Emphasis on affordable domestic tourism: Galle Face Hotel Leisure Sector makes three top appointments

Lester Jansz

APPOINTMENTS: Chairman of the Gardiner Group and Galle Face Hotel Management Company, Sanjiv Gardiner explained the new restructuring of the Leisure Sector of the company at a recent press conference.

Veteran hotelier Chandra Mohotti has been appointed Vice President of the Leisure Sector. The two main divisions of the company would be headed by Rajiv Khanna, as Chief Operating Officer, Director/General Manager of the Galle Face Hotel, Regency and Classic Divisions, while Anura Lokuhetty was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation and other affiliated companies and hotels.

Mohotti, a pioneer in Sri Lanka's hospitality industry, was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC). He was the General Manager of the Galadari Hotel prior to joining the CHC.

Khanna, who commenced his hotel training in the United Kingdom, worked for the Taj Group of Hotels for over 20 years. He has been the General Manager of several of the properties, including several luxury hotels such as the Rambagh Palace Hotel in Jaipur. He has also worked with the Shangri-La Group of Hotels and other Five Star properties in India.

Lokuhetty is the President of the Hotel Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) Sri Lanka Chapter. He was the CEO of the Confifi Group and has over 30 years experience in the Hotel sector and also functioned as Director Operations and General Manager of the Galle Face Hotel for over three years.

"With the purchase of the majority of shares in the Ceylon Hotels Corporation, the Leisure Sector of the Galle Face Hotel Management Company manages overall 30 lodging institutions in the country - led by the flagship Galle Face Hotel," Mohotti said.

He said that some of the bigger areas of the group are Queens Hotel Kandy, Suisse Hotel Kandy, Lihiniya Surf Hotel Bentota and Seruwa Hotel Polonnaruwa.

Chairman Sanjiv Gardiner elaborated on his plans to further develop his portfolio with emphasis on affordable domestic tourism.

Ashane Holiday Bungalow: Overlooking the enchanting "Knuckles Range"

WASGAMUWA: The "Knuckles Range" of mountains at Wasgamuwa, located in the district of Matale is one of Sri Lanka's most enchanting tourist attractions.

Due to its scenic location, a number of safari villages and eco-holiday resorts have been built to attract more foreign and local tourists to Wasgamuwa.

The latest addition to Wasgamuwa is Ashane Holiday Bungalow, a six-room cottage type resort built on an acre of forest land. The construction of this holiday resort has been carefully planned in such a manner that visitors get a panoramic view of the mist-clad "Knuckles Range" mountains from the rooms of the resort. The resort is in close proximity to the Wasgamuwa wildlife sanctuary.

Managing Director of Ashane Holiday Bungalow Anil Silva said that his resort is ideal for wildlife lovers. The resort can be booked as one unit for family outings. River bathing in the Minipe Ela is one of the popular recreational activities of the guests.

With many ancient tanks and several other historical ruins and ancient religious sites close to the resort, it has become a popular adventure spot for tourists, both local and foreign. The resort offers jeep safaris to the Wasgamuwa Wildlife Sanctuary, mountain trekking and other places of tourist attraction in Wasgamuwa.

"The six-room cottage is given out at a very reasonable price, specially for Sri Lankans and expatriates who are animal lovers and ecology lovers," MD Anil Silva said.

The resort can be reached via e-mail on: [email protected]

35 years in the Hospitality Industry

Hospitality: Patrick Phillips began his hotel career as a simple trainee cook at the Mt. Lavinia Hotel in 1971. From Mt. Lavinia Hotel he joined Inter Continental (now Ceylon Continental), Taj Samudra and Holiday Inn, Colombo.

In 1973, Phillips left the shores of Sri Lanka looking for greener pastures. He was abroad for over 25 years. He served Inter Continental Hotel, Dubai, Inter Continental Hotel, Muscat, Holiday Inn in Khorfakkan UAE and the Laguna Beach Resort, a Five Star property in the Maldives.

In India Phillips was entrusted with the challenge of constructing 18 cabanas, a lobster pool, a sea food restaurant at 'Pisces', a massive seafood chain of restaurants in India. After finishing his task, phillips served this chain as the General Manager cum Executive Chef. Phillips visited Sydney Australia on three occasions on study tours. He visited most of the 7-Star and 5-Star Hotels in Australia to gain knowledge on the operational aspects of these hotels.

He returned to Sri Lanka and joined Queen's Hotel Kandy where he is at present serving as the Executive Chef. Phillips is the President of the Chef's Guild, Kandy Region. He is also a member of the Hotel Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) and is also a member of the Culinary Institute America (CIA).

LJ