EARL’S REGENCY, KANDY
New look for a new era
Kandy always enjoys the crown spot as the most attracted tourism destination in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately due to the pandemic situation, no foreign travellers visit Sri Lanka, still Kandy enjoys the best destination status with a domestic tourism boom. Completing two decades of excellence, Kandy’s popular five star fascination, Earl's Regency Hotel in Kundasale, is now ready to celebrate ‘Avurudu Season’ under ‘new normal’ with a different style from now on.
The Earl’s Regency was founded at the turn of the Century and has gradually established its reputation as one of the finest Sri Lankan hotels to capture the regality and tradition that defines its Kandyan heritage.
Nestling in the sprawling Dumbara Valley, overlooking the lush Knuckles mountain range and the scintillating Mahaweli River, Earl’s Regency Hotel, after an enormous refurbishment project, is now ready for the coming holiday season. ‘Understanding the proud roots of the land we had settled on, our hotel, one of the most sought-after luxury hotels in Kandy, offers an atmosphere fit for royalty from cuisine, accommodation and comfort’ said Earl Gunasekara, the Group Chairman and the proprietor of the Hotel.
‘The lockdown and dull Covid Period in 2020 came as ‘blessings in disguise’ and we used that opportunity for upgrading and refurbishing our hotel. Not a single staff member was laid off, but got involved in the refurbishing project and they all joined me in grooming the property to be the ‘Crown Jewel of the Kandyan Kingdom’ said Mr. Gunasekera.
‘Banquet areas, Mountbatten Bar and Lounge area and most of the rooms were covered under this refurbishment project, with the investment over Rs 400 million’ he added.
Newly established Royal Pavilion Restaurant and King’s Court Fine Dining Restaurant now offer the best of dining options in Kandy. Earl's Regency is now back in business and are currently welcoming guests with all safety precautions in place, while offering a heightened hospitality experience in the Kandy District.
The hotel under the new skipper
Sharmen Perera, with over 20 years of hospitality experience behind him, has seen quite a few new happenings and additions during the past few months.
‘As we are catering mainly to the Sri Lankan clientele, we are offering a more Sri Lankan oriented April season to celebrate Avurudu. Our motto is ‘Kandyan theme’ in every aspect of the hotel. Apart from all these facilities, we are strictly abiding by the rules and guidance issued by the health authorities. Every corner of the hotel, including rooms and suites are regularly sanitised. The safety of the guests is our main concern’ GM Sharmen explained.
Earl’s Regency boasts of having 141 luxury rooms including 105 deluxe rooms, 22 luxury rooms, three family rooms, ten luxury Suites and the Mountbatten Suite.
The current 40% discounted room rates at Regency range from Rs. 17,000/HBD to 19,000/FBD and Rs 25,250/-FBD upwards for Suites.
‘As we are catering mainly to the Sri Lankan clientele, we are offering a more Sri Lankan oriented April season to celebrate Avurudu. Our motto is ‘Kandyan theme’ in every aspect of the hotel ’ -GM SHARMEN EXPLAINED
It offers seven different styles to meet the needs of any type of traveller, while the food in our restaurants and bars will satisfy any palate. All rooms are fitted with basic amenities while certain rooms have unique facilities such as an in-room Jacuzzi.
All rooms are fitted with a flat-screen satellite TV, A/C, tea/coffee making facility and en-suite bathroom with modern amenities. An appropriately designed Swimming Pool with Jacuzzi facility. Three banquet facilities and kiddies’ area and kid's pool are some of the other attractions.
The Earl’s Regency has some of the best restaurants in Kandy, with dining options ranging from local favourites to international feasts. The Regency takes pride in the gourmet food, prepared by the hotel’s experienced team of chefs led by Executive Chef Devinda Basnayake, well loved by the guests, who visit the hill capital from Colombo and from all other parts of the country. ‘Actually cuisine is one of our main driving forces. Many comment about our cuisine. From a simple Kandyan village meal to five star dining experiences, it's all on the menu’ said Chef Basnayake.
Guests can enjoy our theme nights at the Royal Pavilion restaurant from a delectable array of appetiers, mains, action stations, and desserts.
‘If you are a lover of Western, Eastern, Chinese or Kandyan food, our kitchen is ready for any palate. Special BBQ nights can be arranged on request’ he added. Popularly known for its excellent banqueting
facilities, the hotel has the largest amongst the best in the Central Province. For sports enthusiasts, the hotel has a floodlit Tennis Court, an A/c Squash Court, a fully equipped Gymnasium, and facilities for Badminton, Table Tennis and Snooker.
Actually cuisine is one of our main driving forces. Many comment about our cuisine. From a simple village meal to a five star dining experience, it's all on the menu
Apart from adventure tours, traditional tours to Knuckles, Meemure and Hunnasgiriya, Kandy city round up, Botanical Gardens, Pinnawala, Tea Museum in Hantane and tours to Udawatta Kele, Victoria Golf Links and Mahiyangana are quite popular with the Sri Lankan clientele. ‘Laakshya and Dumbara rata’ villages too are popular with art lovers’ said GM Perera.