Travel

Glamour at the ATM

Models from various countries

A mobile television carried by models from the American stand. Pictures by Shirajiv Sirimane

Models from various countries.

In Dubai. The fairer sex added the much-needed glamour to the four-day Arabian Travel Mart that ended in Dubai Convention Centre last week.

There were the travel agents, Marketing Executives and the dancers dressed in their national attire and performances depicting their culture in a bid to attract visitors to their stand.

Sri Lanka too were not outdone this year and the Channa Wijewardane Dance troupe too was exceptional and attracted crowds. The tea backdrop coordinated by a Dubai ad agency too was a hit as none of the other countries showcased a tea plantation.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Faiser Mustafa said this event was ignored and it was only in the last three years that a focused marketing approach was in place.

"The Gulf market is very strong and developing very fast. We have to get in there and the Arabian Travel Mart is the stepping stone to it," he said.

Local travel companies too have realised the potential of the event and this is evident with the increasing number of participants each year.

The Arabian Travel Market, reflects this perfectly and presents an excellent opportunity for anyone who is eyeing the massive potential this region represents.

Since the Arabian Travel Market first launched, each show has been a 'Record Year' in terms of exhibitor numbers and also delegates and visitors.

Floor space and buyer numbers has grown more rapidly than anyone could have imagined.

These are the reasons each consecutive Arabian Travel Market breaks all its previous records. Reason is that this region holds so much potential, that it is unwise to miss such a large opportunity.

Serene Garden opens in Kandy

The newest addition to the stars in Kandy - Serene Garden Hotel has been built at Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy in a most scenic location overlooking gorgeous misty mountains.

Serene Garden Hotel offers 33 luxurious rooms with all star class facilities, including A/C, hot/cold shower with shower cubicles, flat screen colour TV, satellite TV system, mini-bar, private balcony overlooking the scenic Dalada Maligawa and Kandy Lake, telephone with IDD facilities and 24-hour room service. The architecture and design of the hotel was the handywork of Chairman/Managing Director W. M. Sriyananda, a leading businessman in Nuwara Eliya.

Serene Garden Hotel has a beautiful swimming pool and, a roof-top restaurant offering guests a panoramic view of the hill country while dining.

The hotel has a Banquet Hall which could accommodate 150-250 guests, and is ideal for seminars, inhouse workshops, conferences etc.

Serene Garden Hotel offers special packages to Sri Lankans and expatriates, and also to companies for staff picnics in the cool climes of Kandy.

General Manager, Serene Garden Hotel, Vajira Borallssa, a hotelier with over 18 years experience takes special care to treat all guests as VIPs, so that they would be "Repeater Guests" to Serene Garden Hotel.

FAB bags at International FHA 2008

The Asia's largest international Food and Hospitality exhibition was held in Singapore. Over one hundred countries took part in this event around the globe. In line with the FHA 2008 Trade Exhibition the prestigious FHA 2008 Culinary Challenge competition too was held with the participation of 26 European and Asian countries.

Executive Pastry Chef and Pastry Chef Lilan Priyashantha of the FAB Foods (Pvt) Ltd., Jerome A. Corea represented Sri Lanka in the FHA 2008 Culinary Challenge competition.

The solitary gold medal was won by Jerome for the free style wedding cake event obtaining 98 per cent marks and totally ousting all other competitors including U.S.A., China, Japan, Malaysia, India and Pakistan.

He was also the winner of two silver medals in the same competition. The Bronze medal in the FHA 2008 competition was won by Lilan Priyashantha of the FAB Foods (Pvt) Ltd. Corea emphasised that due to his 11 years of experience at the FAB Foods (Pvt) Ltd he was able to win this Gold medal and was happy to bring pride to his motherland.

The FAB competed in the four events in the FHA 2008 culinary challenge competition and bagged one gold, two silver and one bronze showing an outstanding performance among other competitors from 26 countries.

The Executive Director of the FAB Foods (Pvt) Ltd Roshi Madanayake Perera said that this was a landmark victory for the FAB since they entered an international competition for the first time representing Sri Lanka and were proud to bag 4 medals for all four events they took part.

She was proud of her Executive Pastry Chef and Pastry Chef for their outstanding performance in an international event.