Travel

SriLankan Airlines on the 'Silk Route'

Business class passengers, departing Bandaranaike International Airport on SriLankan Airlines, to any of its 34 online destinations, could avail of a unique 'Silk Route' offer which streamlines check-in, customs, immigration and security formalities.

The 'Silk Route' experience is the latest addition to SriLankan's premium Business class product, commencing 15th March, 2012.

There will be no more queues, as passengers will be met on arrival at the 'Silk Route' Departure entrance and escorted to the Silk Route Lounge, while all travel formalities are finalised and the Boarding Pass is handed to the passenger.

Passengers can then look forward to be pampered at SriLankan Airlines Business Class lounge Serendib, which offers a unique serene atmosphere with an exclusive 24-hour buffet which includes starters, main courses, salads, fruits, juices, snacks, desserts, alcoholic beverages and a choice of cocktails, smoothies and mocktails; Ayurvedic Spa treatment; sleepers for a quiet nap; shower rooms; smokers' room; and an Internet Caf, complete with WiFi Zone, movies, Cable TV and 3D Games.

"Our focus is to streamline the travel experience and with 'Silk Route' we open an exclusive area, available to SriLankan Business Class and which is especially advantageous during peak times," said Saminda Perera, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

SriLankan Airlines is progressing with its aircraft cabin interior upgrade in all its long-haul aircraft, expected to be complete by the middle of this year. The business class product offers the latest flat-bed seats with a seat pitch of 79 inches. All seats will be equipped with the latest In-flight Entertainment System with audio cum video channels and video games. Business Class will also have an On-Demand Movie Library. SriLankan has already completed the upgrade in more than half of its long-haul fleet.

The Silk Route Lounge located at the Departure area of the BIA, is managed by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd.

Two debutants happy with ITB response

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

BERLIN: The two debutants at the Sri Lankan pavilion for the ITB in Berlin expressed gratitude and satisfaction on their participation.

Director Operations, Hotel Clarion, Chathurangi Pathirana said that this was a golden opportunity extended for them through the SWITCH Asia programme being conducted by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce with a grant from the European Union.(EU)

"This is an exposure we got free which helped us to get important contacts," she added. She said that next year they would participate in the event to market their hotel.

Chairman, The Swiss Residence, Sarath Wijesooriya said that they are hoping to add more rooms to the hotel and this exposure would help them greatly to market the hotel.

He also said that they learnt many things from the SWITCH Asia project to reduce overheads of the hotel.

Project Director of the project, Srilal Miththapala said that this is a four year project funded by the EU and to the value of Euro two million and they have 182 hotels signed up for the project which includes top hoteliers as well. The main focus of the initiative is the SME sector.

"This year under the project we sponsored two hotels to help them to have better clients through the ITB and would continue this initiative next year as well," he said.

The main objective of the proposed action is to enhance the environmental performance of Sri Lankan hotels through improvement of energy, water and waste management systems and reduce cost of operations and increase market acceptance of Sri Lankan hotels with low carbon foot print.

Three day tourism mobile service in East concludes

M.A. Phakurdeen - Addalaichenai Group Corr

The first ever three day tourism mobile service for the East has drawn a good number of hoteliers which concluded on March 7 at Arugambay Tri Star Hotel Auditorium.

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Tourism and Industry made all arrangements in this connection. The programme began with the inaugural and introduction address by Malani Ganegoda, Director/Standards and Quality Assurance followed by the address on "Tourism and its issues related to Arugambay" by Dileep Mudadeniya, Head of Standards and Quality Assurance, Investments, Legal and Special Projects.

This was followed by a lecture on "Food Hygiene" by Ms. Rosiana Gamage and Chandima Chitrangani of INDEXPO.

The main feature of the workshop was the cookery demonstration, food preparation and menu enhancement by Dr. T. Publis De Silva, Chief Chef and Director Culinary Affairs and Promotions of Mount Lavinia Hotel where a large number of hoteliers and their cooks participated with much enthusiasm. The cooked items were also served to the participants.

The second day programme included How to promote and market your business, house keeping and food beverage service and how to make your client happy. The stakeholders engaged in tourism and those who expect to join with tourism obtained the services of the registration and licence of new service establishment, renewal of license of registered establishments, advisory service for the investors and training programme for the stakeholders of the tourism industry.

It was made to understand that a good number of hoteliers are operating without proper legal documents during the past due to the situation that prevailed and as peace has now been restored the stake holders get better returns.

As such this mobile service was much useful to the hoteliers said the President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Tourism and Industry A.M. Jaufer under whose request this mobile service was held.

He also said that this was a very good opportunity to solve many of the hoteliers' outstanding problems and sought solutions upto now.

World Champion Chef in Sri Lanka

Signifying the unbreakable link between the industry of tourism and culinary arts, the Bocuse d'Or World Champion 2009 Chef Geir Skeie showed up in Sri Lanka on 12 Monday at Sri Lanka Institute of Tourist Hotel Management whereby he shared his cooking expertise with the local Hotel School Students.

The World Champion chef arrived in Sri Lanka on March, 5, on the invitation of Rohan Fernandopulle, the Executive Chef of Hilton Hotel, Colombo.

At the cooking demonstration, the World renowned chef shared his knowledge of preparing a delicious Norwegian salmon dish with the local students.

He also guided the Bocuse d'Or Sri Lanka winners , chef Budhika Samarasekara and his apprentice Rashen John who will be flying to Shanghai late this year, with positive hopes for the Bocuse d'Or Asian championship.

The arrival of the Chef Geir Skie was indeed great news for Sri Lanka Tourism. With the ambition of achieving 950,000 tourist arrivals by the end of 2012, Sri Lanka Tourism perceives the importance of raising the standards of culinary arts as a major component in boosting the industry.

Moreover, Sri Lanka Tourism sees a potential in the investment of young and emerging chefs in achieving the future tourism goals smoothly.

Geir Skie was the winner of Bocuse d'Or in 2009 and Bocuse d'Or Europe in 2008.

He also won the prize for the best debut cookbook in the "Gourmand World Cookbook Award 2009".

Travel packages from AMEX

For the New Year Season American Express is offering Cardmembers the opportunity to purchase travel packages to their favorite destinations at Cash prices at their Partner Travel Agents. Cardmembers can enjoy this offer until 30 April 2012. Partnering with American Express for this season are Mackinnons American Express Travel, Classic Travel, Gabo Travels, George Steuarts Travel, Hemas Travels, Jetwing Travels, Nkar Travels, Scenic Ventures, Uniglobe Leisureworld Travel, and Worldlink travels.

Commenting on this, Priyantha Talwatte DGM American Express Cards at Nations Trust Bank PLC said, "We are pleased to partner with some of the most premium travel agents in the country to offer Cardmembers the ability to purchase travel packages with American Express with no additional charges."

He further commented that the cardmember and their immediate family can enjoy complimentary Travel Insurance when the entire holiday package is charged to their American express Credit Card.

Further, Cardmembers are offered the ease of paying their travel charges in six monthly instalments when travel packages are purchased through their American Express Credit Card.

More information could be obtained from www.americanexpress.lk.

The American Express card is issued and acquired in Sri Lanka solely by Nations Trust bank PLC.

'Senses and Soul' in August

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

"The presence of four international record labels at 'Senses and Soul' Colombo Music Festival 2012 will be a tremendous boost to both travel and the music industry in the country which has so much untapped talent," Mantra Moods, Founder and Director Haadia Galely said at a media briefing at the Tourist Board to launch the first of its kind music festival in the region.

The festival is being marketed to reach an overseas clientele of travellers to Sri Lanka and as such, promoting the festival has begun to attract those interested in Asian music makers.

The Music Festival 2012 is scheduled to be held from 23 to 26 August at the Water's Edge Battaramulla and it will be a platform for Sri Lankan musicians of all geners to show case their talents and to obtain guidance from some of the world's greatest musical experts.

Galely said the arrival of four giants in the music industry namely Sony BMG, Universal, Worldwide Records and the Fridge Dubai for the Festival will be the unparalleled meeting place of all music stylings and generes to be showcased in Sri Lanka.

A strong working committee is working to bring the event to life with the support of the local Business Chambers,Sri Lanka Tourism Authority and other representatives in the hospitality and travel sector to ensure that Senses and Soul meets international standards.

The Festival will be conducted in association with the Manthar Moods executive committee. Waters Edge M Entertainment and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau.

Cookery demonstration by Dr. T. Publis De Silva, Chief Chef and Director Culinary Affairs and Promotions of Mount Lavinia Hotel in progress. President of Sri Lanka Chamber of Tourism and Industry A.M. Jaufer looks on. Pictures by M.A. Phakurdeen – Addalaichenai Group Correspondent