Sri Lanka’s New Hotels Feature in World Class 'Hot List'

Sri Lanka has hit the jackpot in this year’s “Hottest New Hotels and Resorts” rankings published in the May 2005 edition of the prestigious US-based travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveler.

Of the 116 hotels - from 38 countries - ranked in the magazine’s Hot List 2005, four were from Sri Lanka.

And among the eight Asian destinations, only Thailand, with seven listings, had more hotels featured in the Hot List.

The River House, the Sri Lankan owned and developed five-suite property near Bentota, received a “hottest” ranking (with three flames). The River House features a hill-top pool and pavilion with breathtaking all-round views of the landscape.

Amanresorts scored two entries, with both achieving the three flame top ranking: Amangalla - the restored, historic 22-room New Oriental Hotel which opened in the Galle Fort late last year, and Amanwella, the 30-suite resort property in Tangalle, south of Galle.

Amanwella is the luxury brand’s newest Sri Lankan hotel which opened on March 15.

The Galle Fort Hotel, situated within the ramparts of the fort itself, was the fourth hotel honoured this year, receiving a ‘hotter’ (two flame) ranking.

The Galle Fort Hotel was developed by Australians Karl Steinberg and Christopher Ong within a 300-year-old derelict Dutch Villa - the largest private villa in the fort -and now comprises 13 suites, a dining room and café.

Sri Lanka Tourist Board Chairman, Mr Udaya Nanayakkara, said that the inclusion of the four Sri Lankan hotels in this year’s Hot List reflects the island’s growing appeal among up-market travellers.

“Sri Lanka has turned a corner in luxury accommodation, further enhancing the island’s reputation as a world-class destination,” Mr Nanayakkara said.

The River House developer, Sri Lankan entrepreneur, ‘Taru’ Fonseka said that it is very promising to see that Sri Lanka has finally “arrived.”

“It is wonderful that Sri Lanka is getting the recognition it deserves for being a luxury destination for high-end travellers,” she said.

“And as this is the first Sri Lankan-owned and managed property ever to be included in this prestigious listing, we are doubly proud!” Taru said.

Galle Fort Hotel co-owner Karl Steinberg said that the inclusion of the Galle Fort Hotel in this year’s Hot List was a great boost for the island’s tourism.

“It certainly cements the Galle Fort as a must-visit destination with world class hotels and exceptional food in an authentic living heritage city, which is still very Sri Lankan and very much alive,” he said.

“With four of the hottest new hotels within a two hour radius - and two of them within four doorsteps of each other - there has never been a better reason to visit Sri Lanka,” he added.

London’s leading newspaper, The Observer, has also turned the spotlight on Sri Lanka’s new, trendy boutique hotels.

The Galle Fort Hotel and Amangalla were awarded third place in the newspaper’s up-market Sunday Observer Travel magazine’s “New High Five” on April 10.

The article described the Galle Fort itself as having “all the hallmarks of the new Marrakech.”

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