Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC), owned by the Gardiner Group which has so far invested Rs. 1.5 billion in refurbishing its properties, has embarked on a massive rebranding exercise which will be unveiled in January, officials said. “We refurbished 11 properties and with the launch of The Surf (formerly Lihiniya Surf) we’ll be unveiling the new [...]

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The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

Hotels Corp properties to rebrand in January

By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera
Changes at Sri Lanka's domestic tourism chain
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Ceylon Hotels Corporation (CHC), owned by the Gardiner Group which has so far invested Rs. 1.5 billion in refurbishing its properties, has embarked on a massive rebranding exercise which will be unveiled in January, officials said. “We refurbished 11 properties and with the launch of The Surf (formerly Lihiniya Surf) we’ll be unveiling the new branding of the hotels in January,” Chethiya Perera, CEO/ Director Galle Face Hotel Management Co. Ltd, under which the CHC rebranding comes, told the Business Times. He said that with refurbishment of all their CHC properties which are predominantly patronised by the domestic travellers they are now geared to attract foreign tourists as well.

“We have completed refurbishing the 100-room The Surf and the 52-room The Safari (formerly Tissa Rest House) with a comprehensive development programme at a cost of nearly Rs. 600 million,” he said, adding that the balance 30 rooms of Surf were refurbished with added facilities. Having refurbished Heritage Ambepussa (Ambepussa Rest House), Ambepussa Avanhala, Heritage Pussellawa (Pussellawa Rest House), Medawachchiya Rest House, Weligama Bay Inn, Dambulla and Habarana Rest Houses, The Surf and The Safari; the Gardiner Group will start refurbishing the Queens Hotel and Hotel Swiss as well. As yet the costing for these two hotel refurbishments aren’t finalised as yet. “Grand Ella Motel and Kithulgala Rest House, Belihuloya Rest House, Sigiriya Rest House and Hotel Seruwa are also being refurbished. The cost of these projects is estimated to be over Rs. 500 million. Hotel Mihintale and Hanwella Rest House will also be refurbished thereafter,” Mr. Perera said. He said that Polonnaruwa Rest House which be upgraded in March next year to a boutique-level hotel will have 11 rooms.

Mr. Perera said that during the last year occupancies of these properties have increased significantly. He said that the Gardiner Group has significant interest in the Maldives. He added that OZO Kandy hotel, a joint venture between Sino Lanka Hotels Holdings, headed by Bob Kundanmal and Kandy Hotels Co. PLC – owning company of the Queen’s Hotel and Hotel Suisse, a part of the Gardiner Group is underway.




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