Colombo gets ‘high’ moving into 2018
View(s):New Year’s Eve parties were a splendid time for hotels especially in the city of Colombo which took advantage of the larger numbers streaming in. While some preferred to play host at reasonable rates others sought to give a choice of rates quoting prices even at Rs.25,000 per head.
Cinnamon Hotels Group General Manager (GM) Rohan Kaar told the Business Times on Wednesday that their hotels were full and packed with some of the Sri Lankan diaspora in addition to foreign tourists even the diplomats in the country.
In fact he noted they could not accept any more bookings and the shows at the different restaurants at the hotels were considered a complete sell out.
Rates at the Cinnamon hotels were diverse from Rs.5,000 to Rs.12, 000 to allow for a more reasonable pricing to entertain a larger clientele. Moreover, the children were provided reasonable rates in order to ensure that the entire family could welcome the New Year together without pulling out all the cash.
At the Galadari they had exceeded expectations with more Sri Lankans found partying till dawn in addition to those that had come down from other countries to Colombo. “This year was a tremendous success,” the hotel’s GM Sampath Siriwardena said.
He noted that while the Coffee Shop lounge area was mainly used by inhouse guests and families that were looking forward to welcome the New Year with their kids, it had attracted over 275 people at this lounge where the rates were Rs.6,500 per person.
The California Grill with Mignonne was also filled to capacity it was noted by those who preferred to listen to this veteran singer and others numbering one hundred were partying at Rs.7,500 per head.
All rates were increased slightly from the previous year and it was noted that they had also had an seasonal event at the ballroom which was handled by an event management company attracting about 300 guests at a price of Rs.18,000 per person.
Mr. Siriwardena noted that there was a 25 per cent increase in bookings for the midnight bashes that ushered in the New Year.
The Kingsbury which attracted large numbers as well was one hotel where the New Year’s Eve dance went at Rs.25,000 as but it was noted that they offered value for money.
The ballroom of the Kingsbury was said to have been packed and that there was a gathering of a number of diplomats that participated at these events in a bid to welcome 2018.
Kingsbury Marketing Director Denesh Silva told the Business Times that they had found this year to have generated about Rs.3-4 million more in revenue from the parties and dances compared to 2016.
Mr. Silva pointed out that the Kingsbury would always cater to Sri Lankans in terms of buffet and brunches and past experience that had made them one of the best venues to say Auld Lang Syne.
In terms of numbers of customers at the Kingsbury there were about 4200 guests partying that night, about 900 more than in previous years, he explained.
Kingsbury had a wide choice from a BBQ at Rs.5,500 to an Rs.8, 500 New Year’s Eve party in addition to a sky high price of Rs.25, 000 for its priciest choice. The Retro Fusion party was sold for Rs.18,000 and another at Rs.2,500.
Some of the resort hotels had also advertised in the newspapers recently about the availability of a choice to pick from to herald in the New Year.
At the Earl’s Regency in Kandy the New Year bash was selling at Rs.7,000 and the Christmas lunch was at Rs.3,000. Meanwhile, the Marriott Resort Weligama Bay attracted visitors to its midnight bash that sold for Rs.10,000.
So the partying was in full swing in Colombo and the city catered to the largest numbers of people wanting to spend the last day of the year at a hotel in the city. It also attracted party-goers from across the board from the high spenders to those seeking out a reasonable bill that would allow not just one or two but even an entire family to be together when 2018 dawned.