Blue Christmas at city hotels
Christmas decorations at the Hilton Colombo lobby. Pic by M.A. Puspha Kumara.
Colombo’s city hotels that usually draw large crowds every year during Christmas have been compelled to scale down operations as the coronavirus spreads and no gala dances for any merry makers to ring in the New Year either!
Hotels are this year functioning on moratoriums on their loans and limited numbers that could be entertained at festivities and workers laid off and some staff on limited paychecks as the travel and tourism industry worries over lost revenues as tourists have been locked out of the country.
City Hoteliers Association President and Ramada Hotel Director M. Shanthikumar explained that every hotel is today limited to food and beverage services and have restrictions on hosting events to only 50 per function.
In this context it may not be viable to keep the hotel hall open for just 50 persons but sometimes “even though they don’t make money they still accommodate smaller crowds and have smaller functions,” he said.
Further there has been a tremendous drop (in business) compared to last year; he said adding that since April to June, and July during the second wave, hotels experienced a further drop.
Sri Lankans who patronized the hotels during the early part of this year dwindled but come December there seems to have been a slight pickup.
All hotels in the city have called off their merry-making and will remain blue thinking of you this Christmas as they try to spread a little bit of cheer by decorating the hotels and making available the festive foods.
Christmas Eve and Christmas day is limited to simply dining in for lunches and dinners that will be available to a limited few at the restaurants in addition to the New Year’s Eve and New Year dining in options.
However, the revelry that goes along with the dinner dances that line up the calendar of events for the month of December are no more!
Shangri-La Hotel Director Communications Niranga Gunaratna in an email interview said as in the past years the hotel has offered festive specials like Christmas-themed feasts at the buffet restaurant to an assortment of goodies.
But in line with the directive of the local authorities, “we will not be having any gala events,” she said adding that only the restaurant will offer exclusive dinners such that their guests can dawn the New Year in a mood of celebrations.
Clients have been making inquiries clearly indicating that guests are keen to enjoy the season whilst being assured of the general safety and wellbeing, Ms. Gunaratna said.
Hilton Colombo has also drawn plans to offer an array of festive foods for clients and create the sense of celebration during this festive period by decorating the hotel to welcome patrons. As in all other hotels the restaurants will be open for anyone wishing to dine-in while adhering to safety protocols. Hayleys Leisure Sector Managing Director Rohan Kaar noted that their restaurants at the Kingsbury are opened but that they are very cautious in welcoming customers as they have to be line with the health regulations stipulated by authorities. “It’s not the normal” as restaurants will maintain distance between tables and ensure safety of those willing to patronize the hotel for lunches and dinners on the special days of this month. “It’s not the massive crowds – the hustle and bustle is not happening” but it will be subdued and safe, Mr. Kaar said.
Sri Lanka’s hotel sector is facing a gloomy December compared to most of its counterparts in other countries which have already scheduled events and grand celebrations with caroling and music and all the revelry that go along with Christmas despite the uncertainty of COVID-19.