The Palace Hotel opens in Negombo

The Palace Hotel opened with rooftop swimming pool, and other innovations. Chairman and Managing Director of the hotel, Meryn Fernandopulle said they have invested Rs. 60 million for the property and hope to invest a further Rs. 5 million within the next three months.

He said the 25 room property with two suites has been classified as a three star plus hotel.

In Sri Lanka there are only star classifications to hotels. "The Palace is positioned as a small luxury hotel," he said. Fernandopulle who is also the Chairman of Airwing tours believes that the effects of the tsunami would not have long term negative impacts.

"We are confident to break even our investment in four years," he said. The two directors of the hotel are J. A. J Rose and Miron Fernandopulle.

The management has already received many bookings from the France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and the Swedish markets. They are also pursing the Indian market and the Colombo airport traffic.

They are also promoting the local honeymoon market and group tours.

The hotel has organised sight seeing, eco tourism and adventure tours to the Negombo lagoon, Wilpattu and visits to ancient Dutch places of interest. Small weddings and business functions are also being hosted on the roof top open air restaurant which also has a photographer's view point.

He said that they have a novel concept for their employees who are paid high salaries. "We have a permanent engineer on duty and he also specialises in hotel management.

We have a small staff who specialise in every aspect of hotel management," he said. They have also invested in hotel projects in Nuwara Eliya and are looking at more investment opportunities in the leisure sector.