The hotel will join a network of twenty-seven hotels located in Sri Lanka, India, Oman and the Maldives.

The company's unique resorts are operated under the brand Heritance and plans are afoot to launch India's second Heritance property in 2011 with the opening of Heritance Cochin, a luxury resort with floating villas.

The latest addition will join the Heritance Hotels and Resorts portfolio which already includes Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Ahungalla, Heritance Tea Factory and Heritance Madurai.

Farm suite huts by PJ

An Associate Company of PJ Hotels (Pvt) Limited which has land holdings on both the Eastern and Northern beaches is now launching their Farm 'Suite Huts' concept which incorporate Eco tourist accommodation, organic small scale farming and community integration and development.Starting in Vakarai on three land holdings, many experiments with biogas, solar and wind power, organic farming will be combined with all possible community integration. It includes part time employment for local housewives, cottage industries, with coir based products, bottling pickles, chutneys and jams, packing dry fish, all with ultimate market orientation. Crops too, which will see no use of chemical fertilizer or insecticide and pesticides, will be on small scale. Farm operations will not be mechanized.

Unique holiday offer on easy settlement plan

The Standard Chartered Bank, Sri Lanka, has partnered with Hemas Travels' and Mackinnons American Express Travels, in order to offer exclusive travel deals for its Credit Cardholders. For the First time ever in Sri Lanka, the 'Easy Settlement Plan', introduced by Standard Chartered Bank will allow a Cardholder the facility to travel first and repay in 24 monthly instalments.

Standard Chartered Credit Cardholders can now enjoy an extensive range of travel destinations, by Air or by Sea. Together with Hemas Travels' and Mackinnons American Express Travels, the best overseas travel opportunities in town are made available to every Standard Chartered Credit Cardholder, during the months of November through December 2009.

"Standard Chartered Bank is committed in its pursuit of quality and value for the loyal customers. We will go to great lengths to ensure that, those owning our Credit Cards, get not only the very best deals in town, but get them at world-class standards.

That is why we have partnered with renowned travel companies such as Hemas Travels' and Mackinnons American Express, who are Top-Notch operators in their own right", commented Sheahan Arasaratnam, Head of Credit Cards for Standard Chartered Bank.

Buddhi Batiks showroom opens

Buddhi Keerthisena opened his new showroom ‘Buddhi batiks’ at No. 32, Word Place, Colombo recently. Here actress Sabeetha Perera at the showroom. Pic. Sudath Malaweera