The 300-room
beachfront Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa opened 2 June on a 145-acre former coconut plantation on the southern
coastline of Sri Lanka.
Nestled beside the
Indian Ocean and framed by swaying king coconut trees, the resort doubles as a
quiet retreat or spirited getaway, with some of the world’s captivating
wildlife and exotic birds in nearby national parks. The island nation boasts a
colourful heritage, and its southern coast caters to leisurely exploration with
historic temples, quaint fishing villages and secluded beaches.
Showcasing the
essence of the tropical setting is the resort’s open-air lobby – made of
natural materials and dotted with local handicrafts. Upon arrival, guests are
met by turquoise sea views, the sound of breaking waves and Indian Ocean
breezes before they are whisked away by electric tuk-tuk to their private
guestroom.
Beginning at 48
square metres, the guestrooms feature louvered
shutters and polished wooden floors that lead to balconies suited for admiring the
ocean vista or the resort’s lush garden – where peacocks can be spotted roaming
the grounds early mornings. Handwoven
rugs and ocean blue-coloured panels complement the modern luxury style, and
spacious bathrooms are accessorised with stone-clad bathtubs and rain showers.
Each of the 21
suites, ranging in size from 96 to 240 square metres, provides the ultimate in
privacy and butler service. Thoughtfully
designed with a balcony and oversized rattan furniture to lounge in, the
interiors reflect the island’s beauty through vibrant colours and look out to
the emerald green hues of the fairways or Indian Ocean. All guests can stay connected with Wi-Fi.
Spa enthusiasts
can indulge at CHI, The Spa, where Ayurvedic
treatments are delivered using 100 per cent organic herbs and natural products
after a personal consultation with the guest.
In all, twelve indoor and outdoor treatment rooms are a haven for stress
relieving massages, facials and body treatments, and a treat for the senses.
The sun-drenched setting of Shangri-La’s
Hambantota Resort & Spa encourages guests to bask by one of three salt-water
swimming pools, including the Sunset pool and a freeform pool, that blend with
the resort’s scenic landscape of flora and leafy surrounds.
Golfers can expect
to be challenged on the par-70 course at Shangri-La’s Golf and Country Club. The resort is the first in Sri Lanka to have its own golf course. Designed
by Rodney Wright, it encompasses a revitalized former sapphire mine. Players
encounter three zones that present infinity ocean views, wide fairways and
testing water and bunker features. Lush
vegetation and birdlife can be seen along the 5,584-metre long course of
salt-tolerant grass.
With pleasant
temperatures almost all the time throughout of the year, outdoor experiences along nature trails
are ideal as is taking up one of the resort’s many recreational pursuits,
including beach volleyball, mountain biking and jogging. Enhancing the already extensive list of
resort activities is an on-site Health Club offering state-of-the-art fitness
facilities, yoga classes and stretching.
Young guests, from
four to 12 years of age, will find their paradise at the resort’s ‘Cool Zone’,
which is dedicated to fun and educational supervised activities. It is an extensive Kid’s Club on the
island. Primed to be popular are arts and crafts, a flying trapeze, the drone
flying experience, trampolining and the water park. The resort is conveniently situated to view
marine mammals off Tangalle Coast and to visit the family-friendly Kalametiya
Bird Sanctuary as well as the Rekawa Lagoon and Mangrove ecosystem.
Providing a
first-hand window into the local culture, Kadamandiya Village enables guests to
learn about the artistry of rural craftsmen that keep the traditions of Sri
Lanka alive. Five traditional studio
huts house artisan weavers, sculptors, painters and potters. Their hand-crafted
creations are available for purchase in the village to support the artists. In
the evening, Kadamandiya Village is transformed to stage scheduled dance, music
and Angampora – Sri Lanka’s indigenous martial art – performances amid servings
of local cuisine and refreshments.
A selection of four restaurants and bars allow guests to experience a
culinary adventure without venturing off property. Among the offerings are
Bojunhala for international buffet and Sri Lankan specialities or Sera for
hawker-style stalls featuring flavourful cuisines of Southeast Asia. Ulpatha or
‘Watering Hole’ is home to a fine selection of malt whiskies, while
Gimanhala prepares fresh drinks after morning yoga, all day refreshments and cocktails
by candlelight.
Providing an environment for inspired experiences, the resort’s abundant
outdoor spaces provide various settings for different occasions – whether it is
a destination wedding set under palm trees or under the moonlit beach, or a gathering
of meeting delegates. The resort’s multi-purpose 2,525 square metres of event
space encompasses an extensive hotel banquet and meeting facilities in
Sri Lanka. Supported by outdoor
pavilions and a ballroom that host up to 1,000 guests, additional function
rooms – Kandy, Hatton and Badulla – offer a combined space of 84 to 91 square
metres for 100 or more guests. Smaller venues Haputale and Nuwara Eliya span
70.5 square metres and accommodate up to 84 persons.
Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka is offering a
variety of opening packages, including an
all-inclusive offer for two, priced at US$247 per night, valid until 22
December 2016. Room rates start at
US$216, single or double occupancy, and include breakfast. The resort can be reached by air from
Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and Hambantota’s Mattala Rajapaksa
International Airport, which is 35 kilometres away, or by car via a
240-kilometre coastal road.
Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa is the first of two Shangri-La
hotels in Sri Lanka with the second hotel – Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo – slated
to open next year. The group operates two other resorts in the Indian Ocean –
Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius and Shangri-La’s
Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, an iconic flagship brand of the Shangri-La Group, currently operates over 80 deluxe hotels and resorts with a room inventory of over 35,000. Renowned for its distinctive Asian hospitality, the Company has properties in destinations of Australia, Canada, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group’s award-winning Golden Circle loyalty programme extends to all properties of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide. For more information, visit
www.shangri-la.com.