TRAVEL

The Fortress declares first-ever profit

Vallibel Group's luxury hotel records Rs 84.4 m net profit for 2010, 2011:

The Fortress Resorts PLC, the company managing, The Fortress Resort and Spa in Koggala, declared a net profit for the first time since it began its operations in 2006. One of two hospitality companies owned by the prestigious Vallibel Group, the luxury hotel recorded a net profit of Rs 84.4 m for the year ended March 31, 2011. The hotel generated a gross profit of Rs 305 m for the year, a 66 percent increase from the previous year's Rs 183.4 m.

Renowned for its unparalleled luxury and its reputation for attracting elite international guests, The Fortress, which has 53 rooms and suites, maintained 65 percent occupancy during 2010/2011, often being completely occupied during peak times such as holiday months. The elegantly luxurious boutique hotel, inspired by the colonial Dutch architecture of the famous Galle Fort, is one of six hotels in Sri Lanka recognized by "Small Luxury Hotels of the World", a collection of over 520 luxury hotels with exclusive membership for patrons of luxury boutique hotels. "Sri Lanka's potential for luxury tourism is indisputable," said The Fortress Resorts PLC and the Vallibel Group Chairman Dhammika Perera. "With post-war development firmly under way and resulting in positive market conditions in the tourism sector, we have seen growth well beyond our expectations this year," he said. He said the booming inbound tourism trends have also played their part in The Fortress' growing occupancy figures and that the company and its iconic hotel are gearing to cater to further growth in inbound tourism projected for the coming years.

"We are expecting great things for The Fortress in the upcoming year, including our occupancy levels to go up even further, and we are ready to deliver a level of service and luxury that will take the industry by storm," said Perera. "Based on several positive indications, we are anticipating increasing demand for our most luxurious rooms in particular," he said.

He said that The Fortress is undeniably amongst the greatest treasures of the Sri Lankan hotel industry and that the Vallibel Group is poised to take it to even greater heights.

Spa Ceylon promotes community trade

Spa Ceylon Ayurveda - Sri Lanka's premier luxury spa brand - is carrying out a special campaign through June 2011 to promote awareness of their community trade organic fresh Aloe Vera programme in Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka. They are also giving away free Aloe Vera plants (packed in bio-degradable coir peat pots) with Spa Ceylon purchases of a specified value - including at least one product containing Aloe Vera.

Spa Ceylon is actively involved in supporting rural communities in Sri Lanka through several community trade projects including the 'Fresh Aloe Programme' now in operation in the arid Kalpitiya zone on the island's North Western Coast.

Set up in collaboration with the Marine and Coastal Resources Conservation Foundation, it is perhaps the only organized large scale organic cultivation of Aloe Vera in the country.

The project enables the harvesting of sustainably grown fresh Aloe Vera, an important ingredient in the manufacture of Spa Ceylon's Ayurveda formulations.

Renowned for its powerful soothing, healing and re-hydrant properties, Aloe Vera is believed to have been an essential part of local health and well-being rituals since the times of the ancient Ceylonese Royals. Inspired by these ancient Royal practices and centuries old ayurveda wisdom, Spa Ceylon has developed a complete range of Aloe based products enriched with 100 percent pure organically grown fresh Aloe Vera Gel - sourced entirely from their community trade project.

The Aloe Vera range includes Bath and Massage Oils, Massage Balms, Shower Gels, Cleansing Bars, Hair Cleansers and Conditioners, Scalp Massage Oils and Hair Oil Mists, Body Oil Mists, Relaxing Body Mists and the highly concentrated Spa Ceylon Pure Aloe Gel - the panacea for every skin condition.

The owning company of Spa Ceylon supports the rural community in Kalpitiya initially by helping to start the project and thereafter by continuously purchasing their entire fresh Aloe Vera harvest at guaranteed prices.

Forwardair project helps Lunugamvehera children

Forwardair Group has stepped into taking on the funding of Bridge2Peace Montessori House in Lunugamvehera, as a CSR project of the Group. A MOU was signed between the two parties at Forwardair Auditorium, Colombo recently. B2P Founder and Directress Bernadine Anderson and Executive Director and Forwardair Group Executive Director Nemantha Hatharasinghe signed the agreement on behalf of the two parties.

The Bridge2Peace Montessori House of Children, Lunugamvehera, was founded in March 2005 as a direct response to the tragic consequences of the tsunami. The harsh environmental conditions and the extreme poverty of the community resulted in the children being deprived of education of acceptable standards. It was the first project of Bridge2Peace, a non-profit, non-governmental charitable organization, committed to bring peace through education and providing programmes designed to educate and empower the poorest of the poor. The land was donated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa through the D A Rajapaksa Foundation and the formal opening of the school was attended by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

The B2P Montessori houses 80 children at any given time, who benefit from a completely-sponsored, trilingual, Montessori education of international standards. All stationery requirements as well as clothing and personal toiletries are provided free of charge each year.

A nutritious mid-day meal for all students is also sponsored. The school provides employment for four teachers specially trained as part of the Bridge2Peace mission, and five others (assistant teachers and support staff), all of whom are from the village. B2P Founder and Directress Bernadine C. Anderson, maximizes 22 years of experience in education both here and in the USA, to bring about a radical shift in the perception of education, using the internationally-accepted principles of Dr Maria Montessori, combined with concepts drawn from the best educational models the world over as the foundation for quality education imparted in her schools in Sri Lanka.

Kotler visits Jetwing Vil Uyana

Renowned international marketeer, Professor Philip Kotler took time off his tight schedule to visit Sigiriya with Sri Lanka Tourism officials. He chose to take a break at the unique eco property, Jetwing Vil Uyana where he planted a Kumbuk (Terminalia Arjuna) tree to mark World Environment Day. Here, Philip Kotler doing the honors in the company of Jetwing Vil Uyana General Manager, Priyanthika Wijenaike and Sri Lanka Tourism and Jetwing Officials.