Susanne pioneers luxury boutique hotel concept in Lanka

by Irangika Range

TRAVEL INDUSTRY: Hard work, a sense of responsibility and a knack for promoting luxury lifestyle designing in Sri Lanka, has enabled a young foreign woman to arrive at the peak of her career winning many accolades.

She is Susanne Filippin, Deputy Chairman and Co-founder of "Our Way" Sanasuma Developments (Pvt) Ltd, the promoters of the now legendary one of a kind "Elephant Corridor" hotel in Sigiriya. She was awarded the Women Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 under the large investment category.

The Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce has awarded the "Most Innovative Enterprise"title to her successful on account of her performance .

This was a great achievement in her life and her eminent contribution has developed the local hotel and diversified activities. Susanne said that she has been able to introduce a new concept in Sri Lanka by establishing 'Elephant Corridor' in Sigiriya.

This was a novel concept for Sri Lanka which focused on requirements of up market tourism to fulfil their needs.

'I am happy, I was able to do something in a different angle providing many job opportunities in the rural area,' she said.

Susanne said that the award is not only her personal achievement but also many people have been behind this project from the beginning.

It is a huge effort of every worker in the hotel and all credit should go to all. The award made everybody happy and proud in the company and it is a huge achievement. It also gives a lot of credibility for the organisation on the dedication of time, manpower, money, life, joy and sorrow.

She said the contribution of all has been appreciated by the award as well.

Travel and tourism is a very interesting subject and she used to travel to many foreign countries from her childhood. It is very interesting and exciting. Having 12 year working experience handling a restaurant in the Art Gallery in Germany, she has come to Sri Lanka in 1996 recognising the great potentials here.

She commenced her own restaurant here in 1997. She said although Germany is a very systematically developed country it doesn't have the kind of excitement and opportunities like in Sri Lanka.

"Myself and "Our Way" Chairman, Prasanna Wijesinghe Jayewardene has identified the potential to set up the 'Elephant Corridor" in Sigiriya.

Most of the time she was a self-employee and she has madeit a way of life always to introduce novelties.

"There are many potentials in Sri Lanka which need to be utilised for the benefit of the country as well as business. It was the right time that we selected Sri Lanka to establish the hotel with an initial investment of myself and Prasanna Jayewardene.

She said nobody had concentrated to develop the up market tourism sector in Sri Lanka till the time they started their project. It was the correct decision which we have been taken at the right time.

Susanne and Prasanna have been able to do something to high-end traveller because the country has scenic beauty and infrastructure which we need to develop and market properly to bring in the high-end travellers. The construction of the hotel commenced in 2001.

With its all-suite concept of accommodation, The Elephant Corridor, Sigiriya allows the customer the luxury of relaxation in privacy surrounded by wildlife sanctuaries and the ruins of ancient cities, the hotel allows the customer to experience the grandeur of Sri Lanka's heritage, both, natural and manmade in a way that is in harmony with nature.

At the same time, it offers an exclusive kind of hospitality, spoiling the customer in individual requirements in star class luxury. She said that the Elephant Corridor is a place where respect for the environment is a natural imperative.

The hotel comprising 21 luxury suits equipped with modern facilities is rated six star plus by guests. They hope to venture out into familiar ground of Europe to develop Castle hotels.

She said that she is satisfied with her work in retrospect. She also appreciated all the support given within the country by officials in different areas. While plans are underway to develop a number of five star plus small, luxury boutique hotels in unique locations of Sri Lanka, they now believe it is the right time to move back into hotel operations in Europe.

"What better than Castle Hotels," Susanne said."Our Sri Lankan operations will continue and we believe will grow and diversify, but we like to go forward and the time is right for this expansion. She has work experience of 25 years in the hotel development industry with stints in Bali and Seychelles. With the setting up of the hotel here, it has affected the entire hotel sector with the increase in room rates.

It has also provided over 150 employment opportunities in the area.

She said people from the area are very genuine and they are good human beings having sensitivity. The country has a lot of opportunities. We need to recognise the market properly.

The entrepreneur should follow the correct path adhering to the law and regulations of the country. She said that she never gave up and went from option to option. She never disappointed even though faced many hardships. We should move forward against any obstacle and reach the goals ."

Susanne was married to an Italian, who is an artist and worked in Seychelles for the last 15 years. She has a daughter and son who study and work in Germany.

'My family is very supportive. I play a big role as a working mother, but I am able to manage with good time management doing hard work and getting correct decisions at the right time to achieve my goals.

'If you have an idea you should try utmost to make it a reality."

In Sri Lanka, we don't have competitors. It is an international trade and we maintain a very strong marketing and PR campaign." 'Though I am German and Prasanna Jayewardene is a resident of Sweden, Sri Lanka will continue to be our base and priority."

"We believe` in Sri Lanka and the local people's capacity and hope to be always a part of its development. The hotel and its staff have more than justified this belief,' Susanne said.