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| Saturday, 20 March 2004 |
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Saman Villas - first luxury Garden Spa by Chandani Jayatilleke Sri Lanka's first luxury all-suite Garden Spa is on the making at the Saman Villas at Bentota. The owners of this luxury boutique hotel have decided to build one of the best tropical spas in Asia in the hotel premises.
There's much demand for upmarket Spas in the world and western tourists are increasingly looking for destinations with such quality Spas, according to a hotel spokesman. Travellers opting for quality and upmarket holidays in Sri Lanka prefer to stay in resorts where there are Spa facilities and this improving trend has led the Saman Villas' owners to upgrade the facilities in the property. Saman Villas is already sold at 'up-market' prices, and with the value addition, the price structure will be modified, a spokesman said. Among the new features to be added are luxury treatment suites (not simply massage rooms), Deluxe Suite with aromatic sauna, steam shower, large spa with hydrotheraphy seat and twin recliners, treatment room, relaxation pavilion with a double bed, dining pavilion and a water garden. Adding to the ambience are cascading water, landscaped gardens and soft, soothing music evrerywhere, he said. The Garden Spa will be opened with all facilitiees including Yoga and Reflexology in September this year. In the Duplex Villa category, the ground floor will comprise a spacious bathroom, which opens into a large courtyard and a 20-feet long private swimming pool, which afford complete privacy. An exquisitely designed sitting room with home theatre system and verandah will add to the luxury. In the upstairs is a large bedroom with living area, TV and music, attached bathroom with shower and a large balcony opening out to the ocean. The deluxe suite at the southern boundary will have a 22 long swimming pool with an 'infinity edge' which merges with the Indian Ocean. The sleeping deck and the open plan bathroom courtyard give access to two separate pool decks, giving ample space for relaxation in total seclusion. All eight deluxe suites facing North will have 20 long swimming pools. A unique feature will be the cascading of water into these pools, which aerates the water to improve its quality. Having said that, Saman Villas is all about privacy and romance. For those who love romatic atmosphere, it has a choice of six diverse dining locations from a dining pavilion to a timber deck on the golden sandy beach. Saman Villas will function under its own management from April. ###### Angsana Spa opens first hotel spa in Sri Lanka The Singapore based award-winning deluxe resort chain Angsana Resorts and Spa has expanded their operations in Sri Lanka with the opening of a spa at Deer Park Hotel in Polonnaruwa.
The hotel, which was recently renovated and opened under the "Colours of Angsana" banner, is directly managed by Angsana Resorts & Spa. The hotel was earlier owned and managed by the Jinasena Group. Designed and built by Architrave Design Pte. Ltd., the architectural arm of Singapore-based parent company Banyan Tree Holdings, the spa complex is adjacent to the hotel and occupies a sprawling 4,350 square metre land area. It comes with four indoor air-conditioned treatment rooms and five outdoor spa pavilions. Angsana Spa at Deer Park Hotel has a complete range of spa equipment and specially created Angsana spa products. The Spa would be an added advantage to attract more local and international travellers. In addition to managing the Deer Park Hotel, Banyan Tree Holdings has bought majority shares of Beruwala Walk Inn Limited (Swanee Hotel) from John Keells Holdings Limited. Swanee Hotel will be closed for renovations in May and reopened as "Colours of Angsana" property in December 2004. Swanee Hotel will feature an Angsana spa too. Angsana Resorts & Spa will also be opening an Angsana City Club & Spa at Crescat City, Colombo this year. The facilities are designed to offer treatments that have been researched and developed by the Banyan Tree Spa Academy based in Phuket, Thailand, which also trains therapists for Angsana Resorts and Spas. They include "Essence of Angsana" spa packages, the signature Angsana Massage and a combination of traditional Thai, Indonesian and Hawaiian massages. Traditional Ayurvedic therapy, which is a must for a visitor to Sri Lanka, will also be offered with the fine touch and finesse in the true Angsana style. Angsana Resorts & Spa was launched in June 2000 to cater to a younger group of holidaymakers with the opening of its first resort, Bintan in Indonesia. The group has since expanded and now owns and manages properties in Great Barrier Reef (Australia), Bangalore (India) and Ihuru (Maldives). ###### Sri Lankan flavours dazzle in Zurich A Sri Lankan Food Promotion was recently organized by John Keells Hotels & Walkers Tours, together with the Zurich Marriott. A wide array of spicy and traditional favourites were made to tantalise the taste buds of an international audience. A Calypso band comprised a team of Sri Lankans living in Zurich added to the ambience of the traditionally decorated restaurant at the Zurich Marriott. The promotion was opened by Sri Lankan Ambassador for Zurich Mrs. Sarala Fernando. In her welcome speech she enlightened the audience on the growth of Tourism industry in Sri Lanka during the last year and also the beauty and the rich culture the country has to offer. The grand finale comprised a Sri Lankan Night dinner dance with the famous Sri Lankan band 'Freak Out' at the Grand Ballroom of the hotel. The promotion was also sponsored by SriLankan Airlines, Ceylon Tourist Board and Global Connexions Zurich.
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