THE ACHIEVEMENTS KEEP RISING FOR JETWING VIL UYANA AND JETWING LAGOON
For parents, seeing their children achieve success in all aspects of life from education to sports counts as the proudest moments of their lives. If you ask them why, there will be a multitude of reasons – the children are happy with what they’ve achieved, the parents are proud of their efforts and hard work; the list goes on!
The love and care placed in developing a child is amply rewarded in such moments, and the feeling is similar for Jetwing Hotels today. Two properties which were created and looked after with much love and dedication are constantly being recognized both locally and internationally- with Jetwing Vil Uyana winning three TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards under the Top 20 Luxury Hotels in Sri Lanka, Top 25 Small Hotels in Sri Lanka, and Top 25 Hotels for Service in Sri Lanka and being the highest rated hotel for Sri Lanka on the Kiwi Collection; and Jetwing Lagoon being chosen as the latest member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Jetwing Vil Uyana certainly deserves such recognition, being a favourite for many from all around the globe. The charming eco-resort was first opened in 2006, on possibly the world’s first manmade wetland for such a purpose. 24 dwellings in four distinct habitats- Water, Forest, Paddy and Marsh along with 2 standard rooms were constructed on a 25 acre plot of land, with each being tucked away in seclusion and offering the finest in luxury and privacy. The undertaking was a huge gamble, with much to lose and yet has paid off in spades in the years past, with reputed publications such as Harper’s Bazaar referring to it as the best eco-luxury hotel in the island. According to TripAdvisor, the world’s largest independent travel site, Jetwing Vil Uyana is ranked No.1 in the Sigiriya region, with many reviewers commenting on the serenity and element of being close to nature – a sentiment repeated recently by Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton. In addition, the property has been given a rating of 90 by Kiwi Collection which makes it the highest rated hotel for Sri Lanka. Kiwi Collection happens to be the world’s largest and most diverse curated collection of luxury hotels, with every hotel personally reviewed and rated by travel experts – being conducted regularly without regard for brand, size or affiliation. This makes the Kiwi Collection extremely valuable to consumers, and has been described as “Kiwi Collection is to luxury hotels what the Michelin Guide is to restaurants” by Forbes.com.
Small Luxury Hotels of the World™ (SLH) brand is an unrivalled portfolio of some of the world’s finest small luxury independent hotels. Comprising over 520 hotels in more than 70 countries, the diversity of the individual hotels, and the experiences that they offer, is exceptional. From cutting-edge design hotels to palatial 17th century mansions, city centre sanctuaries to remote private islands, historic country houses to idyllic resorts – the breadth and depth of the brand is far reaching. At present, there are only 7 SLH member hotels in Sri Lanka, with 4 being Jetwing properties. Jetwing Lagoon, Thalahena is now a part of this prestigious portfolio, a well deserved achievement which resonates with the property’s history and status of being the island’s first resort, as well as the first resort design by legendary architect Geoffrey Bawa. Known formerly as the Blue Lagoon, Jetwing began developing the property in late 2010 and unveiled Jetwing Lagoon in 2012, expanded to 55 rooms and featuring a 100m pool and spa.
Hiran Cooray, Chairman of Jetwing praised the dedication and commitment shown by the associates of both properties, and commented that “throughout the 40 years we have been in this industry, we have come to be known not only for wonderful architecture or great food, but for the experience and service we offer – that of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality. We all look forward to the years to come, and to deliver that experience to more and more visitors from all over the world.”
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.
