From left: Avani Bentota General Manager Channa Ekanayake, LOLC Holdings PLC Group Manager Director/CEO and Serendib Hotels PLC Chairman Kapila Jayawardena, Browns Hotels and Resorts General Manager Sales and Marketing Adrian Jansz and Browns Hotels & Resorts Group General Manager Eksath Wijeratne

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held marking the official reopening of Avani Bentota Resort to the public and beckoning a new age in post-pandemic travel.
It was attended by LOLC Holdings PLC Group Manager Director/CEO and Serendib Hotels PLC Chairman Kapila Jayawardena, Browns Hotels & Resorts Group General Manager Eksath Wijeratne, Browns Hotels and Resorts General Manager Sales and Marketing Adrian Jansz and Avani Bentota Resort General Manager Channa Ekanayake.

Set along Sri Lanka’s western coastline, originally designed by world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, the renovated Avani Bentota Resort is now fully geared to welcome travellers from around the world. Fronted by an investment of Rs.300 million by Browns Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Browns Investments PLC, a full renovation was carried out to meet the present-day traveller’s needs. 

The revamped resort features 75 chic guest rooms and suites, three dining outlets, a gymnasium, spa, as well as two conferencing and event venues, in addition to the modernised facilities, guest support service area and kitchen, in the hopes of providing guests with a more superior and efficient service. While the recently renovated resort boasts of a contemporary and sophisticated design, it retains Bawa’s signature style and an inimitable Dutch-colonial charm.

Guests are sure to be spoilt for choice with one of the most extravagant breakfast buffets in the west coast, which also includes Sri Lankan specialties. For a more intimate setting, guests can indulge in exquisite dining experiences right on the beach with carefully curated menus, simply sip sundowners by the pool or order in. Culinary adventures enhanced with dreamy ocean views are assured at Avani Bentota Resort.

LOLC Group’s investments in the leisure sector are clustered under Browns Investments, which maintains controlling interest in a number of properties in iconic locations in the country. The portfolio currently consists of Avani Bentota Resort, Club Hotel Dolphin, Dickwella Resort & Spa, Hotel Sigiriya, The Calm Resort & Spa, five boutique properties under Reveal The Collection, Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort, Occidental Paradise Dambulla and Occidental Eden Beruwala. 

A further two projects, including a five-star resort in Beruwala and Port City Mega Leisure development comprising of a five-star city hotel are scheduled to be unveiled in the near future. A series of offshore investments in the Maldives, including four resorts and one city hotel/condominium and a five-star resort in Mauritius too has been added to the 
development pipeline.

Commenting on the recent acquisitions, Jayawardena said, “With a steadfast approach to innovation and bold strategies, Browns Investments will continue to invest in the leisure and hospitality sector both in Sri Lanka and overseas, as we believe that there will be an upsurge in travel globally.”  

Wijeratne added, “While the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the hospitality industry worldwide, the global vaccination drives have been instrumental in regenerating and boosting tourist arrivals in to the country. Most tourists currently gravitate towards the informal sector. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that a steady increase in the overall tourist arrivals to the country will result in positive occupancy levels across both formal and informal sectors by end-2022.” 

The unwavering efforts of Browns Hotels & Resorts in uplifting tourism even during the toughest of times, make it one of the most sought-after hospitality brands in the region and is a testament to the optimistic outlook the company has on post-pandemic travel, as it prepares to welcome travellers from around the globe.