Travel

Lanka stars in Dream Hotel TV series

Over 12 million viewers would witness the beauty of Sri Lanka when the popular German television series Dream Hotel, a fascinating love story shot on location in Sri Lanka will be telecasted.

The 90 minute TV series tells a story about unusual, elegant, and spectacular locations around the world, focusing mainly on the positive aspects of each country, its highlights, traditional features, and exceptional qualities. With the involvement, of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Sri Lanka was selected as a location in March 2008, and the tele film is expected to be viewed by millions of people from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, to name a few.

Sites in Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo, and Galle will be featured in the series that will be telecast in 2010 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to an audience of over 12 million viewers.

"Sri Lanka has so much to offer the world and this television series promises to take that message across to potential travellers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This initiative also signifies the innovative and cost effective initiatives adopted by Sri Lanka Tourism to promote the island internationally," the Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Bernard Goonetilleke, said.

"We have selected Sri Lanka after a lengthy process. We are extremely happy of our decision and this is indeed a beautiful country.

On screen, it lends itself to be wonderfully photogenic and suits our theme, perfectly. The beauty of this country should be exposed to our extensive viewership and we are happy to do that for this island," said the director of the tele-film, Otto W Retzer.

Lisa Film, the Austrian based producer of Dream Hotel will be working with the local film crew of The Film Team (Pvt.) Ltd, headed by the veteran Sri Lankan film personality, Ravindra Randeniya, and supported by Art Director, Errol Kelly.

Meanwhile, the world focuses on Sri Lanka this week, as it is selected as the "Location of the Week" on the location guide website - a resource website for location filming worldwide.

The product was specially launched by Nestea Taiwan, at the Beijing Olympics, and the bottle has a graphic of our island. Furthermore, the product is daubed as the 'Tea of the World'.

Confifi offers facilities for Muslim patrons

Confifi Hotels offers new facilities for Muslim patrons Confifi Group Hotels, with its three Beruwela coastline properties - Eden Resort and Spa, Riverina Hotel and Club Palm Garden have introduced special features to cater to the needs of these patrons both from Sri Lanka and overseas.

Director/General Manager - Marketing and Sales of the Confifi Group Hotels, Tony Maheswaran said, "Among the recently introduced features at the three Confifi Hotels are special facilities as the Quiblah direction marked in every resort bedroom. A copy of the Holy Quran is placed in the bedrooms booked by Muslim guests and is also available at the hotel's reception on request.

All three hotels - Eden Resort and Spa, Riverina Hotel and Club Palm Garden - also have an exclusive Prayer Room with Prayer Mats. All Confifi hotels abstain from serving pork products in their menus and are strict to ensure that all other kinds of fresh meats are Halal and procured only from Halal certified suppliers. "Recognising the multi-ethnic and multi-religious individuality of both our patrons and staff, we have always placed great importance on celebrating events of national, cultural and religious importance in Sri Lanka. Christmas, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Vesak, Independence Day are some examples. With our new facilities and the growing number of Muslim travellers criss-crossing the globe on business and leisure."

MLH - a United Lanka

For the first time Mount Lavinia Hotel (MLH) celebrates a United Sri Lanka in grandeur at the Governor's Terrace with cuisine from Point Pedro to Dondra Head highlighting the indigenous variety of food, a link that binds the thread of ethnic blend of an island home.

'Celebrate a United Sri Lanka' is inspired by the presence of a multi cultural environment created by a friendly nation in harmony with food and music at the legendary Mount Lavinia Hotel every Sunday from March 1.

Guests will be welcomed to a truly Sri Lankan atmosphere with floral d‚cor highlighting historical stone pillars, sesath, elephants, batiks, hurricane lamps with hostesses attired in multi-ethnic clothes to symbolize unity and the presence of communities at large.

Cultural shows and a combination of oriental music for entertainment will connect one to an identity of pride.

Food of all ethnic groups have been carefully selected and planned to give the spread an exotic twist of authenticity.

Another significant introduction is the food from the indigenous group of inhabitants of our ancient civilization, the 'Adi Waasi' community, and an experience to be renewed and reviewed.

CSR a key issue at ITB

ITB Berlin will conduct a Corporate Social Responsibility day for the tourism industry, adding to their existing ITB Aviation Day and ITB Hospitality Day.

Corporate Social Responsibility Day will allow leading speakers to share their experiences, and will present the first empirical survey on Corporate Social Responsibility within the travel industry. The keynotes will discuss the necessity as opposed to luxury of CSR, and the competitive advantage CSR can bring to a company.

Chef Gaborieau now at Spoons

Internationally acclaimed award winner 1 Star Michelin Chef Stephane Gaborieau is back in Colombo Spoons, Hilton Colombo's signature restaurant . He will be here till February 24. He is world renowned and is a master chef in the culinary field.

Hilton Colombo is the only hotel in Sri Lanka that brings down 1 star Michelin Chefs to the country and the only restaurant that you can experience such cuisine.

Chef Gaborieau has been awarded "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" (Best workman of France) and it is the highest award to be given in France on the grounds of professional experience.

Poached baby lobster on smoked aubergine mousse, Zuchini Emulsion with peanut oil, Marinated Salmon and Sea Bass with Consomme' Gelee' with pears, Braised leeks and Port reduction are just to name a few. Designer food prepared by a Star Michelin Chef enjoyed in a "stylishly casual" atmosphere is what you get during this promotion.

"Spoons the trendy restaurant in Colombo is all geared up to take you through a French culinary experience and it will be an experience not to be missed!" said the hotel's Marketing Communications Manager Gigi De Silva.

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Trans Asia's "Hawker Street" will once gain dutifully dish out the signature flavours of Singaporean, Indian and Malaysian cuisine on February to 21, at the Beira Terrace. A spokesperson of the hotel said that the culinary experts at Long Feng promises to meet the high expectations of all diners unperturbed with the astounding variety in the menu and astonishing taste of the dishes. The pride they take in their work, sometimes responsible for the long queues, are simple inconveniences for the palatable pleasures that are eventually served! "A monthly event now, by popular demand "Hawker Street" is an enjoyable evening for friends, families and anyone who insists on great food in a bustling ambience," the official added.

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