| Sri Lanka’s exclusive Ceylon Tea Trails resorts became the first Sri Lankan member of the Relais and Chateaux resorts.
CEO of Forbes and Walker Leisure, Dominique Nordmann attended the 36th Relais and Chateaux International Congress held in Cape Town, South Africa Nov 6-8 for the formal induction of Ceylon Tea Trails into this prestigious association of top end resorts and restaurants, the company said this week.
Relais and Chateaux, established in France in 1954, is the hallmark authority when it comes to selecting the finest and most unique establishments the world over such as the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat South Africa, Kauri Cliffs New Zealand, or UK’s Amberley Castle. Its mission is to spread its unique ‘art de vivre’ across the globe by selecting and representing outstanding properties with a truly unique character, personality, and vision.
The Relais and Chateaux mark represents nearly 500 of the world’s most exclusive resorts and gourmet restaurants across some 58 countries.
“Ceylon Tea Trails is a scenic 4-hour drive from Colombo, perched in the heart of Ceylon Tea country, replete with rolling green hills, colonial plantation bungalows, high tea and exquisite service. Here in solitude, at an elevation of 4000 feet above sea level, are four traditional tea planters' bungalows, infused with a new and decidedly gourmet vibe. Each Ceylon Tea Trails villa, built between 1890 and 1939, offers butler service & authentic period furnishings, accompanied by gourmet meals,” the local company said.
It said the highly stringent selection criteria imposed by Relais and Chateaux upon its member establishments ensures that there is absolutely no stone left unturned regarding quality when a property is admitted into its fold. The signature of the group, ‘all around the world, unique in the world’, speaks about more than just being a unique property, but also that this level of exclusivity carries with it a tremendous level of dedication and commitment to qualify and sustain. In 2010, of the 86 officially registered candidates only 31 new hotels and gourmet restaurants were selected. |
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