Riverina Hotel revamped, and ready to reopen on August 1
After an extensive renovation, the Riverina Hotel (part of Confifi
Group Hotels) located on Beruwela's famed Golden Mile is yet another
representation of the 'new era' of beach resorts in Sri Lanka.
Set amidst an attractively landscaped garden overlooking the blue
waters of the Indian Ocean, the resort features 192 well appointed
rooms, a grand ballroom and three restaurants, two bars, a discotheque -
all reflecting the spirit of the resort - beauty, tranquillity,
hospitality and leisure.
The recently renovated and redesigned sea-side rooms include modern
furniture and fittings in pastel and earthy shades. Facilities in all
rooms include attached bathroom with bath or shower.
The resort features a host of indoor and outdoor recreational
facilities, some of which are shared with its sister property Club Palm
Garden. These include tennis courts, swimming pool, horse riding, gift
and book shop, fully equipped gymnasium, and games' room. Children are
not forgotten - with its own 'mini kiddie's club', a fully supervised
indoor and outdoor play area is available to children between the ages
3-12.
Water sports facilities such as jet scooters, water scooters, speed
boats for deep sea fishing, boats for river cruising, banana boats,
canoes, snorkelling equipment and wind surfs are available at the nearby
Confifi Maria.
Incorporating the world's oldest and most comprehensive systems of
natural medicine, Riverina Hotel's traditional Ayurveda Villa offers a
variety of treatments that are not only luxurious and deeply relaxing
but are profoundly healing in nature.
The Coffee Shop offers an a la carte menu selection and the main
restaurant, with new interiors and tropically theme artwork, serves a
hearty buffet breakfast.
During lunch and dinner the focus turns to a selection of set menus
or fun-filled theme nights such as a Sri Lankan night, Mediterranean,
Chinese or barbecue night.
The pool bar serves light snacks and a selection of cocktails and
other alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. The Lounge bar, popular
amongst the resort's guests, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for
both relaxing and socializing.
Also inviting are the cocktails which add to a tempting list of
thirst quenchers.
TTAL to promote local surfing destination
by Irangika Range
Travel and Tours Anywhere Ltd (TTAL), a UK-based company operated by
two Sri Lankans, have won accolades in the travel and tourism sector
over the past several years for promoting Sri Lanka as the best tourist
destination for leisure and also sports tourism.
TTAL, Managing Director Ralph Pereira said he is very keen on
investing money to promote local surfing because Arugam Bay is a world
famous surfing destination. "Arugam Bay now has a Surf Foundation and we
are planing to assist the local surfers by building premises as part of
our ongoing support to Sri Lankan surfers.
We expect to develop the Surfing Foundation with the assistance of
our local agent Crystal Holidays in Sri Lanka which will provide
opportunities to local surfers to learn new surfing techniques. TTAL
along with BPSA, BSA has raised over Sterling Pounds 30,000 (Rs. 16
Million) to assist Arugam Bay's local community. This money will be used
to develop the Surf Foundation and other assistance to Arugam Bay
people," Pereira said.
TTAL sponsored the SriLankan Champion of Champions BPSA Surf
Competition with SriLankan Airlines and British Pro-Surf
Association(BPSA) to promote Sri Lanka as a top surfing destination.
The event was held at Arugam Bay recently, which was badly affected
by the tsunami. "We provided 20 free body boards to local surfers at the
surf competition in Arugam Bay. The company has also donated 50 bicycles
for villagers to promote their livelihoods after the devastation as a
part of its social and community work. It has also concentrated on
helping the fishing community in the Mirissa and also repaired their
boats and purchased seven new boats spending around Rs. 1 million," he
said.
TTAL will organise multi-sports events in Sri Lanka including over 15
sports events by getting participation of over 2000 foreigners to
participate in Corporate Games in 2006, which will help to increase
tourism and investment in Sri Lanka. He said TTAL is the first company
to have released a brochure on Sri Lanka, which gives a range of
tailor-made options and it is extremely flexible with customers'
individual requirements.
The company has established a very cordial relationship with the
local travel and tourism sector over the past several years and has
successfully expanded its service and other facilities to customer
satisfaction. The company has launched a special tour package for
British volunteers to visit Sri Lanka and help the tsunami-affected.
Under this package, seven British volunteers arrived here and the next
12 volunteers will arrive this month.
TTAL offers various travel packages including wildlife tours,
adventure activities, cycling, walking, meditation, beach stay and
Ayurveda treatment to customers by covering scenic areas in Sri Lanka.
Serendib Leisure Barman wins Marie Brizard
At the finals of the Marie Brizard Bartenders Competition - Flaring
category held recently at the Waters Edge A. G. Preeth Dakshina of Hotel
Serendib became the first while W. Wijekoon of Club Hotel Dolphin won
the bronze medal. This is the second consecutive year that Serendib
Leisure Barman won these prestigious awards in the flaring category
after introducing last year.
Also Susantha Mahawatta of Hotel Sigiriya became third runner up at
the finals of conventional bartender competition.
Out of the 12 in the finals in Colombo Serendib Leisure had seven
bartenders in the flaring category and six out of the 24 in the
conventional bartender competition.
Also Serendib Leisure Barmen became champs in all three regional
competitions where they took part. They won the first and third places
in Down South, first place in Negombo and first four places in Cultural
Triangle. |