Business Travel

Sri Lanka to host next PATA Board and Committee Meetings

Sri Lanka has won the bid to hold Pacific Asia Travel Association Board and Committee Meetings in Colombo from April 5 to 7, 2008.

General Manager of Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Vipula Wanigasekera, said that this is a bid submitted by Sri Lanka Tourism with the backing of Ministry of Tourism with the Minister of Tourism making a special invitation to PATA to hold this event in Sri Lanka.

He said that the fact that PATA considered to host this event in Colombo is shows the confidence in Sri Lanka and it would go a long way to promote tourism.

He said that over 100 delegates and their families would visit Sri Lanka for the event and they would be hosted for dinner outside Colombo.

“This would provide them an opportunity to enjoy the beaches and Lankan hospitality,” he said.

Both the Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Renton de Alwis and Tourist Hotels Association President, Hiran Cooray who are on the Board of PATA, were present at the last meeting to present Sri Lanka’s bid prepared by Sri Lanka Convention Bureau together with Sri Lanka Tourism partners.

“This is a prestigious event that will generate immense publicity for Sri Lanka,” said Wanigasekera of the Bureau.

TUI, awareness on dolphins

One of the World’s leading tour operators TUI, brought together school children to have an awareness programme with the Negombo’s fishing community on dolphins to mark the “Year of the Dolphin”.

The workshop, attended by children from fifteen schools in and around Negombo was organised by TUI’s representative in Negombo Rohan Ratnayake at the request of Roger Zerter - the TUI’s Resident Manager in Sri Lanka.

United Nations Environment Programme and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals have marked the year 2007 as the “Year of the Dolphin”.

The Dolphin was the focus of special attention this year as dolphins are a part of everyday life and culture in many countries. Found in stories, fairy tales and flags it is realized that human beings and dolphins used to have a very close and friendly relationship.

The workshop was held at ‘’The Beach’’Hotel in Negombo recently with the support of its General Manager Ms Hycinth Goonawardhana.

NARA officials gave a lecture and showed a video-clip on dolphins to the invited schools. All participants also received the booklet ‘’All About Dolphins’’.

The workshop informed the young children that the killing and hunting of dolphins should stop because dolphins are still honoured by the people of today as intelligent creatures, which should be protected, and as friends of the human race.

TUI is the world’s largest integrated tourism organisation, which is represented in Sri Lanka by Aitken Spence Travels, Sri Lanka’s leading destination management company.

Lanka should tap Singapore buddhist tourism market

Shirajv Sirimane in Singapore

Sri Lanka is yet to develop the Buddhist tourism potential in Singapore. There is a huge untapped market, which has to be exploited, said Project Manger Orange Business Services in Singapore, Sujeewa Padmasiri.

Padmasiri who is also the Vice President of the Singapore Sinhala Association and the member of the Maha Karuna Buddhist Temple said that there are many Singaporean Buddhists who patronage the temple.

“They would be very keen to travel to Sri Lanka, as they would love to visit ancient ruins in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Similar ruins are available in Thailand. However Singaporeans prefer to visit Sri Lanka,” he said.

He said that Mihin Lanka could play a vital role in promoting Sri Lanka as a destination as their fares are very economical. “The Mihin Lanka service is satisfactory and their flights are on time,” he said.

The Singapore Sinhala Association is currently involved in building a modern school in Beliatte at a cost of Rs. 15 million. “We have also completed two housing schemes in Hambantota and in the Southern province,” he said.

IATA paves way for Mobile check-in

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a global standard that paves the way for global mobile phone check-in using two-dimensional (2D) bar codes. Mobile phone check-in enables airlines to send 2D bar codes directly to a passenger’s mobile phone, personal digital assistant or smart phone.

Passengers simply register their mobile number with their airline at the time of booking to receive a text message with a 2D bar code, or instructions to download it.

The bar code becomes the passenger’s boarding pass and it is read directly from the screen of the mobile device, eliminating paper completely from the check-in process.

“Passengers want the convenience of self-service options in a paperless environment. This standard is an important step in getting rid of paper that bogs down processes and drives up costs,” said IATA’s Director General Giovanni Bisignani.

Historically, airline global applications for mobile phone technology have been restricted due to different regional formats. The IATA standard uses existing codes: Aztec and Datamatrix, which are used extensively in Europe and North America; and QR which is widely used in Japan.

Emirates offers special fares out of Colombo

Emirates will celebrate the launch of services to Sao Paulo and Toronto, two exciting new destinations, with special fares for travellers out of Colombo to these cities with immediate effect.

Accordingly, an Economy Class return ticket to pulsating Sao Paulo, the most populous city in the southern hemisphere, will cost a nominal fee offering Sri Lankans a great opportunity to visit Brazil’s most ethnically diverse city. Award-winning Emirates launched services to Sao Paulo on 1st October.

Similarly, an Economy Class return ticket to Toronto, a city that is home to a large Sri Lankan population, will be offered at Rs 105,000 when Emirates commences flights to Canada’s largest city and economic capital on 29th October.

Emirates Sales Manager Devika Ellepola said: “Sao Paulo and Toronto represent two milestone destinations on the rapidly expanding route network of Emirates. These special fares provide a great incentive to travellers to make memorable visits to these remarkable cities with Emirates. Early booking is advised, as they are for a limited duration.”

The special fare to Sao Paulo (Portuguese for Saint Paul) is valid for ticketing and travel before 31st December 2007, with all sectors on Emirates operated services. To be eligible for the special fare to Toronto, ticketing must be completed by the end of October for travel before 30th November.

Within these stipulated periods Emirates will also offer First and Business Class return tickets at Rs 582,000 and Rs 373,000 respectively to Sao Paulo, and at Rs 574,900 and Rs 378,900 to Toronto.

For leisure seekers, Emirates Holidays, the Destination and Leisure Management Division of Emirates offers a series of exciting accommodation packages at 13 hotels ranging from three to five star class in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

The prices of these packages start at just US$ 395 for three nights for two people on a bed and breakfast basis, working out to as little as Rs 7500 per person per day.

Among the attractions of Brazil are the Amazon, Iguacu Falls, Rio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana beach, the famous Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Tijuca National Park.

Emirates is using its technically advanced Boeing 777-200LR on flights to Sao Paulo, its 94th destination. Passengers on the Dubai - Sao Paulo route will enjoy unrivalled in-flight service, including eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 of its latest lie-flat seats in Business, and generous space for 216 passengers in Economy.

On the Dubai - Toronto route, Emirates will operate its state-of-the art Boeing 777-300ER aircraft three-times a week, offering 12 First Class, 42 Business Class and 304 Economy Class seats.

Succulent sahans from Holiday Inn

Culinary brigade at Holiday Inn, with more than three decades of serving the Biriyani in town, in traditional Arabic taste and exotic aroma, have combined their cooking skills to satisfy the discerning gourmets during the Ramazan festival.

The legendary mutton biriyani will be served with a full roast chicken, boiled eggs, green peas and liver curry with spicy portions of Malay pickle, mint sambol and a savoury maldive fish sambol. This combination of dishes is the perfect choice for the family and friends. A serving of sweet jaggery-based wattalapan will accompany each Sahan.

Orders will be accepted at the Gardenia Coffee Shop on all days leading to the Ramazan festival, for both lunch and dinner.