ITB begins today

From Shirajiv Sirimane in Germany

Berlin (March 10) - Sri Lanka would be focusing on nature , culture and adventure at the world's largest tourism event, ITB which would be held from March 11 to 15 in Berlin.

Sri Lanka would take ITB as the launching destination to revive the tourism industry after the tsunami devastation. ITB attracts high-ranking professionals with decision-making powers and shows a steady increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors.

Sri Lanka has line up series of promotion events during the ITB.

A cultural troupe of 12 members of Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation is scheduled to perform at the Sri Lanka pavilion during consumer days of the fair.

In order to highlight rich culture of Sri Lanka a fibre glass Yapahuwa model will be constructed to be used as the main entrance to Sri Lanka pavilion and it would also be the platform for the cultural dance performance at the stand.

Sri Lanka Food Promotion coincide with ITB 2005. Keels Hotel Management is the local hotel partner for our Food Promotion.

The three best German Tour Operators who have produced the highest number of tourists during the calendar year of 2004 will be awarded at Sri Lanka pavilion in appreciation of their service in the past and to encourage them to contribute towards achieving targets of Sri Lanka Tourism.

Keeping to the focus of promoting the other key products, an Ayurveda masseur from Siddhalepa Ayurveda Resort will offer his services for an Ayurvedic head massage at the pavilion to attract visitors to Sri Lanka Pavilion.

Siddhalepa Ayurveda Health Resort will be hosting same and SriLankan Airlines will be providing complementary airfare for Colombo Frankfurt/Colombo sector for the Masseur.

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ETIHAD to expand business

by Anjana Gamage

ETIHAD- the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates will further expand its airline and cargo handling operations worldwide shortly.

The future plans of the ETIHAD and its achievements were disclosed last Saturday at a function to mark the first anniversary of the ETIHAD Crystal Cargo in Sri Lanka at the Colombo, Hilton.

Robert W. Strodel, Head of Cargo and Mail worldwide of ETIHAD participated as a special guest on the special occasion.

Addressing the gathering Strodel said: "We want to become a global airline with our strategical procedures. As a State, UAE, has enormous natural resources such as oil. We will use these natural resources to invest in a global airline too".

According to him, ETIHAD is to obtain its new aircraft- 577 before the end of this year and is expected to get a new aircraft every month of the year.

"When we have our own aircrafts, we can provide whatever quality that we want. We will upgrade the infrastructure and other facilities further and a new cargo terminal will also be built at the Abu-Dhabi airport as well", he said.

ETIHAD has a production target of 70,000 tonnes of cargo handling, for 2005 and so far it has completed 4500 tonnes.

"We have made huge investments on our projects. However our target is to create history in the airline and cargo business with our own state-of-the-art system. There are several airlines in the UAE State including Gulf Airways, Khatami and Emirates. But we want to do something really new.

We have purchased the most advanced IT systems to our cargo system. According to my theory, both sides (customer and the ETIHAD) have to benefit. Therefore, we believe in the concept of "Bring You Money and Bring Us Money as well", Strodel pointed out.

Sunil Malawana, Managing Director, ETIHAD Crystal Cargo, Sri Lanka and Maldives said that three per cent of export cargo of Sri Lanka is occupied by the ETIHAD.

ETIHAD which was launched on March 3, 2004 is touring for 17 destinations in Asia and Europe.

ETIHAD has also won World Travel Award and The Best Cargo Uplift Award in 2004.

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Palm Village Hotel under reconstruction

The management of Palm Village hotel Usvetakeiyawa will invest over Rs. 30 million to refurbish their property.

According to the Manager of the hotel, Maurice Liyanage, they will upgrade all their 50 rooms. "We have already commenced the refurbishment drive and have upgraded 35 rooms. We have completely re-done the bathrooms, introduced new interior decor and a new colour system for the hotel," he said.

The hotel's popular beach bar too would be upgraded with additional features. He said that there is a demand for Ayurvedha and they have decided to expand the present one. "We are hoping to bring full time Indian doctors to serve in this," he said.

He said that they are presently being considered a three star property. "After the refurbishment we can apply for a four star status. However we do not want to do that since the rates would have to go up and it would not be fair for our repeater clientele," he said.

The hotel's main clientele are from United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Germany. The hotel that has a picturesque garden also won a special award 'Best Accommodation' from Thompson Holiday London in 1997.

A hotellier with over 22 years of experience in the trade, he said that they have also organized nature tours to Muthurajawela which are growing in demand both locally and internationally. "Our hotel believes in nature and our hotel is free of plastic," he said.

The Sales Manager of the hotel, Fazna Salahudeen said that conference facilities are of very high quality and they have good market.

"In addition the hotel is being patronaged by many Sri Lankans for group outings as it offers many sports activities including facilities for flood-lit tennis," she said. (SS)

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TUI officials visit Royal Palms Beach Hotel

The top management of TUI Germany visited Sri Lanka to restart their program and to consolidate themselves, as Sri Lanka has returned back to normal after the recent events.

A traditional welcome was given to them and they were hosted to a grand dinner at Royal Palms Beach Hotel which was the recipient of the TUI Holly Award in 2000/2001.

This award is given to the best selling hotel offering the best services and is based on customer feedback.

All agents extensively toured Sri Lanka, which gave them a very positive outlook of the country. The local handling agents of this group was Aitken Spence.