Sri Lanka’s premier event of hospitality and leisure industry ‘The Hotel Show 2010’ is set to be held for the 6th time from 16th to 18th of July at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre. The hospitality and leisure industry is the next wave of development with increasing tourist arrivals to the country at a time when a new era of peace has dawned in Sri Lanka after post war sentiments. It will bring opportunities like never before to the tourism industry development and creating Sri Lanka a world class destination for travelers around the world. In the view of achieving this goal, the biennial exhibition ‘Hotel Show’ has gained very high recognition through past 12 years in the region for facilitating the stage for local and international hospitality industry suppliers in order to meet the international standards of the industry. This time also “Hotel Show 2010’ is once again creating more opportunities to industry suppliers to meet the key decision makers and potential buyers in the hospitality trade. The Exhibition is organized by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association (CHSGA) with Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) under the guidance of Ministry of Economic Development.
Speaking on the success of the ‘Hotel Show’ exhibition President of CHSGA, Mr. Sarath Fernando said that they are planning to host Hotel Show in every year. “Before 1998 Sri Lanka never had a professional event for hoteliers so Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association finally came up with Hotel Show where all hospitality trade suppliers could take part. Now this is the premier hospitality industry event which suppliers can showcase their products and services to potential hoteliers in the country. As the situation of the country is improving after thirty years of war, we are thinking of hosting ‘Hotel Show’ on every year.”
“As the Government of Sri Lanka is gearing up to target 2.5 million tourists by 2016, hoteliers are looking at quality products. Even the visitors at a hotel will look in to quality products and more comfort entertainment. “said the former President of CHSGA and the Chairman of the Organizing committee of ‘Hotel Show 2010’ Mr. Trevin Gomez. “As the quality and standards of the hotels improve the rates could also be improved providing a better service. A typical resort room rates which were at US $ 40 is now going at US $ 65-70 range. Not only for hoteliers and hotel staff but Hotel Show 2010 is the ideal place for other service providers such as television, telecommunication and insurance service providers to showcase their best quality products” added Mr.Gomez.
He went on to say that at a time when tourism industry is moving up to a boom hoteliers had almost started to refurbish their hotels and many have ventured into new Hotel Projects Island wide. “There are three hotels which are refurbished alone including Blue Oceanic, Hotel Goldi Sands. July is not generally a tough time for hotels so all hoteliers have time to come to this grand event” said Mr. Trevin Gomez.
In spite of challenges in the tourism industry which were faced during last three decades as a result of ongoing war in Sri Lanka ‘Hotel Show’ has grown during past 12 years catering to its level best to hospitality industry and its development. Hotel Show 2010 showcase products and covers a whole set of services including furniture, laundry, kitchen utensils, software and hardware and this year lots of foreign service providers and suppliers from Dubai and India are also taking part. Almost all stalls numbering over 160 had been already sold out in the event and only about 5% of space of stalls remaining for other potential participants of ‘Hotel Show 2010.’