Mixing business with leisure

Amalshan GUNERATHNE

Ritz, Hilton, Intercontinental or Carlson may it be, an internationally recognized brand name means superior hospitality and crisp service to the traveller.

The Gateway Hotels India stepped into a ground breaking venture with their first ever international expansion in re-branding the Taj Airport Garden Hotel Katunayaka as a Gateway Hotel. The re-branded Airport Garden Hotel will undergo severe renovations and hopes to gain five-star categorization after the renovations are done. Airport Garden Hotel is the 21st operating hotel of the group and the first that would be operating outside of India.

The Gateway Hotels are designed with the modern day business traveller in mind.

Located amidst a scenic thirty acres of coconut plantation, bordering the famous Negombo Lagoon, the hotel provides a very soothing and refreshing experience to their visitors. Striking setting means a very relaxing and stress-free experience for the hassled modern day traveller. "In this era, work and leisure are merged with each other. The Gateway brand focuses on creating sanctuaries which can refuel and renew the modern day travelling. The Airport Garden Hotel fits perfectly into the Gateway Promise," Gateway Hotels Chief Operating Officer P K Mohankumar said. To fulfill this Gateway promise, the hotels are divided in to seven simple zones - Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore - offering full service during the whole twenty four hours.

Under the re-branding process, the hotel has already undergone many renovations.

A large number of guest rooms have been refurbished such as renovated stylish interior designing, rooms with laminated timber flooring, smooth carpets, sleek furniture and LCD television panels. With the all new dining restaurant and bar with an extensive beverage list means that the guest's needs are satisfied to the fullest.