Gardiner Group gearing to refurbish its heritage properties
View(s):By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera
The Gardiner Group is gearing to refurbish its heritage properties soon, officials said.
“Refurbishment of Galle Face Hotel, Kandy’s Queens Hotel and Hotel Suisse is in the pipeline,” Chethiya Perera, CEO Vice President – Galle Face Hotel Management Company Ltd., (owned by the Gardiner Group) told the Business Times on the sidelines of the launch of the newly refurbished The Surf Bentota. It was formerly Lihiniya Surf and managed by the Galle Face Group. A senior official at the launch said that GFH’s Regency wing will go for a soft refurbishment while its Classic wing will go for a full scale renovation.
It is slated to be closed for about one and a half years for refurbishment, he said. He added that Hard Rock Café, a global chain of theme restaurants is also slated to open at GFH. The official said that the 8,000-square foot cafe will feature a 200-seat restaurant, live concert venue and Rock Shop complete with Hard Rock’s limited-edition merchandise.
The Surf which was refurbished recently is also the only resort to offer swim-up rooms in Sri Lanka. The hotel has 65 superior rooms, 26 deluxe rooms, three suite rooms and six family suite rooms and also provides a dual pool and a private beach stretch, which is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. The spaciously designed Balinese Spa, the Chillout disco and karaoke lounge allow visitors to relax and enjoy their vacation. The resort which cost Rs. 1 billion to refurbish also offers a versatile dining experience to visitors with five dining areas that include the L’Heritage as the main restaurant, Fruit De Mere which specializes in seafood, Der Café coffee shop that functions 24 hours for late diners and visitors, the Arab Corner to enjoy Shisha and Arabic coffee and the Lagoon for an dining experience at the beach while star gazing.
Pic shows Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa at the hotel with officials including Sanjeev Gardiner, Chairman of the Galle Face Hotel Group.
“The refurbishment of the hotel whose staff base is 178 involved a lot of planning and organissing because our focus was to offer something extraordinary to our customers Having refurbished Heritage Ambepussa (Ambepussa Rest House) Ambepussa Avanhala, Heritage Pussellawa (Pussellawa Rest House), Polonnaruwa Rest House, The Surf and The Safari CHC has now embarked on refurbishing Dambulla and Habarana Rest Houses (which will be re-opened on 15th October), Mr. Perera added.
He said that last year occupancies at these properties increased significantly. Grand Ella Motel and Kithulgalla 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, Madawachchiya Rest House, Weligama Bay Inn and Hanwella Rest House also will be refurbished thereafter,” Mr. Perera said.
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