Rooms
Heritance Negombo runs a total of 139 rooms, including four Junior Suites and one Presidential Suite. All rooms come with a private balcony overlooking the sweeping shore of the Laccadive Sea. The interiors are stylishly decorated with modern wooden furnishings and bright colours, reminiscing the hues of a tropical dawn.
Rooms also come with an open-air sink area, and separate toilet and shower areas – a great feature that provides more privacy and convenience for sharing guests.
I stayed in the Superior Deluxe. A perk for all guests is one complimentary round from the mini-bar, which stocks two cans of local Lion Lager, a bottle of refreshing ginger ale, chocolate bars and crisps.
For guests who like waking up to a view, the Premium Room category comes with a king bed facing the balcony and a view of the magnificent shore.
MICE facilities
The property offers a range of both conventional ballrooms and unique spaces for corporate gatherings. The main banquet hall can accommodate up to 250 pax in cluster seating and is divisible into two, while the two smaller halls can seat 70 and 60 pax each, and can be combined.
Planners should note that the halls are not fitted with built-in AV systems. However, the hotel is able to provide a mobile projector of 3,000 lumens, or bring in an external supplier for a fee. The base rate for a half-day event with snacks is US$35 per pax and US$40 for a full day.
Groups seeking a venue to relax and enjoy a cold bottle against the sunset can book out the See Lounge on level two of the main hotel building. Glass windows frame the room from floor to ceiling, offering a fantastic vista of the shore and its roaring waves. The bar-style lounge can accommodate up to 40 pax and is the perfect location to wind down after a day of meetings.
Other facilities
A total of six F&B outlets can be found in Heritance Negombo. I had breakfast and dinner buffet at the all-day dining restaurant Blue Tart, which offers a wide range of Sri Lankan cuisine, particularly curried dishes and delightful desserts.
Service
We were warmly greeted by attentive staff who aided us at every turn, true to fabled Sri Lankan hospitality. Unfortunately, technical assistance fell short. My room experienced a leak and I requested for service, which did not arrive.
Verdict
Heritance Negombo is ideal for visitors who wish to relax in Negombo before heading out to the rest of Sri Lanka. Its comfortable and modern design brings a subtle resort vibe that is suitable for even serious group meetings.
Number of rooms 139
Contact
Email: hn.ebiz.lk@aitkenspence.lk
More than 500 operators, investors, industry, local councils and government partners have joined forces to deliver a bold new 12-year vision to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more in the Brisbane region.
The Visitor Economy 2031 Vision for the Brisbane region targets visiting friends and relatives, holidaymakers, students, as well as major event and business travellers.
Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Visitor Economy 2031 Vision, developed by Brisbane’s economic development board Brisbane Marketing, in collaboration with industry and regional tourism partners as well as all levels of government, would help unlock the potential of the Brisbane region.
“Brisbane is transforming through A$12 billion (US$8.3 billion) worth of new developments, including Brisbane’s new runway, International Cruise Ship Terminal and Queen’s Wharf Brisbane,” he said, adding that “there is potential to secure an additional A$6.5 billion a year in visitor expenditure and support 50,000 new jobs”.
“In Brisbane, we know there is more to see and do in our region than ever before, but now we need to work together to create a globally recognised Brisbane brand and remarkable experiences to give visitors even more reason to stay and spend in our region.”
The Visitor Economy 2031 Vision aims to build experiences in Brisbane, encourage brand awareness and global advocacy, as well as encourage visitors to explore the entire Brisbane region and use Brisbane as a base to explore the rest of Australia.
Schrinner said work had already started to build a globally recognised brand for the region and unearth new experiences. Some of the initiatives underway include:
A A$10 million cooperative marketing program in collaboration with Brisbane Marketing, Brisbane Airport Corporation and the State Government targeting North America and South-east Asian markets where there are direct flights into Brisbane.
An industry-owned and shared Brisbane narrative, that captures the elements and examples that make Brisbane the region of choice for a growing number of domestic and international visitors.
The recently announced Lord Mayor’s Experience Development Incentive Grant Program that supports local businesses to offer more exceptional experiences to enhance Brisbane’s appeal as a destination of choice.
Brisbane City Council’s River Access Network that has opened up opportunities for new commissionable tourism products, similar to Sealink and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation’s (QYAC) newly launched Yalingbila whale watching tour.
“This Vision is a great example of collaboration, but our ambitions for the Brisbane region over the next 12 years will only be realised through a true partnership approach where all stakeholders continue to come to the table,” Schrinner said.
Brisbane Airport Corporation’s CEO Gert-Jan De Graaff said the city was in a unique position to attract more visitors and entice them to stay longer.
“Brisbane is entering an era of extraordinary opportunity and Brisbane’s new runway is a catalytic investment that will enable significant growth in international visitors for decades to come,” he said.
Momentum for Brisbane is already building with the latest tourism figures showing record numbers of domestic and international visitors from places like Sydney, Melbourne, China and the US.
Forecasts from the Visitor Economy 2031 Vision show the combined value of international and domestic overnight visitors to Brisbane will contribute nearly 90 per cent of total visitor spend and visitors will come from regional markets, interstate capital cities and Brisbane’s top six international markets, including China, India, North America, South Korea, Japan and the UK.