Club Palm Bay: Paradise on beach

By Sanath Weerasuriya

The 'Club Palm Bay' (CPB) in Thalawila Wella, Marawila , is  star class resort with 104 spacious chalet type air conditioned rooms and two luxury suites, started its operation in 1997 on this golden stretch of beach.

Thalawila Wella is a remote fishing village off Marawila town and not much heard of until this star class touch came to the life of the village in 1997.

The 'Club Palm Bay' (CPB) is on a 22.5 acre land situated in between the Mangrove lagoon and the sea in Thalawila Wella, Thoduwawa off Marawila.

CPB was the first purpose built all inclusive hotel in this country. That being so a guest was entitled to an all 'inclusive package' which covers not only food and drink but sports and recreation facilities.

‘Apart from F& B and other hospitality services, Club Palm Bay Hotel is the largest property with enhancing sports facilities’ said Shiran Gunawardena, the Manager Marketing of the property.
This property comprises a 9-hole course, two flood-lit tennis courts, a gym and an assortment of other facilities which make it a convenient place for the guest who was not keen on scouting around for such facilities.



The surrounding environment of the lagoon and the beach and of course the day to day life style of the people of the area has not changed or been affected by the building of this five star property: claimed Nishada Periyapperuma, the Director Operations of the York Hotel , the managing company of CPB.
'This is an all inclusive package concept hotel, though it is not a very popular attraction. Club Palm Bay is the only hotel in Sri Lanka predesigned for this concept,’ explained Nishada Periyapperuma, the veteran hotelier and the beverage expert. 'Meals are inclusive of breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, evening tea and snack, dinner and midnight snack. All meals are in buffet style and spread in three restaurants,’ he said.

Club Palm Bay Hotel Marawila offers a grand treat in the 'Kundira' Restaurant, 'Mangrove' Pool Bar and the other restaurant for casual dining. There are also special sun-loungers in the hotel that serve drinks and snacks throughout the day on the beach. After snacking and dining, you can unwind in the Coffee  area. ‘Kundira’, the main open air restaurant, 'Cutty Sark' speciality restaurant and 'Ran Tambili' Poolside Bar are the three spots of attraction in the hotel. Guests have the privilege of enjoying indigenous Sri Lankan food or international cuisine at in-house restaurants.

Kundira Restaurant has all the comforts including fine dining buffet and snack type facilities around the clock. The Sunday buffet is one of the biggest attractions of the hotel for families with live music. Facilities provided to guests in the rooms include attached bath with hot and cold running water, telephones, with IDD facilities, personal safe, satellite TV and piped music.

The fresh water pool has a separate kiddies’ area. The day-care service is also provided for needy parents. 'Other than as the holiday and leisure outing place, Club Palm Bay is now getting popular as a conference and workshop venue for local and as well as foreign companies and missions' explained Winston Sundarampillai, the GM of the Hotel.

A conference room with banquet facilities fully-equipped providing seating accomodation for 350 people and round the clock laundry service is also available.

Tennis and table tennis, volleyball, badminton, squash, snooker and billiards, pool, gym, archery, fishing, go-kart racing, canoeing, cycling, paddle boating, waterwalking and other forms of excursions too have not been overlooked. 'The hotel is basically popular as a family outing place mainly because of the 'kid corner', which has all the facilities. It is the real action centre for kids' he said.