Beach Resort re-launched as Calamander Unawatuna Beach
View(s):Unawatuna Beach Resort (fondly known by locals as UBR), one of Sri Lanka’s oldest and most popular beach resorts, was re-launched as Calamander Unawatuna Beach recently at a cost of Rs.1.35 billion, a media release stated.
The Singapore-based Calamander Group, which bought the hotel in October 2011 for close to Rs. 1 billion, has since completely rebuilt the entire set of original buildings, infrastructure, and restaurant; investing a further Rs. 350 million in re-development. Established over 30 years ago, UBR was rebranded as Calamander Unawatuna Beach.
The new UBR maintains the relaxed character of the old, the excellent service from longstanding staff, good food and al-fresco dining; whilst dramatically improving the quality of the rooms and facilities to four star class, hotel stated.
The refurbishment delivers high quality rooms in a contemporary design, with an emphasis on natural light, great bathrooms, five star quality beds and furniture, high-speed connectivity and entertainment systems, and leading branded fixtures and fittings, all at four star prices, it was noted.
Elaborating further Roman Scott, Chairman and founder of The Calamander Group said, “The new Calamander Unawatuna Beach maintains a key role in promoting and developing Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, and reaching the 2016 target. For more than 40 years, Unawatuna beach and UBR have been hugely popular with the North European market, in particular, Germany. The hotel hosts an extraordinary one in ten of all German visitors to Sri Lanka, who proceed to spend over Rs.1 billion during their two week average stay on the island”.
He observed, “Holland, the UK, and Scandinavia tourists are the hotels’ next largest customer base. Most customers are repeat customers, with a large number loyal to UBR for over a decade. These customers demand higher standards today and no longer just want a nice beach with a mediocre room. Thailand has raised the competitive standards for mid priced hotels in the last decade, and we have set out to lift UBR to match or beat them, and keep our German and other traditional North European markets with us in Sri Lanka, staying at the new UBR”.