“Ceylon Hotels Corporation ready to attract foreign tourists” says Chairman

The Safari, Tissa

The Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC says it is now geared to attract foreign tourists, having several of its facilities which were primarily patronized by the domestic travelers been refurbished.

The Company which has suffered a net loss of Rs. 59 million during the year 2010/2011 financial year says, 58 rooms out of its 88 room capacity “The Surf-Bentota” hotel and the 52 rooms at “The Safari” have been refurbished.

The CHC says the balance 30 rooms of Surf Bentota are being refurbished with added facilities.

Lakshman Samarasinghe, the Chairman of the Ceylon Hotels Corporation PLC says both projects saw an investment of Rs. 600 million.

Samarasinghe said, one of the reasons for the net loss suffered by his firm is owing to the 4 month closure of “The Surf” and “The Safari” properties for refurbishment work.

He said both the above mentioned properties have been upgraded into 4 star grades following the refurbishment.

“CHC is happy to inform you that the occupancies of these properties have increased significantly”, added Samarasinghe in his review published in the year 2010/2011 annual report of the firm.

Ceylon Hotels Corporation also has refurbished Heritage Ambepussa, Ambepussa Avanhala and Heritage Pussellawa.

CHC last week has reopened its Dambulla and Habarana Rest Houses after refurbishment.

“We spent 25 million to refurbish those two properties”, Samarasinghe told News360.lk.

Grand Ella Motel and Kithulgalla Rest House, Belihuloya Rest House, Sigiriya Rest House and Hotel Seruwa is currently undergoing refurbishment.

According to Samarasinghe, a swimming pool is being established in the Seruwa Hotel.

“Seruwa Hotel refurbishments and new additions will incur a sum of Rs. 100 million”, added Samarasinghe.

During the year 2010/2011 financial year, the turnover of the Company has gone down to Rs. 278.9 Million down from Rs. 325.8 Million earned during the previous year.

However, the Group has recorded a turnover of Rs. 641 Million compared to Rs. 536 Million last year, which is an increase of 20%.

The Group also has recorded a net profit of Rs. 51 Million compared to a net loss of Rs. 39 Million in the previous year.

Kandy Hotels PLC, United Hotels Co. Ltd, CHC Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Tissa Resort (Pvt) Ltd. and Airline Services (Pvt) Ltd are the subsidiaries of CHC which has performed well during the financial year which ended on the 31st of March 2011.