Trans Asia completes first stage of refurbishment

BY SHIRAJIV Sirimane

Trans Asia Hotel Colombo has completed the first phase of their refurbishment program with an investment of Rs. 200 million. The program included the refurbishment of 95 rooms in two floors.

According to the Vice President Business Development Asian Hotels and Properties Ltd, and Resident Manager, Trans Asia Colombo Roshan Gurusinghe they are looking at constructing a Spa to international standards.

He said that Trans Asia is a city hotel with the resort atmosphere and the proposed Spa would add more value to the property. Trans Asia owned and operated by John Keells Hotels is also looking at refurbishing the remaining 250 rooms in future.

John Keells is marketing both Trans Asia and Colombo Plaza together and the two hotels have accounted to 40 percent of the total city occupancy rate. " We are looking at increasing this amount," he said.

Since both hotels are being marketed under the Keells banner it had created a bigger market for both hotels and has given a greater adaptability.

The average stay of a tourist in City is one day and this is on their first or the last day with the exceptions of Indians who stay to shop in Colombo for around three days. Over 60 percent of travelers in Colombo are either leisure travelers or airline crews.

The average room rate in the hotel was US 51 dollars last year and this year they are hoping to increase this to US $60.

He said that the authorities should introduce more entertainment to attract tourists to stay longer in Colombo "More amusement parks are the need of the hour," he said.

Gurusinghe said that the entry of Sheraton and Hytt would add value to Colombo and their marketing campaigns would be a boost to other hotels as well.

Trans Asia with 93 percent shares owned by John Keels holdings will be also celebrating their 20th year. The Trans Asia also has a 24-hour Business Centre, as well as a fully equipped gym, tennis and squash courts, a sauna and hair and beauty parlor. There is a Wellness Center, and the Ayurveda Spa.

Tour to Borobudur will open new vistas to Indonesia

Sri Lankans will get an opportunity to see the World's biggest Buddhist Monument at Borobudur this Wesak Holidays, when Target Travels will venture out on a package tour to Yogyakartha.

The tour will span four days from May 21-24 taking advantage of the long weekend due to the Wesak National Holidays. International Travel will be with Singapore Airlines on the sectors Colombo/Singapore/Jakarta/Singapore/Colombo. Domestic sectors Jakarta/Yogyakartha/Jakarta will be flown with Adamair which is purely a domestic carrier.

In addition to Borobudur, the group will also visit the Sultan Palace and Prambanan Hindu Temple, which is only 2nd to the Angkor Wat in Siam Reap in Cambodia.

Both Jakarta and Yogyakartha are shopper's paradises and the Sri Lankans are bound to enjoy the shopping sprees, where the prices are relatively cheaper than Bangkok and Chennai.

After sunset, fun loving 'Night Prowlers' will have their share of activities along Jalan Hayam Wuruk, which is considered as vibrant and pulsating as the streets of Patpong in Thailand.