Travel
Lanka’s first domestic portal launched
The first ever dedicated booking portal for domestic tourism in Sri
Lanka www.trips.lk was launched by United Holidays together with
Centuryware yesterday.
This has been created to cater to the domestic traveler from day
trips, hotel reservations, functions to activities such as camping and
white water rafting.
United Holidays has been in operation since 1995 and is a one of the
leading independent DMC (Destination Management Company) in Sri Lanka
and a fully owned subsidiary of United Ventures.
“www.trips.lk”, the portfolio of products include hotels, villas,
guest houses, lodges camps and any type of accommodation found here in
Sri Lanka in a simple and easy to use format on a dedicated website
which will be a complete resource for domestic travellers.
The small time hotelliers too would benefit, as their properties
would be marketed through this web site. Guests would be able to search
and secure bookings through search criteria such as desired budget,
location and type of hotel or proximity to a particular attraction.
Centuryware Solutions (www.centuryware.com) has been operating since
2004 in both United States and Sri Lanka.
With the emphasis of the Sri Lankan Tourism shifting towards domestic
travellers in these tough times, we hope that “www.trips.lk” will
facilitate an increase in domestic travel as products in Sri Lanka
becomes accessible to Sri Lankan in an unprecedented way.
“We will soon link up with three leading banks so that guests could
also book through banks,” a representative during the web site launch,
said.
He said that they are also launching coach tours to various places
starting from Sri Pada and it would be followed up with tours to
Kalpitiya.
(SS)
Kani Lanka to invest Rs. 250 m. for new hotel
SHIRAJIV SIRIMANE
Kani Lanka Resort and Spa will be investing Rs. 250 m to build a new
68-room hotel in Kalutara. The Resort would also include a banquet hall
to accommodate over 300 guests.
Director General Manager Kani Lanka, Adrian Kulatunge said that the
land-adjoining would be used for the new hotel, which is yet to be
branded.
The construction of the hotel was partly stopped last year is
expected recommence at the end of the year.
Hotel will be ready for 2009 winter. It would also be marketed as a
three star plus property.
The new hotel would stand as a separate entity with a swimming pool,
kitchen and other amenities. The management also expects to recruit over
100 new staff.
Kulatunge and Padmaperuma at the WTM in London.
Picture by Shirajiv Sirimane |
With this hotel the room strength of the two Kani properties, 98
percent owned by Cypriya Lanka limited of the Maldives, would increase
to 203.
He said that the newly refurbished Kani Lanka is marketed as a four
star plus hotel and they would end up the season with an occupancy rate
in excess of 70 percent. “The 200 plus staff will be enjoying a five
figure lucrative service charge,” he said.
Kani Lanka Resort and Spa is a tropical idyllic situated in Kalutara
and is nestled in the picturesque confluence, where the majestic Kalu
Ganga (river) meets the Indian Ocean.
Commenting on the recently concluded World Travel Market, in London,
Marketing Manager, Kani Lanka Resort and Spa, Arjuna Padmaperuma said
that it helped them to find new markets. “WTM was a good networking
platform for us,” he said.
Club Dolphin wins Business Excellence Awards
Club Hotel Dolphin managed by Serendib Leisure Hotels, a subsidiary
of Hemas Holdings, became runners up in the hospitality sector at the
recently held National Business Excellence Awards 2008.
The hotel also won the Gold Award for customer satisfaction from UK’s
largest tour operator First Choice for the 4th consecutive year in
August 2008. Chamin Wickremasinghe, Srilal Miththapala Director/CEO -
Serendib Leisure, Ronnie Perera, T. Thivakaran, Gayani Perera and
Thishani Jayatunge. |