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| Friday, 23 July 2004 |
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Tea Factory Hotel records 200% increase in profit by Sudarshana Perera
The turnover has also increased to Rs 103 million from Rs 76 million which is a 36 per cent growth. The Management will add new facilities such as a restaurant, soft music entertainment parlour and other eco friendly features to woo more tourists and to offer them traditional plantation hospitality. General Manager of The Tea Factory, P. Roshanlal Perera said that due to the peace process, the bloom in the local economy, Sri Lanka's tourism sector recorded arrivals and The Tea Factory also patronized high number of Free Independent Travellers (FIT), local tourists and tour operator organised tourists. "Our hotel also patronizes foreign weddings and conferences. We are also in to aggressive marketing to attract more Free Independent Travellers. We do our best to maintain colonial outlook at our hotel which the western tourists like most and we have showcased the legendary history of the place. Our hotel converted from a tea factory built during the days the British retains its original facade and features", Perera said. "The occupancy rate for the last year consist of 2 per cent FIT, 12 per cent locals and 57 per cent tour operators. The present occupancy at the hotel is very satisfactory and foreigners including Indians and Pakistanis like this hotel and its ambience. The hotel is also accommodated with a "Misty Mountain Spa" with attractive features for Oriental massage using ayurvedic oils", he said. "We have also set up a full size replica of a train restaurant to provide a unique dining experience for our tourists. This hotel has also won awards such as UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Merit Award 2001, South Asian Architecture Award, Most Innovative Product and RICS Award 2000. Tea factory Hotel is managed by Aitken Spence group of hotels. ######### GOH refurbishment drive halted by Shirajiv Sirimane The refurbishment plans to construct 22 additional rooms by the management of the Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) Colombo has been halted due to a directive by the Archaeological Department. The Hotel owned and operated by Bank of Ceylon reconstructed 22 rooms on their second floor. According to the Manager of the Hotel, Lanil Jayawardane the investment was made from their own profits. "We did not borrow from any bank or the parent company for this investment," he said. The management then decided to go ahead with the second phase to reconstruct 22 rooms in the third floor. "This floor too was closed down and was in a state of decay. This was one reason for us to refurbish it," he said. Another reason is to get additional revenue. The hotel was selling the newly constructed second floor rooms at 75 dollars and they have a 90 percent occupancy. He said that the hotel which is over 140 years old is now attracting high end clientele. "Last year we had a revenue of Rs. 83 million and up to the end of July the hotel had Rs. 106 million and this year seems to be the best year for the hotel," he said. The Chairman of the Tourist Board Udaya Nanayakkara had said that Sri Lanka is urgently in need of star class rooms and he has a plan to add 1000 star class rooms for the up coming season in Colombo with the assistance of star class hotels in Colombo. When contacted an official of the Archaeological Department said that GOH is an old property and it has a cultural heritage behind it. "This is why there is a protest against the change of the image of the premises," he said. Asked why the department did not protest before the construction, he said that they were not informed about it. The official said that since the hotel is located in a prime business area they would have to reconsider about the issue. "The Minister will be briefed on this and would take a decision," he said. |
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