Travel

Tamarind Tree to build three star hotel

The management of The Tamarind Tree Hotel Minuwangoda will build a three star plus 60-room hotel to attract the growing transit market.

The Italian investor P. Bertarell has already acquired land for this project and the hotel would be built as a BoI project.

In addition Bertarell has also invested over Rs. 5 million to refurbish The Tamarind Tree Hotel at Minuwangoda that was built 12 years ago. “This was to upgrade the rooms and bungalows and also to install Wifi and other facilities,” said General Manager of the hotel, Pradanna De Alwis.

He said that the hotel was initially built to cater to the long stay and corporate clients working in the Export Processing Zone. “This market is still functioning and we have the airline crews as well as both local tourists,” he said.

Due to this the hotel is maintaining a year on year of over 85 percent occupancy, a luxury currently enjoyed only by a few. “The hotel profits too have never dipped and this is the reason for the investor to reinvest in the second hotel,” he said.

Over 60 per cent of the revenue for the hotel is from accommodation while 30 per cent is from food and beverages. “This is mainly due to the large wedding market we have,” he said.

Since the hotel was built to attract long stay guests it also offers large suite type bungalow rooms with facilities even for guests to do their own cooking.

The 36 bungalows are complete with air-conditioned bedrooms, private dining, sitting room, telephone and a beautiful varendah to relax.

The Services include a business centre with conference facilities and a businessmen’s lunch and meeting room a pool and a Gymnasium, Tennis court, Billiards room and Jogging Track.

Today Keells Hotels Services management is overlooking its operations

Lanka’s outbound traffic increases out of Asia

Sri Lanka’s outbound traffic is increasing and travellers are looking at destinations beyond Asia.

In addition to Europe local travellers are keen on Kenya and Egypt said President, Travel Agents Association, (TAASL) S. Premakumara. Due to the cost factor Egypt is now gaining popularity as a destination for Sri Lankan travellers over Kenya.

In a bid to capture this market Kuwait Airways organized a familiarization tour for local passengers cum cargo agents to Egypt after a lapse of ten years.

The tour included a four-day Nile cruise and a visit to one of the world’s wonders the Pyramids and many world heritage sites.

District Sales Manager Kuwait Airways, Sudesh Rupasinghe said that many Sri Lankans are embarking on this tour as its economical (40 percent less than the Kenya tour) and covers more places. Sri Lankan’s on these tours also have high spending power.

“The airline is offering an immediate connection and since Kuwait airways flies to four destinations in Egypt the traveller gets the advantage to land in Luxor, take a three-night Nile Cruise and then fly back from Cairo,” he said.

The tour includes visits to the world’s largest religious site, Karanak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Kom Ombo, Horus and Edfu temples and Great Pyramids which took 18 years to build. The 146-meter high great pyramid has 2.3 million stones each weighing over two tonnes and one of the wonders is that there is no space in between the stones and no cement had been used.

One of the other modern days wonders, the High Dam which contains Circa, 18 times the material used in the Great pyramids and visits to factories where perfumes and papyrus paintings are made.

“We also provided an English-speaking guide and first class overnight train journey and all meals for the tour,” he said.

The Nile cruise includes sailing 186 Km in a luxury five floor ship which accommodates over 150 passengers and 70 rooms with all modern facilities such as hot and cold water, cable TV, swimming pool, sun deck, shopping archade, billiards table, disco and buffet meals are served on board in the large restaurant. Over 100 ships sail each day and tourism is one of the highest forex earners for the country.