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| Thursday, 11 December 2003 |
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CHC launches Thanayama Travel Card by Tharika Goonathilake The Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC) re-launched its `Thanayama' travel membership card yesterday offering visitors a series of incentives and discounts to savour the `Sri Lankan holiday experience' in an unbeatable travel deal. The card, entails a 25 per cent discount on accommodation, 20 per cent discount on food and 15 per cent discount on beverages at 23 prime CHC guesthouses throughout the country. The travel card, which can be renewed at an annul membership of Rs 2,500 also enables the cardholder to entertain up to five persons with unlimited usage throughout the year. Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge launched the new-look `Thanayama Card' at the Galle face Hotel on Tuesday amidst a large travel industry gathering. The occasion also marked the launch of the CHCs upgraded website www.ceylonhotels.lk. He said that incentives of this nature was possible only because of the resurgence in the travel sector brought about by the Government's sustained peace initiative. The privileges and discounts offered by `Thanayama' will promote more travel within the country whilst making holiday travel more affordable for locals as well as budget travellers. He said that CHC was a pioneer in the hospitality trade and continues in its endeavour to offer both local and foreign holidaymakers a quality product at a reasonable price. The `Thanayama' travel card was among the many incentives the CHC has offered visitors to offer travel opportunities that are easy on the purse strings whilst encouraging patronage among its establishments. He also expressed his appreciation to the commitment shown by CHC Chairman Bodhi Ranasinghe and the Board of Directors "to enhance standards and diversify the CHC's product offering." The spate of upgrades and refurbishment drives undergone by the properties, the Minister pointed out, had enabled the CHC to enhance its image drawing even many foreign tourists. Also associated with the 'Thanayama' travel card launch were Hatton National Bank, Sampath Bank and People's Bank. This will enable online reservations through the banks' network. The special Website fortified with a range of state-of-the-art software, offers a colourful portrayal of the 23 CHC properties with detailed information on facilities and other attractions in the specific areas. It also boasts a site trafficking information which will enable the CHC to gauge the clientele profile that access the website and their preference range. The high-tech Website portal designed by Zeelabs also has five separate web pages on the CHC's most popular guesthouses including Tissamaharama, Ella, Kotmale, Ambepussa and Kitulgala. Other facilities for the cyber-savvy travellers include the online chatting option during working hours that will enable prompt responses to queries. CHC Senior Manager Marketing/Travels Ranjith Balasuriya said that this was great news for the consumer since now they have the options of selecting the holiday spot of their choice, acquiring information both in terms of price and quality as well as the convenience of planning a holiday right at home. He said that unlike in the past when reservations had to be made at the CHC Travel Bureau in Colombo, the website and banks now facilitate reservation from home or through the 'Thanayama' associated banks. |
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