Mount Lavinia Hotel kicked off their festive season from the 2nd of December with the lighting of the tallest natural Christmas Tree at the hotel's premises. This special Christmas Tree lighting ceremony was graced by the hotel's occupants and invited guests. The highlight of the event was the carol singing done by the St Thomas's college choir.
Mr. Anura Dewapura, the General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel |
Religious leaders and other dignitaries representing all religions also graced this occasion and took part in the ceremony. Guests were invited to a wonderful spread of Christmas delicacies including eggnog, cookies, mince pies and much more. Mount Lavinia Hotel has a rich history that dates back over 2 centuries, the hotel is filled with fascinating architecture and romance which have won it both local an international acclaim. The hotel is also one of the most famous wedding venues and the best when it comes to food and beverages. The Sunday Times FreeHold Supplement spoke to Mr. Anura Dewapura, the General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel to find out about what the hotel is offering for the festive season.
"The hotel will be celebrating a traditional Christmas which will include different Christmas foods from across the globe, where a new country will be featured everyday. Christmas delicacies from countries all over the world such as Finland, Switzerland, and France etc. will be featured during these celebrations. On the 6th of December we will celebrate St. Nicholas’s Day. On the 10th of December we have organized a special Christmas Slow Food dinner", says Mr. Dewapura.
Christmas at the Mount Lavinia hotel does not stop there on the 13th of December the hotel will celebrate St. Lucia's Day. Christmas Carols with Nuovo Vita, Voice Print and the Wise Men Choir will commence on the 2nd, 6th, 13th, 21st to the 24th of December, where one could listen to inspiring renditions of your favourite carols at the hotel's Courtyard. A Christmas Eve dinner buffet will be held on the 24th of December offering the best of traditional and contemporary cuisine at the Governor's Restaurant and Terrace.
A special Christmas Lunch will be offered on the 25th of December at the Empire Ballroom and the Governor's Terrace; in addition to this a welcoming Christmas Dinner which will leave you with wonderful Christmas memories will take place at the Governor's Restaurant and Terrace. Enjoy a Gospel Jazz Brunch under the sun on the 27th of Dec which will offer a mouthwatering spread of soul food, seafood and an oyster bar as well as a grand dessert buffet accompanied by gospel and jazz music by Jerome Speldewinde, Jags Quartet and Voice Print, at the Governor's Restaurant and Terrace.
Also on the list of Christmas specials is the hotel's enchanting Gingerbread House which is filled with a fabulous range of Christmas delights such as Stollens, Breudhers, Yule Logs and Christmas cakes etc. 31st of December will indeed be a spectacular night. Glamour Night organized by the hotel geared to make you feel like a celebrity which includes an enchanting evening all the way through to breakfast at sunrise.
"On the 16th of December we have organized to show off two famous DJs from Germany at the Little Hut. We have also planned many things for the month of January which will include a special South Indian Food Festival and a Tapas promotion. In February we have organized a Chocolate Dinner Extraordinaire accompanied by symphony music and chocolate food tasting etc. We also hope to open our Lavinia Tunnel in the month of February all of which will coincide with the Valentines Day celebrations. The month of March will also be a significant month for the hotel as we plan on bringing down the White House chef to Sri Lanka, who worked for the famous American presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush", further stated Mr. Dewapura.
The hotel will also be going Green next year which will place it as the only Green Hotel in the greater Colombo area. The hotel has already allocated a special compost area and is also looking at purifying and bottling its own drinking water. And by the looks of things they have replaced weedicides, fungicides and pesticides with biocides which is another "going green" initiative.
Speaking on the hotel's progress especially after the war Mr. Dewapura said, "Last month was one of our best so far especially with regards to the hotel's room occupancy and food and beverage sales. I personally feel that this trend will continue in the future as well. We have many foreign and local guests and a percentage also includes the diaspora coming back to Sri Lanka and I think this winter period the entire hotel industry has experienced a fabulous growth in business sense. Our ultimate goal is to become the centre point in the food and beverage circuit in Sri Lanka providing a never ending source of entertainment and exceptional service standards to our guests at all times."
Filled with romance and entertainment Mount Lavinia Hotel is the ideal pace to spend this year's Christmas and New Year celebrations. So if you are looking to spend an unforgettable time this season with friends and family then Mount Lavinia will undoubtedly offer everything that you are looking for and more. |
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