Blue Water reinstates popular New Year’s Eve dance – in the garden, under the stars
By Gayathri Kothalawala
Due to the requests from the regular local and foreign visitors, Blue Water will host their popular 31st night celebrations under the stars after a four year interval.
Until 2009, the New Year Eve’s dance at the Blue Water was regarded as a fantastic celebration due to the fact that the hotel hosted the party in their spacious garden. After the construction of the state of the art banquet hall in 2010, and due to the existing weather conditions at the time, the Blue Water management moved the 31st night dance indoors. However, the five-star hotel has taken steps to host the dance in their spacious and captivating garden with necessary precautions including a standby marquee available.
“What we are trying to do is giving a hearing to our clients, what they want,” said General Manager Roshan R. Perera, further explaining the hotel’s decision to move back to the garden. Taking advantage of the space and open air, the Blu Water will be having a firework display to usher in 2015 with style.
The partygoers will enjoy the night with entertainment provided by the Magic Box, a top band in Sri Lanka at present and compere Domini Kellar of the ‘Pusswedilla’ fame.
The 31st night dance will start from 8 p.m. onwards. Guests will enjoy the excellent cuisine Blue Water is famed for at a dinner held in the garden itself. The opportunity to enjoy the elegant outdoor celebration will be restricted to 600 guests. The hotel will offer an exclusive offer on their luxury club suites for guests who wish to spend the night at the hotel.
The Blue Water, designed by celebrated architect Geoffrey Bawa, received the five-star status in 2004. The hotel added 40 suites including a presidential suite last year. The idyllic getaway located in the Southern coast is recognised by guests as a laid back paradise from the UK and other European countries. The hotel maintains a good relationship with Asian countries including India and China as well as South East Asian countries.
In 2010, the hotel adopted a different market strategy and began catering to the MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) market. The hotel then went on to receive the award for hotels in the ‘Best MICE Market Venue/Hotel’ – 2012 by the Sri Lanka Tourism Board. “Ours is a unique and one of a kind offering when it comes to having events at the hotel as the events held at our grand ballroom do not interfere with the guests staying and relaxing at the hotel,” stated Perera.
As for the New Year’s dance, it would bring back the magic and memories of dancing under the stars as the hotel has taken steps to ensure that the guests would enjoy the New Year Eve’s dance without any hindrance, making use of their sprawling gardens and the beauty of the night.
“Come back,” Blue Water, Wadduwa General Manager Roshan R. Perera jokingly stated, “We are back in the garden.”
