Hotels

A Transformational Leader can be a wonderful and uplifting experience:

Mission and Vision launched at MLH

How much accountability resides in your hotel? Mount Lavinia Hotel's quest for accountability along with the final look at their vision and mission was etched in stone on May 3.

"To promote a strong and effective team members by empowering them to do what they do best and taking on a transformation leadership, injecting enthusiasm and energy, is the way forward," General Manager Anura Dewapura said.

The first and the most important part of a company that grabs the employee's attention is what should be his or her final goal.

Hence, the second important key area that attracts potential employees is the vision and mission statement.

It is necessary that all these key points must be creative, simple and easy to understand.

"The vision and mission statement that was launched gives my team direction and encourages them to be more passionate on what they do and how inspired they should be, to come in day and night to the property and their chances of future success," Dewapura said. "Make sure that your mission statement must be powerful that it sticks on the mind of my employee," added further.

"Even though the mission statement of the famous brand NIKE is: 'Crush Reebok', ours very simply takes on heritage as its key message with the aim for a green business," Dewapura stated.

For the past few months, Mount Lavinia Hotel has been in the process of an organizational change, from innovative approaches to food and beverage operations to guest friendly approaches with the experience in focus.

Yet, in each case, a central question has always been how to maintain employee commitment and leading for accountability in the midst of constant flux and indeed 'what is our final vision', as one employee plainly put it.

Today, employee accountability and engaging the minds of employees in the work force of the company has never been more important.

The rapid expansion and contraction of the workforce as the country has moved along an economic roller coaster has eroded employee loyalty and enthusiasm.

Along with it, employee accountability and commitment are being tested to the limits.

As Dewapura most rightly endorsed what the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa said, "What is needed is no less than a collective change in how we lead.

"Leading for accountability is that change and means that we recognize the role of intrinsic motivation."

Their interactive workshop session with Anura Dewapura and the team collectively implemented the vision and a mission for the Mount Lavinia Hotel, that focused on the main selling points of Mount Lavinia Hotel: heritage, historical significance, to gain the competitive edge by being the trendsetter, traditional way of life as the nucleus of the hotel's existence.

The mission of the Mount Lavinia Hotel is to exceed the expectations of the guests, team members, suppliers, shareholders and the community by providing a hospitality experience where respect and integrity are performed by a team that has accountability and maintains a green environment.

The vision is to be the premier heritage hotel where a lifetime of new and delightful memories' is relived.

Hubbly bubbly

The sheherezade, the only authentic Arabic restaurant in Sri Lanka is catering to the 'hubbly bubbly' lovers this month.

You call it shisha, hubbly bubbly or hukka, come and enjoy the Shisha loung from May 17 to the 21 at the Sheherezade. One could walk in to the restaurant, relax at the garden terrace and enjoy themselves. One can pick their favourite flavour specially brought from Dubai. The special package will include hubbly bubbly and Arabic coffees or ones own choice of coffee from the restaurant.

The Sheherezade Arabic Restaurant is open daily from 7.00pm. For inquiries you can call 2544544.

The Galadari Hotel warmly welcomed Mr and Mrs Manoj Shah, Global Membership Team Leader of Lion's International. Manoj Shah was the Chief guest at the Annual Lions Convention District 306 B2 which was held last week. Seen in the picture are Mr and Mrs Manoj Shah with P D G Lion Lincoln Fernando and D C Lion Upali Gunawardane and other Lions Club Members with Lobby Manager Hilan Weerasinghe of the Galadari Hotel.

The Queen's Hotel Kandy

The Queen's Hotel is considered today as an historic building to be conserved and held for all time as a part of the history of Sri Lanka's Central Province. It was in 1821 that a famous British writer, John Davy mentioned the involvement of the British in Kandy.

The Queen's was originally a Governors Mansion with a small structure of buildings constructed to house troops. This was later to become the main complex of the Ceylon Riffle Regiment. Since the only street of importance was Malabar Street, the main complex gave rise to Malabar House in the 1840's.

In turn, Malabar House became a Royal Boarding House, and it was in the 1870's the entire complex passed onto the hands of Miss Piachaud, who converted it to a hotel a popular spot for British Planters, Army Officers and Visitors to Kandy. It was in 1895 that Miss. Piachaud's hotel was acquired by the Kandy Hotels Company Limited and is today one of Kandy's prime and exclusive properties.

As the hotel grew the British architectural style was mellowed in to that of a Kandyan flavour, which is evident in the west wing that was constructed between 1900 and 1908 and the 280feet long three storied east wing that was subsequently built.

Today the Queen's Hotel which is one of Kandy's prime properties set on an extent of 217.5 perches of land is one of the finest and grandest architectural building of its kind in Kandy, along with its 54 spacious rooms, and emphasis on its superb outlets, the Queen's Hotel boasts of the King Narendrasinghe Hall (Mini Ball Room), the Queen of Hearts restaurant, the Lord Mountbatten Lounge Bar, Royal Ball Room and The Pub Royal, the latter being the only British Pub in the city that offers service with true colonial flavour.

Queens Hotel in Kandy is Managed by The Galle Face Hotel Management Company and the Chairman is Sanjeev Gardiner.

Spicy six-day food festival

Ceylon Continental embraces Hyderabad:

Ceylon Continental will offer a culinary extravaganza at the Hyderabadi Food Festival, within the royal Mogul-inspired ambience of the Tandoor restaurant, on May 17 to the 22 from 7.00pm to 11.30pm.

Food enthusiasts will be treated to a broad tasting of Indian cuisine and veritable options of soup, rice and curry and desserts amidst an environment enhanced by the sounds of the Oriental band Prathiba, a regular attraction found at the Tandoor. The menu begins with a simple choice of soups of which Mulligatawny and Palak Shorba are highlighted as some of the unique options.

From then onwards, the Chef's repertoire flourishes as rice dishes branch out into colourful items such as Hyderabadi Gosht Biriyani, Mutton Koftha Biriyani, and Paneer Pulao.

A liberal selection of curries includes Hyderabadi Gosht Masala, Palak Murg, Crabs Fry, Navaratna Khorma and many more.

Vegetarians are not overlooked as further exotic choices include Mushroom Pulao, Green Peas Pulao, Mixed Vegetable Shabnam curry and Dhal Maharani. Diners may wash down some of these tantalizing flavours with a selection of desserts that include the Shahi Tukra - Hyderabad's version of bread pudding, Mango Rawadi and the favourite gulab jamun, the connoiseur's favourite sweet import, the Hotel said.

Of late, Ceylon Continental Hotel Colombo has been making waves in its quest to capture the hearts, minds and taste buds of Colombo diners with a diverse run of promotions, including the ongoing Theme Nights. Chef Bahadoor's latest offering of signature dishes from the Hyderabad Region is set to reinvigorate genuine Indian cuisine in Colombo.

To experience all that Ceylon Continental has to offer, call Tandoor on 542 1221 Ext: 1427 or visit www.ceyloncontinental.com

Buen Provecho!

Go Slow with Spanish cuisine:

As Food, in Spain, is a way of life. Mount Lavinia Hotel's way of existence is surprising audiences with unique food concepts and events. Hence, May 22, the hotel will be living it up with the Slow Food Night dedicated to Spain.

The aroma of the freshness, unique regional dishes and the bounteous presence of quality seafood together makes the 11th Slow Food night with Spanish cuisine so special and so tempting. Influence of the cooking of the Arab and Moorish settlers lend distinctiveness to the Spanish cuisine. Therefore, guest chef from Vakarufalhi Chef Ira will liven the evening with Spanish favourites like Paella, Gazpacho, Gambas al ajillo, lechon asado and patatas brava are just a few that will tempt your evening.

Spanish cooking has popular roots. It is the people's cuisine. It is down to earth, uncomplicated and indeed fresh.

The Spanish Slow food night will encompass a vibrant experience which marries dining, music and a setting that suits the beach frontage location perfectly.

'All you can eat' Seafood

Spread with a 'devilled' touch:

Looking for a new dish to excite your taste buds? A taste of Sri Lankan in its truest sense infused with the culture and a dash of regional styles of cooking. Sri Lankan condiments mixed to surface a taste that is unbeatable and offering an all you can eat spread. The dates to jot down are from May 17 to the 23 at the Seafood Cove, Mount Lavinia Hotel.

The goal of the Seafood Cove's is to attain harmony of taste, texture, colour and aroma by balancing the ambience of the beach frontage with the warm ocean breeze to captivate ones senses and indeed with the surf breaking softly at your feet and the concept of a Seafood market with the many deviled dishes one can choose from. All you can eat Seafood include Asia's authentic spiciness unique to Sri Lanka, Devilled.

"Batter Fried Hot Devilled Prawns is my favourite at the Seafood Cove," states a Seafood Cove lover.

"For a true seafood lover, Seafood Cove's cuisine will undoubtedly inspire and satisfy. As seafood is so readily available: prawns, cuttlefish, crabs and any kind of fish meat are cooked deliciously, whether in curries served with rice, seafood cocktails and grilled, fried or battered dishes which are usually served with chips, salad and roast vegetables. Devilled seafood dishes although are the most popular at our Cove," Dewapura stated.

Seafood Cove have an assortment of tasty selections, prepared by our Seafood Cove Chefs with the experience and background to demand perfection from themselves and those around them. They also have some delicious vegetarian dishes available, for those with specific diets.

Sweet Temptations at Galle Face Hotel

Pasticcino the Pastry shop of the Galle Face Hotel now offers a wide range of delightful cakes, croissants, sandwiches, chocolates, savouries, fresh juices and many more.

The Cakes are unique at the Pasticcino - Pastry shop and has a range of cakes such as Love cake, Black Forest cake, White Forest cake, Fruit cake, Nougatine cake, Ribbon cake, Praline cake, Tiramisu, Sacher, Strawberry Cheese cakes and many more.

Also you could savor the yummy Éclairs, Doughnuts, Cookies, Apple fudge, Lemon Othello, Battenberg and Orange Cheese cakes slices daily at the Pasticcino which is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm.

Apart from the sweet cakes, The Pasticcino offers a wide variety of savouries like Tuna, Spicy Chicken, Vegetable, Cheese and Sambol Sandwiches, Ham and Cheese Croissants, For more information call the Pasticcino on 2-541010 ext: 3333