Jetwing Yala opens
Welcome to a world with no rules, no restrictions… welcome to Yala – untamed, mysterious, and magical. For centuries, this incredible destination has been revered as an unparalleled testament to the beauty of the wilderness, nature in its purest and rawest form. Opened by Minister Basil Rajapaksa recently, Jetwing Yala is the latest resort by Sri Lanka’s premier hospitality brand Jetwing.
The 80 room property overlooks spectacular sand dunes and the Indian Ocean, and is located only 3km away from Yala National Park. Jetwing Yala is also 35km away from the recently opened Mattala Airport, and spread over an expanse of 38 acres. Featuring a beautifully designed swimming pool and a spa offering a variety of treatments, Jetwing Yala is set to change the face of the Deep South of Sri Lanka – the perfect blend of luxury and nature.
The resort features Sri Lankan and Asian inspired cuisine experiences, in a variety of different settings. A few examples include dune dining, treehouse dining, and bird hide dining amongst others. There are a number of nearby attractions to be visited, such as the Bundala National Park, an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds, the Tissamaharama Temple, Katharagama Shrine, etc all accompanied by the resident naturalist. Probably the best place in the world to spot leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and a whole host of birdlife, Yala promises unforgettable discoveries and exciting adventures.
Jetwing Yala has been created from ground up to be as sustainable as possible; with the intention of conserving energy and resources, to be a part of the environment and cause little harm to nature, and to reuse and recycle. To aid in these efforts, Jetwing Yala features many initiatives that are now standard at Jetwing properties around the country.
Energy conservation initiatives include illumination through 100% LED lighting and feature LED backlit TVs in guest rooms; a biomass boiler that burns cinnamon wood (sourced through local suppliers) for night time hot water generation along with providing steam for an absorption chiller which supplies the hotel’s entire air conditioning needs (similar to Jetwing Lagoon); a central solar hot water system for daytime demand; a solar photo-voltaic (300kW) plant which will cater to 1/3rd of the hotel’s day consumption amongst others.
“After close to 10 years, we are back in Yala. Our first property, the Yala Safari Game Lodge, was destroyed in the tsunami; a tragedy that left us with much to regret. Yala has been always known for its wildlife, and as a result quite a lot of other superb experiences are missed out on. The beaches of Yala are magnificent, and its sand dunes are spectacular… this is what we are trying to accomplish. We hope to see the resort being known as an icon of the Deep South of Sri Lanka, and where an adventure will be truly yours and yours alone.” said Hiran Cooray, Chairman of Jetwing.
Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 40 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand. 
Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment. Considered a priority, sustainable and responsible practice is implemented through the award winning Jetwing Eternal Earth Programme; with energy efficiency, community upliftment, and education of earth saving measures to schoolchildren being a few tenets of the Programme.
[Via Colombo Gazzette]
