Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort invests Rs. 500 million to add rooms and to go green

Solar to the hotel with an investment of around Rs. 100 million

Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort the Sabaragamuwa Province, only four-star resort hotel will be investing over Rs. 500 million to add more rooms and towards installation of Solar, to be a greener friendly hotel. Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Director Operations and Finance Chandana Pathmakumara said that due to its unique location with quick access to southern highway entrance, Udawalawe National Park and the Elephant Transit and other attractions the hotel is much sought after by high end tourists, families as well as corporate clients.

“The hotel also has Sri Lanka’s only underground theatre which could accommodate 40 guests under new normal health regulations and has one of the largest wedding reception halls in the province to accommodate 400 guests and a separate conference hall with a seating capacity of 200 with modern facilities and hence is a preferred MICE and banquets destination as well. The property has 79 rooms which consists of 24 Deluxe, 29 Super Deluxe and four Suites and 22 Grand Suites. We did have plans to increase our room inventory for the past five years but had to put them on hold due to various negative reasons the industry faced.” He stressed that during theCOVID-19 as a p[art of their responsibility they never resorted to retrenching staff and even paid them wages. “We are upbeat of the tourism sector and will continue with our plan to complete the partly built 22 suites pumping additional Rs. 400 million, increasing our inventory to over 100 keys. This addition will help to woo more upmarket travelers to the region and help increase MICE. We are also looking at introducing professional and well planned wellness packages including a Spa mixing traditional and modern treatment which will help to increase ‘guests nights’ as well.”

Pathmakumara who counts over 30 years’ experience in the industry having started as an accountant from Banyan tree in Polonnaruwa and ending up as the Manager in it and subsequently working in the Maldives before joining the Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort said that in a bid to make me more ‘green’ they will install solar to their hotel with an investment of around Rs. 100 million. “This will firstly help to totally reduce our monthly Rs. 1 million plus electricity bill and secondly help us to earn via supplying to the national grid. Another greening project we are involved in is the converting of wet garbage to produce biogas that is being used for cooking purposes in the staff kitchen. We also produce liquid fertilizer using our wet waste which is another noteworthy greening project we are involved in. We attract many high end guests, tour groups mainly for lunch and dinner due to its superior and well spread buffet. The hotel also has plans to invest in an outdoor restaurant to cater to more local travelers."

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Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Director Operations and Finance Chandana Pathmakumara