Earl’s Regency does Kandy proud

Combining refinement with first class hospitality, the Earl's Regency, Kandy has since 1999 been a favourite with guests looking to enjoy the grandeur of the hill country in five-star comfort. The hotel recently gathered another feather in its cap, when it was awarded the ISO 22000 international standard award.

The award by SGS in Switzerland, one of the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification companies is recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Specifying the needed requirement for a food safety management system, the key element of this award is the principles of Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP), interactive communication, system management and pre-requisite programmes.

Earl's Regency, Heritance Kandalama and Tea Factory are the three hotels coming under Aitken Spence Hotel Managements Ltd which received the award, making it the first Sri Lankan hotel company to achieve this feat. General Manager of Earl's Regency Thusith Samaraweera believes that to have received this award after a relatively short functioning span, was an achievement itself.

"This award has now put us out there in the international market and it is indeed a great pride for the country as well that these hotels were awarded the ISO 22000," he said. Emphasising that this award will be an additional benefit, during these hard times, he added that the commitment put in to this achievement, will definitely pay off.

"Hygiene, standards and quality are vital factors at present in the tourism field, and in the recent future, it is almost predictable that this standard will be a requirement," said Director/ Operations, Aitken Spence Hotel Managements Ltd. Roshan Fernando. He added that though the process took quite a while, the fundamental step taken was the discipline in all departments ranging from stores, engineering and food and beverages, to even the suppliers.

Heading the team who worked towards the award was Executive Chef of Earl's Regency U. Sivaraj. "Achieving this feat was a tough, long-drawn process and it was reached slowly, but steadily. The entire process began about one and a half years ago and the support I got from the management and the entire staff was wonderful," he says. The award basically means that it is now accepted that the food at the hotel, beginning with the supplier and throughout the entire process, right until it is on the guest's plate, is hundred percent safe. The standards include planning, implementing and maintaining a food and safety management system which will comply with all the requirements.

Earl's Regency spread over 12 acres, has over one hundred rooms, including a Presidential Suite, Mountbatten Suite, Executive Floor and Deluxe rooms with private balconies overlooking the mountains and the Mahaweli.

The hotel offers a range of restaurants and bars, the latest being the popular Mirrorbelle fine dining restaurant. Well-known for its banqueting facilities, the hotel boasts of the Regent Ballroom which can accommodate nearly 800 guests.