Steeped in history...:

Hotel Suisse caters to a wide clientele

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Hotel Suisse along with Queens hotel can be considered flagship hotels in Kandy. Hotel Suisse is steeped in history because its origin dates back to the 17th century, when the building was the residence of the Chief Minister of the Kandyan Royal Granary. When the Kandyan kingdom came under British rule in 1815 the Britishers acquired the property in 1818.

A British army officer named the property as Haramby House.

The building was used as headquarters for the South East Asian Commander, Lord Louise Mountbatten, the supreme allied commander of British forces during the second World War.

It was during that period when Lord Louise Mountbatten travelled back and forth to Colombo in a train named Viceroy Special.

Haramby House which has a colourful history was later sold to a Swiss Madame Burdayron who converted it to a hotel. At one stage the building was also used as a maternity ward for planters' wives.

Hotel Suisse faces the picturesque Kandy lake that overlooks the ancient "Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic" built by the ancient Kings. It is interesting to know that the Kandy Archaeological Museum, the Kandyan Arts and Crafts Association the Tea Museum, the Kandy market, and the renowned Botanical gardens, are a few places of interest within close proximity to the hotel.

Senior Vice President of the Galle Face Group of hotels Chandra Mohotti said the first phase of extension and renovation program of Hotel Suisse will be completed with the construction of a new shopping arcade, thirty five additional rooms, expansion of public areas, installation of an ultra modern lift, complete modernisation of the main kitchen and installation of telephones in all rooms.

The Sunday observer visited the hotel last week. The lunch menu was impressive and sounded gastronomic.

We first came into contact with the Restaurant and Bar Manager M. Edirisinghe who told us that an average of 120-150 persons, including foreigners and locals visit the Araliya restaurant.

We noticed the grand ballroom being packed to capacity with guests attending a wedding ceremony. We could hear the rhythmic drum beats of tom tom beaters at a Poruwa ceremony. Bar Manager Edirisinghe said theme nights titled Italian night, Asian night, International night, Mongolian night were held every week.

"We had a full house during the Esala Perahera," he said.

Mac Phillips, Deputy General Manager Training and Development of Hotel Suisse said that 60 of the 90 rooms of the hotel were occupied with holidaymakers from 14 countries last Wednesday.

"These people came from the United Kingdom, India, Netherlands, France, Japan, Israel, Pakistan, and Norway. Cultural pageants such as the Esala Perahera and the botanical gardens at Peradeniya are a great tourist attraction. The Esala Perahera this month had 92 elephants, and 500 dancers," he said.

"We have had several weddings this month and six more weddings will be held shortly at the hotel. Today we enjoy 72 percent occupancy.

Guests who check into the hotel say that their stay in the hotel was enjoyable, relaxing and comfortable with a good cup of tea being served to them in the morning.

Guests generally stay at the hotel for one week. Tourists who visit Nuwera-Eliya also visit our hotel before they go elsewhere," Phillips said.

Shamalee Perera, Events Coordinator said that she was entrusted with the task of designing new brochures and was in charge of marketing the hotel. "Being a colonial hotel we want to promote the hotel in an exotic way.

My main role is to introduce more events to improve and upgrade the hotel."

She said a British national who called over at the hotel last week was so exited about the colonial architecture, he took several photographs of the hotel.