Centara to open two hotels in Sri Lanka in second half of 2012

eTN: Centara Hotels & Resorts is to open its first two properties in Sri Lanka during the second half of this year named Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa Sri Lanka and Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa.
Both of the resort hotels will be operated by Centara under a management contract and will be part of the company’s core brand of four-star properties.

Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa is a 126-room property located next to the beach at Passikudah, renowned for its long stretch of shallow coastline, while Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa is located on the Paradise Island peninsula at Bentota, flanked on one side by the Indian Ocean and the other by the Bentota River.
“These two superb hotels mark our debut in Sri Lanka, a market that we feel holds great promise for us,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts.  “They are an important stage in our development strategy for the Indian Ocean,” added Chirathivat.
Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels & Resorts said that the two properties would open in time for this year’s tourism high season in Sri Lanka.
“This is the perfect opportunity, with two beautiful resort hotels in two very different locations, to achieve a high profile in the market,” he said, “Our response from the industry is already a very positive one.”
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa with 166 units is flanked by a river on one side and a pristine beach on the other; the hotel is accessible only by ferry, and all rooms have spectacular views. Room types include Superior, Deluxe, Deluxe Pool Access, Family Residences and Suites.
Restaurants include an all-day dining outlet serving Sri Lankan, Asian, and international cuisines and features live cooking stations, while a seafood restaurant and the Ceylon Club will have an emphasis on the Ceylonese tea heritage. The hotel will also operate dinner cruises up and down the river each evening.
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa will have a Spa Cenvaree with six treatment rooms designed for singles and couples, and a Kids Club.
Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa is located on a long sweeping portion of Passikudah Beach, whose shallow waters are ideal for windsurfing, kayaking, and bathing. Room types include Superior, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe, Family Residence, and Suites.
Along with the all-day restaurant and an attractive bar lounge, the hotel will feature Spice Market Restaurant and Elements, with interactive cooking stations focusing on freshly prepared Asian, Indian, and Middle-Eastern dishes. The hotel will feature a Spa Cenvaree, a fitness centre and a Kids Club.
Meetings and events will form an integral portion of the market mix featuring Vandeloos Bay Ballroom, which can welcome up to 150 guests at one time and is complemented by state-of-the-art audio visual equipment and professional event specialists to assist guests and delegates in exceeding their expectations.