Shangri-La Hambantota Resort Grand Opening Showcases Sri Lanka’s Natural Wonders to the World ...

Spanning 145 acres, the hotel is Sri Lanka’s newest beachfront resort and the first to feature a golf course

From June to December 2016, it introduced three special packages: “Best of Ceylon,” honeymoon, and wildlife tours

Beijing, June 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Boasting 300 beachfront rooms,Shangri-La Hambantota Resort Sri Lankaofficially opened yesterday. Located on Sri Lanka’s southern coast and covering 145 acres on what was once a coconut plantation, the inauguration ceremony was presided over by President Maithripala Sirisena. Guests from Colombo and Hambantota gathered to celebrate this milestone. The grand opening of Shangri-La Hambantota Resort marks a new level of luxury hospitality in Sri Lanka, the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean.”

The hotel beach and vacationing couples

Mr. Kwek Leng Beng,Greg DoganGroup President and CEO of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, said: “We are delighted to announce the grand opening of Shangri-La Hambantota Resort Sri Lanka, one of our two properties in Sri Lanka and our third resort in the Indian Ocean. This beautiful resort offers guests the perfect setting to experience the beauty, culture, and charm of Sri Lanka. We have created a haven where guests can enjoy unique experiences and create their own unforgettable ‘Shangri-La’ moments.”

Staff in traditional attire

Nestled along the Indian Ocean with swaying coconut palms, and close to a national park showcasing rare wildlife and pristine nature, the resort provides a tranquil and serene escape from everyday life. Southern Sri Lanka, known for its rich cultural heritage, features historic temples, quaint fishing villages, and secluded beaches — ideal for a relaxing exploration of nature.

The open-air lobby is constructed with natural materials and adorned with local handicrafts, reflecting Sri Lanka’s tropical charm. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by the blue ocean view, the soothing sounds of waves, and the refreshing sea breeze from the Indian Ocean, then transported to their rooms via local tuk-tuks.

Hotel guest roomsstart from 48 square meters, featuring louvered windows and wooden floors, leading out to balconies that offer lush garden views, occasional peacocks, and panoramic Indian Ocean vistas. Handwoven carpets and sea-blue doors and windows complement the modern and luxurious design. The spacious bathrooms include stone bathtubs and rainfall showers, adding a distinctive touch.

The hotel’s ocean-view suites

include 21 suites ranging from 96 to 240 square meters, offering privacy and private butler service. Each suite has a private balcony and thoughtfully designed rattan furniture, with bold colors reflecting Sri Lanka’s scenic beauty. Guests can enjoy views of the verdant golf course or the breathtaking Indian Ocean. All suites come with complimentary Wi-Fi.

Shangri-La CHI, The Spafeatures 12 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, blending local elements and set in a serene environment — a haven for spa enthusiasts. After a personalized consultation, therapists use organic herbs and traditional Ayurvedic treatments. Guests can unwind with relaxing massages, facials, and body therapies to rejuvenate mind and body.

The resort also boasts three saltwater swimming pools, including one offering stunning sunset views and an irregularly shaped pool that harmonizes with the natural surroundings of birdsong, blossoms, and shaded greenery.

Shangri-La Hambantota Resort is the first in the area to feature a golf course. Golf enthusiasts can look forward to trying out theHambantota Golf Course— a par-70 course.The picturesque course was Rodney Wright designed on a former sapphire mining site.Divided into three landscape zones, the course offers endless ocean views, flat fairways, water hazards, and bunkers.The 5,584-meter course features salt-resistant grass, surrounded by lush trees and seabirds. It also incorporates eco-friendly features such as biodegradable organic golf balls (filled with fish food) and a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation.

The Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa is Sri Lanka’s first hotel to feature a golf course.

Sri Lanka enjoys a mild climate for most of the year, making it ideal for a variety of outdoor experiences along countryside trails. Guests can also enjoy leisure activities at the resort such as beach volleyball, mountain biking, and jogging. The fitness center offers state-of-the-art equipment, as well as yoga and stretching classes.

The resort’s “Cool Zone” is an absolute paradise for children aged 4 to 12. It provides a wide range of supervised, fun and educational activities, making it the largest kids’ club on the island. Colorful entertainment options such as arts and crafts, trapeze, drone experiences, trampolines, and a water park will keep young guests thoroughly entertained. The resort’s convenient location allows easy access to the Tangalle Coast for marine mammal sightings, or to family-friendly destinations like the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, Rekawa Lagoon, and the mangrove eco-park.

At the resort’s Kadamandiya Craft Village, guests can learn unique handicrafts that carry forward Sri Lankan (Ceylon) culture from local artisans, immersing themselves in rich local traditions. The craft village consists of five traditional huts, each featuring weavers, sculptors, painters, and potters. Their creations are sold within the village, with proceeds supporting the work of traditional artisans.

In the evenings, the Kadamandiya Craft Village transforms into a lively stage where guests can enjoy music, dance, and Angampora performances (Sri Lanka’s traditional martial art) while savoring local specialties and snacks.

The resort features four restaurants and bars, offering guests a culinary journey without leaving the property. The Bojunhala Restaurant serves international buffet and authentic Sri Lankan cuisine, while the Sera Restaurant offers open-air stalls with delicious Southeast Asian dishes. The Ulpatha (also known as the “Water Cave”) Restaurant is renowned for its malt whiskies, and the Gimanhala provides freshly made drinks and all-day snacks after morning yoga classes, as well as candlelit cocktails in the evening.

The Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa offers an environment that nourishes both body and mind. Whether hosting a wedding under the palm trees by the sea or on the moonlit beach, or organizing large-scale business conferences, the resort’s expansive outdoor spaces provide the perfect venue for all kinds of events. The resort’s versatile meeting and banquet area spans 2,525 square meters, making it the largest hotel banquet and conference space in Sri Lanka. Multiple outdoor and ballroom venues can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The Kandy, Hatton, and Badulla meeting rooms, with a total area of about 84 to 91 square meters, can host 100 or more guests. Smaller function rooms such as Haputale and Nuwara Eliya, each around 70.5 square meters, can accommodate up to 84 guests.

Three Grand Opening Theme Packages

To celebrate the official opening of the resort, the Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa has launched a series ofstay offers, such as the “Best of Ceylon” package starting from USD 247 per night, including breakfast and complimentary green fees for the Hambantota Golf Course, valid until December 22, 2016; the “Apple of the Eye” honeymoon package tailored for newlyweds, which includes a double breakfast buffet and 50% discounts on room, dining, and spa; and the “Wildlife Safari” family package, which includes breakfast, national park wildlife tours, and boat trips. During the opening period, room rates start from USD 216 per night, with the same price for single or double occupancy, and include breakfast per person per day. For reservations or more information, please visit www.shangri-la.com/hambantota or email slht@shangri-la.com.

Guestswishing to visitthe resort can fly into Colombo International Airport or the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which is just 35 kilometers away, or drive directly along the coastal road from Colombo, a distance of approximately 240 kilometers.

The Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa is one of two hotels operated by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts in Sri Lanka, with the other being the upcoming Shangri-La Colombo Hotel, scheduled to open next year. The group also operates two other resorts in the Indian Ocean: Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa in Mauritius and Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa in the Maldives.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is a globally renowned hotel management company. It currently owns and manages 98 hotels under the Shangri-La brand, with over 40,000 rooms. After more than 40 years of dedicated operation, “hospitality from the heart” has become the hallmark of the Shangri-La brand. Additionally, the group has numerous new hotel projects in the pipeline, mainly in Mainland China and Hong Kong, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka. For further information or reservations, please contact a travel agent or visit the Shangri-La Group website at www.shangri-la.com.

For electronic images of the group’s hotels, please visit the group’s website: http://www.shangri-la.com/corporate/press-room/photo-library/.