Top travel agents taste SriLankan hospitality

"It was certainly a day of discovery and pleasant experience for the cream of Sri Lanka's travel industry, when the national carrier SriLankan Airlines hosted them to a familiarisation tour of its array of products and services recently," a spokesman for SriLanka Airlines said.

"More than 20 of the most experienced members of Sri Lanka's largest travel agencies spent a full day with the airline, enjoying the best of SriLankan in the air and on the ground," he said.

An initiative of the Sales Department of SriLankan Airlines, the event afforded travel agents a taste of hospitality of the airline when they visited the Semondu signature restaurant and the Silk Route Lounge for Business Class passengers at the Bandaranaike International Airport(BIA), Serendib Business Class Lounge, Serendiva Transit Hotel, the upgraded Business Class cabins and a ride on SriLankan Air Taxi's float plane.

SriLankan's Manager for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Saminda Perera said, "SriLankan Airlines had undergone a complete transformation over the last 12 months in terms of the entire experience that our passengers receive. We have invested heavily towards giving every passenger a truly delightful experience."

"We wanted our partners in the industry who are the top travel agents of Sri Lanka to experience for themselves the level of sophisticated service our country's national carrier now provides."

"We have a fleet consisting of more modern aircraft and our passenger cabins are being upgraded with flat-bed seating in Business Class and sophisticated new AVOD entertainment systems. Most important, we have brought in a fully customer-friendly culture."

Trying out the new flat-bed seats in Business Class

Travel agents relax in the Silk Route Lounge at BIA

The tour began with the travel agents visiting the recently commissioned Dandugama Oya water aerodrome to take off on a scenic flight on a SriLankan air taxi, to experience the breathtaking aerial view of the landscape and also see at first hand how float plane operations can benefit tourism and afford convenient inland travel.

The air taxi provides quick transfers to 15 domestic destinations from Dandugam Oya in close proximity to the BIA.

"The travel agents were particularly impressed with the Silk Route Lounge at the BIAt owned and managed by the Airport and Aviation Authority (AASL) and were glad to learn of this new service which ensures that business class passengers no longer need to go into the main terminal and stand in queues, but walk straight into this lounge where all their travel needs are taken care of with a personal touch by AASL and SriLankan airlines staff while they sit in comfortable lounge chairs," an airline spokesman said.

The group also visited SriLankans' plush Serendib Lounge, available free to all SriLankan Airlines' Business Class passengers.

It is equipped with state- of- the-art facilities and comforts.

Another port of call at the airport was the Serenediva Transit Hotel, managed by SriLankan Catering.

This 24-roomed hotel on the upper floor of the BIA terminal is designed to provide rest and relaxation for passengers as they await their onward flight. Its facilities include deluxe and standard rooms and a conference centre.