CHC properties in major refurbishment drive

Getting to position to reap the benefits of the booming post war tourism industry of Sri Lanka, Galle Face Group, which now holds the reins of Ceylon Hotel Corporations (CHC), has embarked on a refurbishment plan for all hotels previously under CHC, uplifting standards and introducing a new wave of hospitality in the country.

After a successful and rapid regionalising, heritage brand extension, restructuring and integration of CHC led by owner Sanjeev Gardiner, the refurbishment and remodelling of the chain of hotels is spearheaded by Galle Face Group CEO/Vice President Chethiya Perera, who returned from his overseas stint in 2010 to revitalise the industry and prepare it for the anticipated good times ahead.

Bagging four key awards at the recently-held Tourism Awards 2012 with Group Chairman Sanjeev Gardiner winning the Entrepreneur of the Year title, CEO Chethiya Perera taking home the award for Most Outstanding Contribution for Tourism and the historical Galle Face Hotel winning title as Best Heritage Hotel and recognised as a Hall of Fame winner, the Group’s announcement of the refurbishment come at a time when the Group is poised for accelerated growth and expansion. Uplifting the standards of the hospitality industry itself with the latest refurbishments, Chethiya Perera has ensured that all properties are brought up to world class standards, encompassing the best of luxury, technology and natural beauty of the properties.

Having invested heavily, refurbishment is now complete at The Lake – Polonnaruwa (formerly known as Hotel Seruwa), The Safari – Tissamaharama, Heritage Ambepussa, Heritage Dambulla, Heritage Habarana, Rest Medawachchiya, and Heritage Weligama.

The surf, Bentota (formerly known as Lihiniya Surf) is currently being revamped. Set on two kilometres of pristine beach, the hotel will be the ideal location for those who seek the traditional ‘sun, sea and sand’ as well as to those who love the adrenaline rush of parasailing, diving, surfing and scuba diving. The Surf is expected to open its doors in November this year with new branding to give it an extra edge in the market.

In the pipeline for a facelift are the properties in Kandy (Hotel Suisse and Queens Hotel), Ella, Kitulgala, Belihuloya, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Hanwella, and Mihintale. At the completion of all projects the Group will boast of all its properties holding ISO 22,000 and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards.

In agreement with the Government’s optimism in tourism with an envisaged growth of 2.5 million arrivals by 2015, the Group believes that its decision to revamp all CHC hotels comes at an ideal time.

Even though all CHC properties will be revamped to stand on par with key hotels, Chethiya Perera acknowledged that the original ‘value for money’ concept would not be compromised. “Even though we are now geared to compete with other hotels for international travellers, we assure that the properties will still be affordable to the domestic travellers who stayed faithful during the trying times of war.”

Chethiya Perera, joining the group with a wealth of experience two years ago, was previously a Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC and CEO and MD of Aitken Spence’s Maldives operations. He also imparted his knowledge as a lecturer at the Hotel School and held the position of General Manager for a number of hotels in Sri Lanka for 25 years prior to taking up office in Maldives.

CHC, now owned by Galle Face Group, has a collection of 19 properties which act as hotels, rest houses, resorts, and restaurants across the island categorised under CHC Heritage Collection and CHC Prestigious Collection.