Sri Lanka's first School of Advertising ignites the industry

SPAACS - the Sri Lanka Professional Advertising And Creativity School has set alight the Sri Lankan advertising industry as the first and only academy solely dedicated to training and guiding a new generation in the multi-faceted art of advertising.

Located in Thimbirigasyaya, SPAACS is now open to all those with a knack for being creative individuals with a passion for sharing ideas.

Initiated with the assistance of the Triad Group of Companies, lessons at SPAACS are conducted by some of the biggest names in advertising and offers students comprehensive courses in all aspects of advertising agency operations including client servicing, account planning, creative and production.

"The advertising industry is a highly skilled and progressive industry and is comparable with any other. Unfortunately there is little known of the vast opportunities for youngsters in brand communications because there is a misconception that you have to be a good artist or writer to make a career in advertising," said CEO, JWT, Thayalan Bartlett speaking of SPAACS.

"It takes a lot more than that to be a successful ad professional in the 21st century. I congratulate Triad & Sarva Integrated on their noble initiative to educate and introduce youngsters to the challenging world of advertising," said Bartlett.

"Through SPAACS, the entire advertising community comes together to share their knowledge with a whole new generation," added President, IAA, Imal Fonseka.

All classes are to be conducted by eminent and renowned professionals in the advertising industry, with a basic course for beginners and several advanced courses for specialised skills, plus special sessions by well known ad gurus on a number of varied topics.

"One keeps on learning throughout one's life and this is particularly true in the field of advertising. With this in mind I would like to wish Triad/Sarva well on the commencement of their School of Advertising. The advanced courses on Sinhala Ideating and Digital Imaging were of particular interest to me," added President of the 4As, Laila Gunasekera Martenstyn.

After successful completion of courses at SPAACS, students will be given an opportunity to start an internship at leading advertising agencies and advertising-related companies. The SPAACS qualification will also be instrumental in facilitating job placement opportunities for students.

"This novel venture will no doubt be a great success, as it will create a backbone for bringing in new advertising professionals and be a starting ground for all those with a knack for creative ideas and strategy," said Past President of the 4As, Kenneth Honter.

For more information and enrollment details call 0773 868220 or visit www.spaacs.com.

CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting available in Negombo

AG School Negombo which was established in 2003 to provide a quality professional education in Negombo has announced plans to launch the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting study course with a new teaching module that will enable students to prepare themselves better and face examinations with confidence. 

The CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (CBA) provides students with a fundamental grounding in the basics of business and finance and is beneficial to all students irrespective of the career path they decide to take. The CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting can be entered at any stage in a career, either straight after school or college, after studying at university or if you are interested in a career change.

The CBA which is a six month programme is a stepping stone towards the CIMA Professional Qualification. This qualification offers students the opportunity to build and develop their business and financial knowledge which will go a long way in enhancing and shaping their careers.

AG School was set up at a time when there was a great need for a fully fledged business school in the region to serve students in and around the Negombo belt. The establishment of this school has enabled students from this region to acquire an internationally recognised qualification without the hassle of traveling to Colombo. 

AG School is well known in the education field and has the complete infrastructure to cater to the demands of the students including a well equipped library, computer centre and air conditioned classrooms. The school also has an eminent panel of dedicated lecturers.

Speaking on the launch CEO, AG School, Gayan Perera said, "We are honoured to be recognised as a CIMA Listed College and we have taken on with pride the responsibility of tutoring this world acclaimed professional qualification maintaining high standards. 

AG School is a member of the Camillus Group of Companies.

World class training in tourism and hospitality

With the launch of the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality (CTH) programme in Sri Lanka by PATHE Academy, Sri Lankans can expect a training programme that is on par with European standards.

Chairman, CTH-UK, Simon Cleaver will launch the Hospitality and Tourism Programme in Sri Lanka and it will be delivered by PATHE Academy.

CTH provides gold standard management training for the tourism, travel and hospitality industries.

Over 7,000 students follow the CTH programmes globally.

CTH with its strong industry endorsements from Virgin Atlantic, GTMC and Star Alliance, students can be confident they will have a first-class learning experience, leading to valuable qualifications. This is supported by the Institute of Hospitality endorsement of the Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications.

The Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality will continue to specialise in unique professional qualifications which lead to rewarding careers in the industry, either directly or after final year university degree.

PATHE Academy and CTH Supports the Tourism and Hospitality industry through a discount offer for the industry.

The staff of hotels and travel companies which are registered with the Tourism Board/ IATA or relevant government authorities will be offered a 25 % discount on the course fee. This offer is valid till December 31.

PATHE Academy is the regional GSA representative for the international chain, bringing an internationally recognised and accepted programme to aspiring Sri Lankan students who do not have to spend huge sums of money to get qualifications of international repute.

PATHE Academy delivers the programme with an industrious, experienced lecturer panel. For details on the CTH programme contact PATHE Academy at 37, School Lane, Colombo 3. A full time officer in charge of handling queries is available on 0773171300 or on 011 2502012 or visit the website www.patheacademy.org or the CTH website www.cthawards.com.

ACHE - bringing the world together

"American Education Brings The World Together" was the theme when the American College of Higher Education (ACHE) held its sixth transfer and graduation ceremony at a glittering function at the Kings Court Ballroom of the Trans Asia Hotel in Colombo recently.

The Chief Guest was Deputy Ambassador, US Embassy in Sri Lanka, James Moore while the Guests of Honour were led by Associate Vice President for International Education, Broward College, Florida, USA, Dr. David Moore accompanied by a host of other dignitaries of the Broward College and its affiliates world wide, who had come from the USA, Singapore, etc. for this significant occasion. Also associated in this event was the Vice Consular Officer, US Embassy, Joel Weigert. The graduating students numbered 105.

CEO, ACHE, Sherryn Yaseen Mangalagama delivering the welcome address stressed on the importance of the American system of education in the present international context of globalisation which was instrumental in the choice of this year's theme.

Dr. David Moore expressed his deep satisfaction on the enormous progress made by ACHE under the guidance of CEO Sherryn Yaseen Mangalagama  and Director Operations Suresh Yaseen.

Associate Vice President, North Dakota State University, USA, Dr. Sudhir Mehta outlined the opportunities offered by the NDSU specifically in the form of the 1 + 1 MBA programme and American system of education,

These sentiments were echoed by Deputy Ambassador James Moore in his address. He commended the significant role played by ACHE in the furtherance of education in Sri Lanka. He observed that ACHE has placed 948 students in highly reputed universities across the globe so far.

Dfcc to invest in a 'future ready' generation

At a recent event, presided by officials of the Ministry of Education, principals and teachers of schools, DFCC Bank unveiled its corporate social responsibility initiatives for 2009 and beyond.

The bank, in its new approach to CSR will place top priority on empowering children. Whether they give computers to schools, equip a laboratory or library, supplement the curriculum with field trips, seminars and workshops for children or merely provide water and sanitation where needed, they recognise that educating a child has lasting effects on the nation.

Enhancing public school education through an early learning  programme centred on the Japanese discipline of '5S' and the '3R' principles (Re-use, Recycle, Reduce) will be DFCC's social  priority for the next five years, beginning 2009.

The programme is designed specifically to advance the skills young children need to thrive in a competitive world. Teacher training and parent guidance will be a key part of the crucial work of inculcating in children good habits and respect for the environment. The training will enable teachers to effectively weave the disciplines into the early-learning classrooms. Parents are expected to encourage children to take the disciplines beyond the classroom and into their homes.   

The vision of DFCC's CSR initiative is to guide children 'Towards An Exemplary Society.'  The programme will be initially launched in selected schools country-wide but will continue to scale up as the years roll and is planned to be made available to a number of needy schools in the future.

In October, DFCC organised an amateur photo exhibition and competition titled Sobha 2008 to raise awareness on the need to protect the environment. Selected photographs from the exhibition will be displayed in schools in an effort to inculcate in children a sense of appreciation of the beauty of Sri Lanka.

Ceylinco Life donates classrooms to five rural schools

Hundreds of children from underprivileged rural schools are now studying in better conditions thanks to Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of Life Insurance leader Ceylinco Life.

The company's latest Schools Development Project begun earlier this year has to date benefited six rural schools for which the company has built classrooms and donated furniture and other needs.

Four of these schools, the Saliyapura School in Mollipathana, Ruwanwella Maha Vidyalaya in Ruwanwella, Wegedera Junior School in Maho and Rambakanyagama Vidyalaya in Anamaduwa received new classroom buildings. A fifth school, Thanjanthenna Vidyalaya in Balangoda received a special sound-proof classroom for deaf children, while the Pitarathmale Tamil School in Haputale was provided with a water supply facility.

"We view this project as an investment in the future generation," Ceylinco Life's Chief Executive Director R. Renganathan said. "In many remote areas of the country, rural schools are struggling to survive and urgently need help to develop basic facilities." Renganathan said that the company's extensive network of 150 branches continues to identify needy schools in rural areas.

Ceylinco Life's CSR initiatives fall into two categories, projects that contribute to the well-being of the community through enhancement of the quality of life of policyholders and grassroots level projects that enrich the lives of the community in general, particularly the poorest segments of the population in underprivileged areas. Key areas of focus are education, health, lifestyle and livelihoods.

Ceylinco Life has also conducted a series of blood donation camps across the country in collaboration with the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS).  Using the infrastructure and logistics capabilities developed for its 'Waidya Hamuwa' programme of free medical camps and the experience gained in reaching out to rural masses, the company has conducted nine blood donation camps this year and collected 400 pints of blood for the NBTS. This initiative is in response to an urgent national need for blood, Renganathan said.

Sri Lanka's largest life insurance provider for the past four years, Ceylinco Life ended 2007 with premium income of Rs 6.8 billion, an increase of more than Rs 1.1 billion over the previous year. The company's Life Fund exceeded Rs 17 billion as at December 31, 2007.

The ideal degree foundation course

British College of Applied Studies (BCAS) is one of the most renowned educational intuitions in Sri Lanka. Being a leading educational provider BCAS has time to time engineered suitable courses and curricula to cater to Sri Lankan students who are anxious to acquire higher education.

One such course is the unique Access Programme which encompasses degree foundation studies. This foundation course prepares and moulds students to do their selected higher studies. Access Programme is well designed to equip students with Information Technology skills and mastery of the English Language.

This course makes anyone employable after successful completion. This accelerated course  lasts only four months whereupon students become skilled in the relevant fields. The contemporary course of Access consists of two main areas -  information Technology and English language.

From the very inception BCAS has successfully passed out a number of batches. These batches of students are successful not only in Sri Lanka but also overseas. Over a period of few years BCAS has had an intake of 104 batches  of students.

It is remarkable and due mainly to conviction and satisfaction on the part of management and students respectively. The intake of students increases year by year because of performance.

The Access has two vital departments - IT Department and English Language Teaching Unit. Both departments are equally equipped with qualified lecturers and professional staff to give their best to the students. The learning atmosphere at BCAS is very conducive and to the utmost satisfaction of students.

Apart from imparting knowledge, lecturers go the extra mile to develop the personality of the students by counseling and by extra curricular activities.

After completion of the Access course, many students achieve brilliant results. They succeeded in seeking admission to leading universities in the UK. They have also secured lucrative employment in Sri Lanka and abroad as well. At the same time, students become qualified to follow HND at BCAS. All in all, Access is a gateway to quality higher education.      

For more details contact Isthiquar on 0773 114 105.

SIKSIL rated the 'Best Accredited Study Centre' by SLIM

Siksil Institute of Information Technology (Pvt) Ltd, a leading IT training institute in Sri Lanka was rated as the best accredited study center on student performance in 2007 by Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) at a ceremony held at the BMICH recently. 

Siksil tied up with SLIM in 2007 to continuously enhance the marketing and IT competence of the business professionals in Sri Lanka and offer marketing related IT qualifications to professionals with a view to enhancing their capabilities in facing the business challenges especially in the fields of marketing and information technology.

SLIM recognised the marketing module of the Diploma in Business IT (DBIT) course offered by Siksil as equivalent to Preliminary Certificate of Marketing (PCM) course conducted by SLIM which enables the Siksil students to acquire a recognised marketing qualification. Similarly a PCM student of SLIM will be exempted from the marketing module of the DBIT programme.

Siksil is also initiating action to introduce a Post Graduate Diploma Course of SLIM for their students; in addition Siksil is planning to launch a Computer Applications in Marketing / CRM Programme for SLIM students.

Siksil Institute of Information Technology (Pvt) Ltd. is a BOI approved IT training institute registered under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka (TVEC). Siksil is also an authorized Test Centre for the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) Examinations, and an approved delivery centre for Australian Institute of Business Administration (AIBA), University of Sunderland, UK and Association of Business Executives (ABE), UK.

Singapore Informatics graduation

The 12th Annual Graduation Ceremony of Singapore Informatics was held at Water's Edge recently. The Chief Guest was Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition, Nimal Siripala De Silva. Managing Director of NCC Education UK, which is also a fully owned subsidiary of Informatics Education Ltd., Felix Stravens and Managing Director, Informatics International, Wong Wee Woon attended the occasion as guests of honour.Over 250 students received Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and Bachelors degrees.

Top trainer in South Asia

FranklinCovey  is the global consulting and training leader in the areas of strategy execution, customer loyalty, leadership and individual effectiveness. Clients include 90 percent of the Fortune 100, more than 75 percent of the Fortune 500, thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, as well as numerous government entities and educational institutions. FranklinCovey has 46 direct and licensee offices providing professional services in 147 countries.

FranklinCovey South Asia has grown to be the most respected and preferred training company in India and the South Asian region. Its operations are spread across South Asia with a full-time team of 100+ expert trainers, sales professionals and content experts in various domains and fully operational in the South-Asian region in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan.

FranklinCovey conducts programmes in all formats - public, in-house, train the trainer and one to one coaching. It has established itself as one of the most highly respected players in the world of training and consulting in the region.

In Sri Lanka FranklinCovey has been in operation since 2003 where it has been catering to the well established corporate clientele. 'We were able to conduct a number of in-house and public effectiveness training workshops, which we believe has helped companies to unleash the power of their workforce to focus and execute on top business priorities. The company has grown in stature in Sri Lanka in the last five years and is looking forward to introduce more solutions to organisations, teams and individuals in the future,' a statement said.

FranklinCovey's foundational beliefs are:

1. People are inherently capable, aspire to greatness, and have the power to choose.

2. Principles are timeless and universal, and are the foundation for lasting effectiveness.

3. Leadership is a choice, built inside out on a foundation of character. Great leaders unleash the collective talent and passion of people toward the right goal.

4. Habits of effectiveness come only from the committed use of integrated processes and tools.

5. Sustained superior performance requires the production and production capability  balance - a focus on achieving results and on building capability.

FranklinCovey' values include:

            Commitment to principles: Passionate about content, and strive to be models of the principles and practices that are taught.

            Lasting Customer Impact: Relentless about delivering on its promise to customers.

            Respect for the whole person: FranklinCovey values each other and treats each person as true partners.

            Profitable growth: FranklinCovey embraces profitability and growth as the lifeblood of the organisation.

FranklinCovey Solutions:

FranklinCovey solutions are highly research based and work on universal principles which will affect any organisation in any part of the world.

Some of the solutions are:

            Leadership Solutions

            The 7 Habits Solutions

            The Management Solutions

            Execution Solutions

            Customer Loyalty  Solutions

            Communication Solutions

            Project Management Solutions

Some of FranklinCovey clients in Sri Lanka include the Central Bank, Ceylon Tobacco Company, Carsons Management Services, MAS Holdings, MAS Active, Unilever, Omegaline, Holcim Lanka Ltd, RR Donnelly, MJF Group, NTB etc.

Exercise books from Delmege

Delmege Distributors (Pvt) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Delmege Forsyth Group of Companies entered into an agreement with Print Xcel (a subsidiary of Ratna Book Publishers) recently.

According to CEO Delmege Distributors, Dinesh Nalliah, DDPL will excusively distribute both single rule and square rule exercise books under the brand name Ratna Exercise Books. "We hope to introduce these exercise books which will be available in 80, 120, 160 and 200 pages in time for the new school year."

Nalliah said the exercise books are made of high quality 60 GSM paper imported from Indonesia, with a range of colourful and contemporary covers.

Nalliah said that Ratna Book Publishers had been in the publishing and printing business for over 50 years and together with DDPL were keen on expanding their product portfolio.

Delmege Distributors has an islandwide distributor network with comprehensive reach servicing different channels such as traditional trade, modern trade, food service, as well as non-conventional channels such as cinemas, clubs, and other outlets.

The Company represents global brands in addition to marketing many of their own and is now an accepted and favoured household name.

Explore Mauritius with NKAR

Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean situated in the east of Madagascar and just south of the equator. Mauritius has a volcanic origin and generally sheltered by barriers of coral reefs forming natural, safe, crystal clear lagoons.

Mauritius has long been a dream destination. Known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century, but officially discovered in 1505 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Mascarenhas, the island was occupied successively by the Dutch (1598-1712) and the French (1715-1810), and was ceded to Great Britain in 1814 through the Treaty of Paris. On 12 March 1968, Mauritius became independent. Republic Day was proclaimed on 12 March 1992.

Mauritius has a tropical maritime climate; there are two seasons with minimal differences between them; warm, dry winter (May to November), and hot, wet, humid summer (November to May). The size of the island is approximately 1,860.825 Sq.km and total population is about 1.3 million.

Mauritius is a multi cultural, multi religious island, and 52% of the population is Hindu, Christians are about 28%, Muslims are about 17% and the rest is about 3%. Main languages are English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka and Bhojpuri. It is without a doubt one of the most exotic destinations in the world. A jewel in the Indian Ocean, an island of immense beauty, the island boats 150 miles of white sandy beaches encircled by coral reefs.

Mauritius is one of the most attractive places in the world for tourism. Many tourists come from all over the world to spend their holidays with their families in this exotic island, This is the place for honeymooners from around the world. If you are looking for a very special place to spend your honeymoon, Mauritius is definitely the place for you.

Every hotel on the island offers extensive wedding and honeymoon packages. Everything is possible. You can choose to have an intimate, private occasion or a more adventurous way of exchanging vows. On a sunny beachside, under the sea or in the sky, Mauritius will transform your wedding or your honeymoon into an unforgettable moment.

Mauritius is one of the most attractive places in the world to spend time on white sandy beaches which you have seen only in Bollywood films.

There is a historical monument situated near Pamplemousses Garden, the monument is the tomb of Eyhelepola - the first Adikaram or the Maha Nilame to the last king of the Kandy Kingdom, who was exiled to Mauritius as a state prisoner by the British on 6th June 1825.

Eyhelepola was living at a place called Pamplemousses. It is about 3km away from Powder Mills and about 7 miles away from the capital Port Louis. He finally died at the age of 67 on 1st April 1829 in Mauritius. And even today this monument is protected by Mauritian law as a national monument.

Many Mauritians place flowers and worship this monument and they believe that he still protects people like a god.

Also historical records prove that another 24 state prisoners who actively contributed to the 1818 riots against the British and stood against the British on their occupation of Kandy in 1815, were exiled to Mauritius in 1819 by the British before Eyhelepola's punishment, including Pilimathalawe Nilame, Maththegogda Nilame, Ihagama Nilame and Kohukumbure Nilame.

Many Sri-Lankan visitors from all over the country, especially visitors from the hill capital go to Mauritius Island to pay their tributes to their historical relatives, who sacrificed their lives and their families to win independence for our country from the British.

 There are many more attractive sightseeing spots around the country.

In the northern side visit Pamplemouses botanical garden, this is one of the finest botanical gardens in the world.

 A city tour in Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius, brings you to the colonial times, and it was one of the oldest shipping hubs in the Indian Ocean.

Also you can shop at the landmark shopping complex Le Caudan Waterfront and buy many branded items.

Grand Baie is very famous among the regular tourists for its night life. There are number of nightclubs, discotheques, pubs, shops and restaurants in Grand Baie.

Ile aux Cerfs - just off the east coast is easily accessible by boat.

Ile aux Cerfs is a beach island, a heaven for water sports and golf.

Cure pipe is an exclusive shopping area in the southern part of the island; there are many things to buy at bargain prices.

In Curepipe discover the mystical beauty of nature, where flows a "Sacred Lake," the "Grand Bassin," an unspoilt panorama of the "Black River Gorges" and is on the way to Charamel Seven Colored Earth - a natural phenomenon

Mauritius is also the place for all kinds of water sports in the world. Parasailing, parachute, paddling, sea kayaking, speed boat adventures are just some of them.

Nkar Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd., have specialised tours to Mauritius starting from Rs. 166,000 upwards. Contact 112564584, or email holidays@nkartravelhouse.com or visit www.nkar.travel  for more information.

The travel giant of Sri Lanka

Since its inception in 1979, Hemas Travels has risen to the apex as Sri Lanka's largest and established (IATA accredited) travel service provider. The Hemas Travel office at Hemas House has a team of over 60 travel specialists and a rapidly growing global network of agents.

By building a loyal working relationship between its customers Hemas has sought to provide its clientele with cost effective, sophisticated and tailored, enhanced services which continue to evolve with the advancements of the 21st century.

Hemas Travels was the first travel company in Sri Lanka to be linked up with the Global Airline Distribution Systems enabling the company to have real time access to airline and hotel inventory.

Hemas re-launched its B2C internet travel website, offering a greater selection of online tour package bookings, hotel reservations and real time air ticket bookings and plan on developing their online travel website as well (www.hemastravels.com).

With its penchant for innovation, reliability and exceptional service packages Hemas Travels continues to win countless awards and accolades to remain as Sri Lanka's premier travel company.

A division of Hemas, established in 1990 to develop the leisure travel segment, Prime Destinations pioneered the concept of introducing exclusive holiday packages and experiences from China to African Safaris to Egypt.

Prime Destinations has now expanded to offer a myriad of tour and travel products with related lifestyle services; retail and corporate ticketing, outbound tours, corporate incentive packages and hotel/resort accommodation.

Prime Destinations gives you an extra edge where the whole package is tailored to satisfy and delight on all facets, whether it is the ultimate travel experience, value for money or the mesmerizing range of choices it offers.

Prime Destinations introduces its flagship cruise line Royal Caribbean International to further their objective of providing their clientele with unparalleled service standards and limitless experiences. Prime Destinations as a brand has positioned itself to be the ultimate leisure travel solution provider for any Sri Lankan.

The Royal Caribbean International's Legend of the Seas is the epitome holiday experience. Imagine setting sail into the sentient waters of the Far East and exploring the ocean and its beauty. The Royal Caribbean International will be your abode away from home.

This December 9th onwards Legend of the Seas will begin its short and long voyages across the Asian region, starting from Singapore. Vision Class ships are renowned for their spectacular oceanic view and Legend of the Seas will join with its sister ship Rhapsody of the Seas to guarantee you a mind altering view and an unforgettable experience.

Both these ships are known as the Ships of Light. From the two tier, glass walled dining room to 11 decks, a 7 deck high Centrum to their circular signature Viking Crown Lounges, these ships promise you a star class cruise few could match.

Guests have a fine selection of entertainment like Broadway style musicals, relaxing in the solarium indoor/outdoor pool and a lounge with a retractable glass roof. The younger generation can wet their beaks with the cruise's award winning adventure ocean activities. The cruise also offers a 9m high wall for rock climbing and a 6000 square foot miniature Golf course.

Cuisine aboard the Legend of the Seas is a feast with an array of memorable dishes, delicacies and exotic cuisines, from fine dining to sumptuous buffets to the luscious chocolate themed dishes.

Eureka Interactive refurbishes Holiday Villas website

Eureka Interactive Media has given the Holiday Villas website a facelift with its bespoke solutions, making the site more attractive and user friendly (www.holidayvillas.lk).

The latest project marks another successful revamp of a travel site within the United Holidays Group.

In a competitive environment where customers have an extensive variety of travel destinations to choose from, a website that captures their attention has become a key marketing tool for leisure companies. Through constant change and innovation - powered by Eureka's expertise in the field - United Holidays' websites offer the exact needs of customers. 

With a revamped visual experience to keep up with today's consumer needs, and added new features such as need-specific signature tours, United Holidays and Eureka have ensured that Holiday Villas remains ahead of the competition.

"Despite the tough times faced by the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, the luxury travel segment has been growing steadily. This has been fueled mainly by the many new villas and boutique hotels that have emerged over the past few years. Holiday Villas was created to cater to this segment which has very specific needs. Eureka has delivered a high quality, visual and dynamic site that meets the needs of premium travelers," said Executive Director of Holiday Villas, Chaminda Dias.

Established in 2005, Holiday Villas is a fully-owned subsidiary of United Holidays. Their portfolio includes many of Sri Lanka's exotic luxury villas, boutique hotels, bungalows, and eco lodges. With breathtaking views of the ocean or hill country dotted with tea plantations, these properties offer every guest the opportunity to discover, or even rediscover Sri Lanka in new and exciting ways.

John Keells Hotels shine at Wtm

The leisure sector of John Keells Holdings PLC was represented by its two key players - namely, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and Chaaya Hotels & Resorts at the World Travel Market 2008 in London from November  9-12.

Staged annually in London under one roof, World Travel Market (WTM) is a must attend, business-to-business exhibition.WTM provides a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade industry to meet, network, negotiate, conduct business and stay abreast with the latest developments in the travel industry.

The stalls of the two companies were strikingly branded and the distinctive dcor was well-appreciated. Located prominently, the 'Cinnamon' stall displayed the vibrant colours and indulgent ambience of the brand, while the 'Chaaya' stall created a visual atmosphere of the different experiences made possible through the Chaaya brand. The stalls were visited by Minister of Tourism, Milinda Moragoda.

Representing the Cinnamon and Chaaya Hotels and Resorts stalls were Jayantissa Kehelpannala, Executive Vice President - John Keells Holdings PLC and Sector Head of Leisure Resorts, Channa Jayasundara, Asst. Vice President - John Keells Maldivian Resorts and Head of Sales and Marketing - Maldivian Resorts and Mani Sugathapala, Asst. Vice President - John Keells Holdings PLC and Head of Sales and Marketing - Sri Lankan Resorts.

Keells Resort Hotels owns and operates 11 destinations spread out all over Sri Lanka and  the Maldives, under both the Cinnamon and Chaaya brands.

New appointments at Amadeus

Amadeus, a leading provider of technology to the travel and tourism industry announced that David V. Jones has been appointed to take over as president and CEO of Amadeus IT Group from January 1, 2009. David Jones has headed up Amadeus global commercial operations since 1992 and has a deep knowledge and experience of the travel industry and Amadeus' business.

He has worked side by side with Jos Antonio overseeing the evolution of the company from the newest and smallest GDS competitor, to its current position as the world's leading supplier of travel distribution and IT solutions for the global travel industry. Jos Antonio Tazn will become chairman of the Amadeus Board of Directors from January 2009.

Jos Antonio Tazn said "As I step down from the CEO role it gives me great peace of mind to pass my responsibilities to such an experienced business manager as David Jones. He has the skills and the knowledge to take Amadeus forward to further success. Like all companies we feel the pressure of the world economic downturn, and at times like this it is vital to have the leaders in place that will drive us through to the better times, and future success. David is such a leader."

Furthermore, Luis Maroto, Chief Financial Officer for Amadeus IT Group is appointed to the additional role of Deputy CEO from January 1, 2009, also taking responsibility for Amadeus' corporate strategy. Luis remains CFO of the Amadeus Group, a role which he has fulfilled since 2003.

Philippe Chrque, currently senior vice president, corporate strategy is appointed to the position of executive vice president, commercial to replace David Jones, becoming responsible for all Amadeus commercial operations worldwide. Philippe has been with Amadeus since the creation of the company in 1987.