November 22, 2016 TnH Global 0

Aitken Spence Hotels, Aitken Spence Travels – Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan Airlines conducts FAM tour for leading Indian Travel Agents

Aitken Spence Hotels and Aitken Spence Travels Sri Lanka, represented by Nijhawan Group in India, in association with SriLankan Airlines recently hosted prominent travel agents from India on a familiarization tour. The four-day tour to Sri Lanka from 20^th – 24^th September, 2016 showcased some of the finest hotels from the pristine collection of Aitken Spence Hotels.

The delegation led by Priyanka Nijhawan, Director Representations, Nijhawan Group consisted of prominent Travel Agents. The travel agents experienced the products with stay at Heritance Negombo, Heritance Kandalama, Earl’s Regency and Turyaa Kalutara enabling them to promote the properties better.

Commenting further Suranga Ratnayake, Assistant Vice President of Aitken Spence Travels stated “A tour of this nature gives our partners firsthand experience of Sri Lanka and its’ choice of offerings – ranging from pristine beaches, nature, wild life, culture, food, shopping and entertainment options Sri Lanka has to offer the Indian traveler”.

“Aitken Spence Hotels boasts of having a hotel suited to every need and budget while ensuring that the highest standards of hospitality is maintained with every experience. The chain includes awards winning resorts, distinctive properties, layover and niche market hotels. Heritance Kandalama, has been recognized as Sri Lanka’s most awarded hotel and “an icon of modern hotel design” as rated by the Observer UK while Heritance Tea Factory has been rated by The Independent, UK as one of the ‘Top Five Factory Hotels’ in the world and one of the best 100 places to stay in the world by the Sunday Times, UK. No matter what your preference, Aitken Spence Hotels has the perfect option for you”, stated Althaf Mohamed Ali, Vice President – Sales & Marketing, Aitken Spence Hotels.

SriLankan Airlines has big plans for the Indian Sub-continent region. Effective 1 November 2016, SriLankan Airlines (UL) will be taking over all routes which were operated by our sister airline Mihin Lanka. With this UL will have over 100 flights from 11 destinations in India. The Indian market is very important to us and we aim to tap the same by working closely with the travel trade. We will host regular meetings with stakeholders, travel agents and media in India and encourage them to come and experience Sri Lanka through SriLankan airlines, added Chinthaka Weerasinghe, Manager Northern India, Sri Lankan Airlines.

Priyanka Nijhawan, Director Representations, Nijhawan Group shared that, “India is a growing source market for Sri Lanka and we hope to capitalize on this and increase tourist arrivals to our hotels”. This FAM was conducted to offer Indian travel trade a firsthand experience of hotels enabling them to promote them better and showcase the newly opened Heritance Negombo, one of the most sought after hotel in Negombo. It offers the charm of the island’s West Coast, featuring everything from chic living spaces by the shore, excellent MICE facilities to indulgent spa therapies that revive & restore.

Based on the success of this FAM more familiarization trips will be planned for 2017 to assist in the selling and promoting destination Sri Lanka.