Fairway Holdings Launches its latest Development – Fairway Galle

A home where contemporary living blends in with Southern Culture and Heritage

On Saturday the 6th December Fairway Holdings launched ‘Fairway Galle’, its fifth vertical living development project in the heritage city of Galle with a classical music concert by the Chamber Music Society of Colombo at the historic Dutch Reformed Church in Galle Fort followed by the unveiling of the model building at Hotel Tamarind Hill in Dadalle. Whilst all previous developments are in Rajagiriya, this is their first project out-of-Colombo.

Fairway Holdings, a leader in the field of luxury high-rise development, embarked on its latest venture – ‘Fairway Galle’ combining the convenience of contemporary living with the quaint charm of this southern coastal city with a heritage spanning over three centuries. The development is in close proximity to the city and a myriad of significant historical attractions as well as a wide array of other recreational activities. Some of the most popular beaches of the south such as Unawatuna, Thalpe and Hikkaduwa are a short drive away.

Designed by Archt Ananda Samarasinghe and constructed by MAGA Engineering, the apartment complex is to be 12 stories high, with ten 750 to 1156 square feet apartments per floor. While the construction work is due to commence in January 2015, the project is due to be completed in early 2017.

Equipped with all modern amenities, the apartment complex will be just a ten minute walk from the beach, and a ten minute drive from the Galle Fort. ‘Fairway Galle’ is conveniently located close to the Galle exit of the Southern Expressway, making commuting from Colombo a breeze. As with every Fairway property this will feature every modern amenity including 24/7 security, a swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, activity room, helipad, club house, gym, kids play area, a convenience store and a jogging track, ensuring the convenience and comfort of all its homeowners.

In less than a decade, Fairway Holdings has gained a sterling reputation for their visionary work, and have been lauded for delivering exceptional value while providing homeowners with the ultimate experience in vertical luxury living. Fairway was the proud recipient of ICTAD Construction Excellence Awards in 2007 and 2010, for their first and second developments Fairway – on the Waterfront, and Fairmount-Urban Oasis. Fairway Holdings promotes sustainability and environmental responsibility, continuously striving to maintain eco-friendly practices with all their projects, and execute their plans in a socially responsible manner. Fairway’s properties follow a ‘Live Green’ concept that prioritizes energy efficiency and minimizes the waste of Sri Lanka’s valuable natural resources, such as water. The designs also maximize the use of natural ventilation and lighting. All these excellent practices and priorities will hold true when it comes to the construction of Fairway Galle, making it a another iconic symbol of the Group’s green vision.

‘Fairway Galle’ is ideal as your home, a second home or even as a prudent investment in this city that harbors a UNESCO world heritage site. More information can be had by calling 011 7423423 or visiting http://www.fairwaygalle.com.

source: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=115896

Ethihad Airways’ first Residence Guest revealed

Etihad Airways revealed that the most exclusive ticket in aviation history – the inaugural flight in The Residence by Etihad™ – has been booked by Miami-based businessman and aviation enthusiast, Mr. Gino Bertuccio, who will be the first person ever to experience the world’s only private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger aircraft.

The Residence, which features an exclusive three-room private cabin, including a Living Room, Double Bedroom and Ensuite Shower Room, is a ground-breaking concept unique to Etihad Airways and will be available on the airline’s incoming fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft. Mr. Bertuccio will have a dedicated Savoy Academy-trained butler on call throughout the duration of his flight, which is part of the unique experience for guests who book The Residence.

Well before Etihad Airways’ first A380 inaugural flight takes off from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) for London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) on 27 December, 2014, a dedicated Concierge team will ensure all aspects of Mr. Bertuccio’s experience are handled with the utmost personal attention, dedication and care.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Bertuccio on board The Residence by Etihad. On December 27, he will become part of aviation history as the first member of an elite group of Etihad Airways guests to enjoy the world’s most luxurious and exclusive hospitality and service experience in the air.”

Mr. Bertuccio who runs Ligi Import Corp said: “I have followed Etihad Airways and I have always admired the products the airline has launched. There are going to be many firsts on this inaugural flight – new amenities, services and other innovations to try. I am excited to experience them all, though I am particularly fascinated by the butler concept.”

Mr. Bertuccio, who booked the inaugural flight on etihad.com, has been passionate about flying since a very young age. A true connoisseur with deep expertise and knowledge of air travel, Mr. Bertuccio flew on his first inaugural 25 years ago and has since traveled on 22 inaugural and final flights in premium class cabins. He is an avid collector of airline memorabilia with nearly 2000 model airplanes, as well as albums filled with boarding passes, certificates and photos from past flights.

“For the first time in my flying experience, I really don’t know what to expect but I do know that flying in the Residence by Etihad will be a truly unique adventure, the top of luxury. I have huge expectations. My only wish is that the flight was longer,” said Mr. Bertuccio.

source: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=116561

Tickets for Expo Milano 2015 available through Alitalia and Etihad Airways

Alitalia and Etihad Airways, the Official Global Carriers of Expo Milano 2015, have announced that tickets for the highly anticipated six-month event can be purchased through their websites and contact centres.

A special early-bird promotion is also underway for Expo Milano 2015 attendees, with a generous discount of 20 per cent available on all tickets purchased before April 2015.

As Official Global Carriers of the event, which runs from 1 May to 31 October 2015, Alitalia and Etihad Airways will play a key role in bringing international visitors to Expo Milano 2015. It is estimated that eight million people will fly to Italy for the event.

Ariodante Valeri, Chief Commercial Officer at Alitalia, said: “Alitalia is proud to be associated with Expo Milano 2015. As part of our commitment to enhance tourism and trade in Italy, we will provide excellent travel connections that will encourage visitors to attend Expo Milano 2015 and therefore create strong demand for ticket sales”.

Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “As Italy prepares to welcome visitors from all corners of the world to its landmark Expo Milano 2015 event, Etihad Airways and Alitalia are delighted to support the event as its Official Global Carriers. In addition to enhancing our travel connections between Italy and key destinations worldwide, today’s ticket sale launch will be followed by a range of exciting promotional offers in the coming months to optimise global participation.”

Alitalia will triple its service frequency between Italy and Abu Dhabi in March 2015 with new daily services from Milan and Venice. As a result, the two airlines will offer a combined 35 frequencies per week between Italy and Abu Dhabi, with double-daily flights to Milan and Rome, and a daily service to Venice.

Etihad Airways will codeshare on Alitalia’s new Milan and Venice routes and connect the services to other destinations across its international network. Its ‘EY’ code was also recently added to 15 of Alitalia’s domestic Italy routes, as well as additional routes beyond Rome within Europe, offering travellers even more choice and convenience.

Furthermore, Alitalia will offer a number of new routes for summer 2015, especially on its intercontinental network, enhancing the opportunities for visitors to reach Expo Milano 2015.

Both airlines will exhibit at next year’s Expo with a joint pavilion measuring 1,150 square metres. Empowered by modern technology, visitors to the Alitalia and Etihad Airways pavilion will be encouraged to delve into the social media world and learn more about the airlines’ destinations, aircraft, products and services, as well as the event’s key themes.

Tickets for Expo Milano 2015 go on sale today via alitalia.com and etihad.com, and can also be purchased by calling the airlines’ global contact centres.

source: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=116640

SriLankan takes delivery of second A330-300, re-fleeting expected to power turnaround

SriLankan Airlines Friday took delivery of its second Airbus 330-300 continuing an extensive re-fleeting program it hopes will enable it to turnaround to profit from its present loss-making position.

The new aircraft named “The City of Sihagiri ” will be utilised on the major Far Eastern markets of Canton, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, the airline said in a news release.

This latest wide body A330-300 aircraft with superior inflight features and comfort, advanced technological features and enhanced fuel efficiency joins the airline’s existing all Airbus fleet. The fuel efficiency, particularly, is expected to be a major factor in a turnaround.

SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena said, “The induction of another new A330-300 aircraft in to our fleet within a short span of two months is another testimony for our continuous efforts to modernise our aircraft fleet to deliver a superior flying experience for our valued passengers.

“We at SriLankan firmly believe the new A330-300s will be successful chapter for us in operational terms, with the most recently acquired aircraft reflecting a strong customer interest and high seat factors on the routes it has been deployed on to date.

“We have already received very encouraging feedback from our customers expressing high levels of satisfaction on the superior features and comfort of this aircraft.”

The A330-300 powered by twin Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines known for its proven passenger appeal and fuel efficiency is one of the most widely used wide body aircraft in service today.

With the latest arrival of a brand new aircraft and another five to follow during the course of 2015, SriLankan Airlines says it will offer its customers the luxury of completely transformed Business and Economy class cabin interiors.

“Passengers will be afforded a new flying experience whilst satisfying customer demand for increased capacity on the primary routes of the Far East thus enabling the airline to increase passenger traffic, strengthen load factors and improve on market share in leading growth markets of the region and including some of Sri Lanka’s main tourism generating markets,” the news release said.

Affording optimum levels of comfort in the aircraft cabin, this new A330-300 too will configure its layout seating 297 passengers in two classes accommodating 28 in Business Class with flatbed seats and 269 in Economy.  It also boasts of state- of-the- art cabin features, such as the latest Thales Avant Audio-Video on Demand (AVOD) and ambient lighting across both cabins, on-board wireless connectivity and ultra-comfort in seating, it added.

SriLankan said it is the first airline from the Indian Subcontinent to offer in-flight Wi-Fi and mobile phone access, enabling its passengers to stay productive and keep in touch with friends and family at affordable rates while flying.

The airline commenced its fleet renewal programme in October this year with the addition of the first A330-300 to its fleet. SriLankan will also be acquiring eight of the new generation A350-900s, with three due to be delivered in 2016 and a fourth in 2017 and the balance thereafter.

source: http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=116308

1.5 millionth tourist arrives

Sri Lanka yesterday welcomed the arrival of 1,500,000th tourist for 2014 at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The name of the milestone visitor was Torence Jimmy, who along with Qupika Hedwig arrived via UL 558 Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Germany. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau officials including Managing Director Rumy Jauffer and representatives from the travel and tourism industry extended a warm welcome – Pix by Deepa Adhikari

 

Source :http://www.ft.lk/2014/12/29/1-5-millionth-tourist-arrives/

Aliya Resort and Spa wins at World Luxury Hotel Awards

Aliya Resort and Spa was awarded the ‘Luxury New Hotel in the Indian Ocean’ award at the prestigious World Luxury Hotel Awards 2014 (WLHA). The awards considered the most exclusive in the industry is also regarded as the pinnacle of achievement for luxury hotels and spas worldwide.

Aliya Resort & Spal

Aliya Resort and Spa opened in January this year, is the most recent four star (4*) addition to the region. The resort is the proud recipient of the Gold Award in Green Rating System of New Buildings, from the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka (GBCSL), the first of its kind awarded to a recipient in the Hospitality Industry. This is also the very first award to be accorded to the resort. This year Aliya Resort & Spa also claimed ISO 22000:2005, the certification on food safety, as well as the membership in the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
The 20 acre property nestled among the lush greenery of rolling fields, ancient indigenous trees and chena growth captivates the true idyllic village charm of the central province with a breathtaking view of the Sigiriya rock and Pidurangala located a few kilometres away.
The resort offers its guests and unparallel level of elegance and comfort with its spacious chalets and charming luxury tent rooms with all modern amenities and opulence. The resort specialties include the Ayurveda spa, elephant study centre and a paddy museum making it ideal for a unique family getaway.
The award by the WLHA was presented at the Annual Gala ceremony held in South Africa in December this year.

Source : http://www.ft.lk/2014/12/24/aliya-resort-and-spa-wins-at-world-luxury-hotel-awards/

 

Ceylon Tea Trails wins Savoir Faire Trophy

• Awarded for high quality of service by the prestigious Relais & Chateaux association

Malik Fernando receiving the award from the Chairman of Moet & Chandon and CEO of Relais & Chateaux, at the Paris Opera

Ceylon Tea Trails was awarded the prestigious ‘Savoir Faire’ Trophy at the Relais & Châteaux 60th Anniversary celebrations in Paris this past November.

The Savoir-Faire trophy is awarded as a recognition of excellence in maintaining a high standard of service. “The professionalism of teams, and the savoir-faire of those men and women who make them up, is recognised by the Savoir Faire Trophy, awarded in association with Glenmorangie whisky.”—Relais & Chateaux.

Award being handed to Lalin De Mel, General Manager of Tea Trails on behalf of the Tea Trails team

Relais & Chateaux, established in France in 1954, is the hallmark authority in selecting and representing outstanding properties with a truly unique character, vision, gourmet cuisine and outstanding service. Tea Trails was the first member in Sri Lanka and its sibling, newly opened Cape Weligama, is the second.
Tea Trails is perched at an altitude of 1,250 metres in Sri Lanka’s panoramic Ceylon tea region. Settle in one of the four restored tea planter’s bungalows with period furniture and gourmet cuisine. Observe life on a working tea estate while being pampered by your personal butler. Each of the four bungalows is unique: lakeside Castlereagh & Summerville, Norwood with panoramic views and Tientsin, the most traditional colonial.
This is the ideal setting for trekking and biking against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains, lakes, winding roads and waterfalls. “We are happy that our efforts to showcase the beauty and quality of Ceylon tea, and those who toil to produce it, are recognised by this trophy,” said Malik Fernando.

 Source : http://www.ft.lk/2014/12/24/ceylon-tea-trails-wins-savoir-faire-trophy/