Leisure

Pledges, Innovation, Spiritedness:

John Keells Leisure Awards concludes

When the John Keells Leisure Group (JKLG) decided to motivate their dynamic team into gearing for the aggressive journey it was mapping for itself, the vision of becoming the trendsetter in the hospitality industry for Sri Lanka was the foundation upon which this journey was constructed.

President of the Leisure Group Ajit Gunewardene

Just over a year ago, JKLG conceptualised five pledges to charter the process, pushing conventional boundaries and inspiring the team to 'walk the talk'. At the John Keells Leisure Awards held last week, the JKLG Team displayed the real mettle they are made of, showcasing some of the most innovative and creative projects and conceptions that imbibed the true spirit synonymous with John Keells Leisure.

As Senior VP of JKH and Head of Human Resources and Business Excellence Roshan Gurusinghe stated, when he addressed over five hundred of the team gathered at the gala ceremony at Cinnamon Grand, "On the 22 November 2010, we birthed our new vision, "We will always be the Hospitality Trendsetter" underscoring it with our five pledges. But having a vision alone does not bring success.

To succeed, we have to first understand, accept and embrace that vision. These awards example the manner and passion our Associates have displayed at all levels, to embrace that vision and make it our own."

The five pledges encompassing the axioms, 'I will get it right the first time all the time', 'I will care', 'I will be green', 'I will empower' and 'I will stand out wherever I am' which the JKLG Associates promised to espouse stringently in addition to the categories of Innovation and Spirit of Excellence, collated over one hundred submissions presented by the hotels and resorts under the JKLG umbrella.

The Panel of Judges also brought in the additional criteria of Sustainable Development for a more holistic purview of the underlying tenets of the vision. Deputy Chairman of John Keells Holdings and President of the Leisure Group Ajit Gunewardene proudly claimed that with this being one of the most memorable moments in his work life, he has never in his thirty year career seen such motivation, dynamism and application collated within a single Group.

"I am so proud of each of you, not just those here but each and every person within the Team who make our hotels and resorts stand out from among the rest. I know that we have been responsible for setting benchmarks for the industry, for pioneering initiatives and for introducing unique aspects to tourism. But this is only the first step for all of us and there's many more steps for us take before we get to that point of perfection. We know that perfection is hard to achieve, but it is not impossible when I look at the team here in front of me."

Cinnamon Grand totaled seven awards, winning accolades in all five pledges, the Innovation category as well as the Spirit of Leisure award, which was also presented to Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo and Chaaya Island Dhonveli. Cinnamon Grand's recreation of a Sri Lankan village for the Commonwealth bid at St. Kitts, the green awareness programmes aligned to Nuga Gama and the innovative Diabetic Menu presented as 'Indulgence with a conscience', as well as the superior work performed by the F&B and Housekeeping teams gained kudos.

The citation for the Spirit of Leisure Award concluded that, "Cinnamon Grand's empowered team displayed unreserved commitment in their care for others, created enhanced customer experiences and instituted groundbreaking innovations to gain coveted awards which exemplified the Spirit of Leisure."

Keells Hotel Management Services Limited gained four awards, three of which were for its Nature Trails projects primarily with the conservation of the leopard and enhancing a customer's wildlife experience through a unique night vision safari, which also gained an Innovation award. Cinnamon Lakeside's speedy establishment of a Halal Kitchen, innovative trolly-less cleaning process and vigilant security team got a positive nod with three awards for the hotel, while Cinnamon Lodge Habarana's green initiatives gained an award as well, added to with one under the 'I will care' pledge.

Three Chaaya resorts, Chaaya Village Habarana, Chaaya Island Dhonveli and Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo were praised for their innovations, one of which was Chaaya Village Habarana's manufacture of environmentally friendly paint, while their empowering stance also saw the two latter resorts win the Spirit of Leisure awards.

The Green Globe certified Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo's stance as an innovation trendsetter within the Group, complimented with taking the pledge to care and being green to another realm, saw the innovative spirit, caring ways and commitment to nature gain a well deserved commendation with the Spirit of Leisure Award. Similarly Chaaya Island Dhonveli, as mentioned by Gurusinghe, "Is determined to live the Spirit of Leisure through their unwavering efforts of transforming the property to the pinnacle of customer delight, excellent standards, building a holistically empowered team, innovative energy saving solutions and unique community engagement initiatives that truly imbue their 'can-do' spirit in taking hospitality to a new high."

The Finance Team of the John Keells Maldivian Resorts were commended with an award each for 'I will standout wherever I am' and 'Innovation', while in the 'Sustainable Development' category, Bentota Beach Hotel and Walkers Tours shone with their community engaging sustainability projects. Given that each of the submissions was in reality a stand alone case study and worthy of emulation, a Knowledge Sharing Book which catalogued the salient features of each application was produced as a learning tool to be shared among the Team.

Gurusinghe reiterated Gunewardene's statement of striving for perfection, declaring, "We are rolling out our Leisure Group Competency Set this year, backed by relevant training modules.

We are also finalising our Hospitality Graduate Programme in association with the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, providing training, development and exposure to our team.

As you can see, the wheels are in place for us to achieve that perfection, because one of our aims during this year, is to develop and prepare our people to meet the needs that ensue from our rapid expansion." He praised the JKLG Assistant Manager's - Fora who were the inspiration for this event and whose tireless work is etched in the stamp of excellence seen in the flawless organisation.

Ceylon Continental Hotel kicks off new venture with "Heist on the Hills"

Ceylon Continental Hotel takes centre stage this April season in Nuwara Eliya with, "Heist on the Hills". This has been inspired by the most recent endeavour - Continental Outdoors, the new outdoor catering unit. Along with its state of the art equipment, expertise in the culinary field and a passion to provide an exemplary service has brought upon the vision of a new outdoor catering trend.

From the 7th to the 22nd of April, "Heist on the Hills", will entertain a plethora of personalities from around the world including Colombo's finest to Nuwara-Eliya.

The crisp cold air and the sun streaming over the mountains will set a charming scene of poise with a mix of fine food incorporating a wide variety of international favourites, beverages and an eclectic selection of lounge music.

The dress code for this afternoon's soirée will be preppy, which is appropriate for the great outdoors. Exciting activities such as target shooting, flying fox, wall climbing and other adventure sports organised by Academy of Adventure, along with a wide variety of activities will provide a thrilling experience for all. As dusk falls, a different level of energy has been planned.

The atmosphere is set to intensify and gradually morph into a soft party ambience.

Dinner will add to the excitement with a variety of dishes from barbeque to delicious Asian cuisine. The music of a DJ and band, D-zone, will complete the entertainment for the event.

Visitors will be able to purchase tickets worth Rs.1000/- of which, Rs 500/- could be used to indulge the delicious cuisine while kids below 12 will walk in free of charge. Lunch will be served from 11am -3pm and dinner 6pm - 11pm. Guests are invited to spend the entire day at the venue with a great snack and beverage menu to keep the spirits high.

As the hotel awaits the completion of its major refurbishment, to elevate itself to its iconic standing, most of the hotels' employees along with its award winning team of chefs led by the hotel's senior executive chef Tilak Senarathne are the heart of this event.

The team incorporates an array of skills and talent which will provide you with none other than the best for this season.

In addition to that, the Restaurant and Bar Manager Katherin Ballarin from Germany and Indian Restaurant Manager, Muneesh Sharma along with Keerthi Rewatha -Beverage Manager will also be on call to spoil you.

Keep your calendar free for this fabulous outdoor experience, and join the Ceylon Continental Hotel at "Heist on the Hills" in Nuwara- Eliya this season.

The Ceylon Continental Hotel is owned and managed by Hayleys Group.