JKH Deputy Chairman and President of the Leisure Group Ajit Gunewardene is all smiles at the launch of the awareness campaign for Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa and Chaaya Wild Yala last evening at the Cinnamon Grand, as the Architect behind the transformation of the former Coral Gardens and Yala Village Channa Daswatte (left) and Sector Head ...

Hotels to be open for business on 1 Nov after US$ 16 m upgrade By Marianne David Top blue chip John Keells Holdings (JKH) yesterday formally announced the revamp of its footprint in the leisure sector with the opening of Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa and Chaaya Wild Yala from 1 November. The former Coral Gardens and ...

New offerings Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa and Chaaya Wild Yala to be launched on 1 NovemberBy Marianne David The John Keells Hotels Group’s latest offerings – Chaaya Tranz Hikkaduwa and Chaaya Wild Yala – are gearing up to take the industry by storm, as the group continues with heavy investments, throwing its weight behind Sri Lanka’s ...

The premier world-wide sustainability merit ‘Green Globe Certification’ was achieved by Cinnamon Lodge Habarana with a compliance of 78% of the 248 preset standards. The five star resort located in the heart of the cultural triangle was constructed keeping the idea of ‘going green’ in mind. The 27 acre property was an arid piece of ...

The policy changes, reforms and modernisation since Budget 2011 appears to have been the context of a presentation made to the Joint Apparel Association Forum in July 2011 by the “leading light” in finance, planning, treasury management and economic development. Sri Lanka background 2000-’10 The presentation articulates the background issues experienced from 2000 to 2010. ...

Last week I received an invite for an ‘Inventors Day Celebration’ in one of the leading schools in the country and the master in charge shared a thought that I felt was a cutting edge idea. Apparently, every one of us is an inventor in some part of our daily life. The issue is that ...

John Keells Stock Brokers (JKSB) is forecasting Fortress Hotels PLC to post net earnings of Rs. 215.7 m for FY2012 and an earnings figure of Rs. 299.4 m for FY2013, considering the anticipated elevation of the hotel sector of the country and the refurbishments that are planned to go through during the year. Here are ...

Jetwing Hotels at the Bridal Fair 2011Being held for the 15th successful year, the Bridal Fair is Sri Lanka’s premier event for all wedding related matters. Using the concept of providing all wedding needs under one roof, complementing Jetwing Hotels’ comprehensive and tailored wedding and honeymoon packages perfectly. Held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and ...

In what is likely to be major breakthrough to the litigation-filled long-drawn-out impasse at Hilton Colombo-owning company Hotel Developers Plc (HDL), a proposal for an amicable win-win settlement has been presented to the Treasury. Sources said that as per the proposals with four options studied by Treasury, major shareholder Cornel Perera (owning 56% but held ...

Targets hotel sector; offers seven FCS products to local customersBy Cheranka Mendis Supporting the boost in tourism, integrated solution provider Fentons Limited forged a partnership with one of the world’s leading hospitality solution providers, FCS Computer Systems, on Wednesday, offering Sri Lankan hospitality industrialists world class solutions for their companies. The partnership, whi...

Perhaps squashing rumours that its project is off, Shangri-La Hotel this week put up a large hoarding at its site in Galle Face announcing that it will be opened for business by 2015. Shangri-La is the biggest and initial breakthrough for post-war Sri Lanka’s tourism sector with an estimated $ 600 million investment in a ...

By Cheranka Mendis Pioneers in ayurvedic hospitals and resorts, Hettigoda Group yesterday ceremonially opened its newly renovated Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort in Wadduwa. The resort which has been completely renovated and refurbished at a cost of Rs. 150 million in a period of two months is looking at expanding and adding more features within the ...

The premier world-wide sustainability merit ‘Green Globe Certification’ was achieved by Bentota Beach Hotel. The Green Globe certification requires conformity to 248 preset standards, some of which being energy efficient measures, emission reduction, effective water management and waste management systems with to emphasis on reduce, recycle and reuse. The team at Bentota Beach Hotel im...

Stock Broking firm Capital Alliance suggests that the 2.6 million tourist arrivals target isn’t a pipedream but achievable though it will be only by 2020, which is 4 years later than the Government and industry set timeline of 2016. “The Government projects 2.5m arrivals in 2016, but the industry will lack the rooms and trained ...

Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka ’s exotic southeast coastline, is set to welcome 96 top world surfers from 19 countries spanning Argentina , Peru , USA across the globe to New Zealand , to compete in SriLankan Airlines Pro Surfing contest held in association with Australasia ’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) from 30th August – ...

Cross Border Academy (CBA) is one of the primary hospitality education providers in Sri Lanka, with a highly-reputed team of lecturers who possess decades of hands-on experience in the hotel and tourism industry. The academy is partnered with Dimensions Education Group of Singapore, which was established in 1980 and Wissen Academy of Singapore, the subsidiary ...

With the tourism boom now experienced in Sri Lanka and projections to attract 2.5 million tourists per annum by the year 2016 seemingly going well according to plan, the country is currently positioning itself on the global tourism map as a star product. “But in order to do this, we need a long term marketing ...

The Heritance brand was once again in the spot light when Heritance Kandalama and Heritance Tea Factory emerged winners at the National Green Awards held last evening at the BMICH. Heritance Kandalama, no doubt the greenest hotel in Sri Lanka and one of the greenest hotels on the planet was awarded the Gold Award in ...

By Marianne David Warm, welcoming and exuding good cheer, the Cinnamon Lakeside’s newest General Manager Denis Gruhier perfectly fits into the best qualities the hospitable hotel is well-known for and his affirmation of Sri Lanka’s optimistic post-war outlook for tourism in particular and the country in general is welcoming news indeed. Having joined the Lakeside ...

After two decades, Hilton Colombo owning company Hotel Developers finally releases accounts Accumulated losses by end FY 2009/2010 top Rs. 10 billion Revaluation of hotel results in Rs. 4.7 b gain yet company beset with negative networth of Rs. 4.7 b as against Rs. 8.26 b in 2008/9 Total outstanding loans and borrowings near Rs ...

A high level delegation from Russian oil and natural gas giant Gazprom led by its Director General Gulev Valeriy this week met Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa at his office in order to discuss investment opportunities, especially in the oil exploration in the Mannar and Cauvery Basin, natural gas market as well as tourism ...

The iconic Fortress Resort & Spa has scored another first by launching a butler service with a batch of 15 internationally-trained butlers. The hand-picked teams of butlers have graduated with honours following an intensive 4 week programme held by the Australian Butler School, whose philosophy is to train service professionals committed to the enhancement of ...

The dream of most youth and the general public is a good education for the success of his or her future to become a fruitful citizen of their respective country. Sri Lankans too share the same view. At present there is a great increase of foreign educational institutions in Sri Lanka. On 24 June 2011 ...

The attendees present at the Sri Lanka National Energy Efficiency Awards 2011 experienced history in the making as they witnessed Heritance Hotels and Resorts being crowned the most energy efficient hotel chain in Sri Lanka. Heritance Hotels made a clean sweep of the Large Scale Hotel Sector category, a feat that has never been achieved ...