Shangri-La Opens Luxury 300-Room Resort in Sri Lanka

Shangri-La has expanded its portfolio of luxury hotels to Sri Lanka with the opening of a 300-room beachfront resort.

The Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa, located on an 145-acre former coconut plantation on the southern coastline of the country, is nestled beside the Indian Ocean and framed by swaying king coconut trees.

The resort can be reached by air from Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and Hambantota’s Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which is 35 kilometres away, or by car via a 240-kilometre coastal road.

“We are excited to unveil the first of two Shangri-La hotels in Sri Lanka and to add a third Indian Ocean resort to the group’s portfolio,” said Shangri-La President and CEO Greg Dogan. “This stunning resort is the perfect backdrop for guests to experience the incredible beauty, culture and warmth of Sri Lanka. We have created a destination within a destination where guests can discover unique experiences and find personal moments of ‘Shangri-La’.”

Beginning at 48 square metres, the guestrooms feature louvered shutters and polished wooden floors that lead to balconies suited for admiring the resort’s lush garden – where peacocks can be spotted roaming the grounds – or ocean vista. Handwoven rugs and ocean blue-coloured panels complement the modern luxury style, and spacious bathrooms are accessorised with stone-clad bathtubs and rain showers.

Each of the 21 suites, ranging in size from 96 to 240 square metres, provides the ultimate in privacy and butler service. Thoughtfully designed with a balcony and oversized rattan furniture to lounge on.

Spa enthusiasts can indulge at Chi, The Spa, where Ayurvedic treatments are delivered using 100% organic herbs and natural products after a personal consultation with the guest.

The sun-drenched setting of Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa encourages guests to bask by one of three salt-water swimming pools, including the Sunset pool and a freeform pool, that blend with the resort’s scenic landscape of flora and leafy surrounds.

Golfers can expect to be challenged on the par-70 course at Shangri-La’s Golf and Country Club when it opens in mid-June. The resort is the first in Sri Lanka to have its own golf course. Designed by Rodney Wright, it encompasses a revitalized former sapphire mine. Players encounter three zones that present infinity ocean views, wide fairways and testing water and bunker features. Lush vegetation and birdlife can be seen along the 5,584-metre long course of salt-tolerant grass. Eco-friendly attributes include the use of degradable organic balls (filled with fish feed) at the driving rage and an irrigation system that harvests and recycles rain water for the course.

With pleasant temperatures most months of the year, outdoor experiences along nature trails are ideal as is taking up one of the resort’s many recreational pursuits, including beach volleyball, mountain biking and jogging.

Enhancing the already extensive list of resort activities is an on-site Health Club offering state-of-the-art fitness facilities, yoga classes and stretching.

Young guests, from four to twelve years of age can make use of the resort’s ‘Cool Zone’, which is dedicated to fun and educational supervised activities.

A selection of four restaurants and bars allow guests to experience a culinary adventure without venturing off property. Among the offerings are Bojunhala for international buffet and Sri Lankan specialities or Sera for hawker-style stalls featuring flavourful cuisines of Southeast Asia. Ulpatha or ‘Watering Hole’ is home to good selection of malt whiskies, while Gimanhala prepares fresh drinks after morning yoga, all day refreshments and cocktails by candlelight.

Shangri-La in the Indian Ocean

Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa is the first of two Shangri-La hotels in Sri Lanka with the second hotel – Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo – slated to open next year.

The group operates two other resorts in the Indian Ocean – Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius and Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives.

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