Kingsbury Colombo: No issue with minimum rates, plans expansion
View(s):The newest General Manager at a key Colombo hotel says that the minimum rates in the city need to stay.
The Kingsbury Colombo which has become a key host for international conferences, conventions and weddings has plans to open a new Japanese restaurant, a food festival next month and another ballroom later this year, the hotel’s new GM from Canada, Scott Mawhinney said.
Commenting on the city’s minimum rates, he said that The Kingsbury is a firm believer of this concept and that it played an intricate part of the hotel’s business. “It’s a guideline used to further the development of the hotels and tourism industry,” Mr. Mawhinney explained.
“Sri Lanka is very popular now – it’s receiving tremendous attention internationally,” he explained adding that they had just concluded last month a Chevron Lubricants conference for its executives in Asia Pacific and New York. Another banking conference with over 30 countries participating and a global freight forwarders conference was also held in February, he said.
In addition they will be bidding for one conference in November competing against cities like Singapore, Zurich and London, Mr. Mawhinney said.
He also noted that with the commencement of March are the weddings that will galore during this period with a dedicated team assigned for this purpose and customised solutions provided for clients with dancers and drummers, DJs and musical groups as well.
The Balmoral, Winchester and Victorian ballrooms would be made available for these weddings, he said.
Weddings business is “phenomenal”, Mr. Mawhinney said adding that The Kingsbury is known for its chefs to sit down with wedding parties to discuss the menu plans and not just make selections off a selected menu list with a luxury and personalised service.
The hotel was also playing host to the Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister in the country this week to meet the business community, the GM said. In April the hotel will be opening its doors to a Sri Lanka Food Festival to showcase local delicacies that would ensure the outlook for Sri Lanka is strong.
The new Japanese restaurant is scheduled to be opened in September this year on the 10th floor as there is a demand for this specialty of food for a seating capacity of 60 seats, the GM said.
In addition, another ballroom will be constructed adjacent to the pool area called the Regent that is scheduled to be completed by November/December this year expected to seat a capacity of 250 persons.
| Kingsbury’s apartment hotel opens next month Platinum One, the apartment hotel of The Kingsbury is scheduled to open next month. The apartments comprise 40 units with a sea view and the provision of usual amenities as in a hotel with a pool café and a Kings bar and restaurant with the concept of living in a house by the sea, The Kingsbury Hotel GM Scott Mawhinney said. He noted there are 26 units privately owned and serviced by the hotel adding that they have a strong demand that also provides services like laundry, room service and spa. The demand is generally from people who travel with families and those Sri Lankans re-locating to Colombo. In addition, Mr. Mawhinney said they had received requests from embassies to provide accommodation for their officials staying in Colombo. | |