DestinAsian’s 2010 Luxe List Paradise Road The Villa Bentota of Sri Lanka

12th October 2010, www.dailymirror.lk

The DestinAsian correspondents visit dozens of new properties across Asia and Oceania and select only those that, in their esteemed opinion, excel in terms of design, location, service and value. A spot on the Luxe List represents DestinAsian’s seal of approval. On newsstands internationally and available online at www.destinasian.com, the list includes such recognized other properties such as, Armani Hotel Dubai, Aman Resorts Hangzhou, The Peninsula Shanghai, Ritz Carlton Shanghai, Leela Palace Kempinski Udaipur, Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul.

In less than a year since opening in December 2009, Paradise Road The Villa Bentota has had the great honour to represent Sri Lanka on these internationally recognized and respected listings and acknowledging of both Conde Nast US Hot List 2010 in April and now DestinAsian’s 2010 Luxe List. This is an achievement for both Paradise Road who ventured into the hotel trade in December 2007 with the opening of boutique hotel, Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, and Sri Lanka.

Within it first 5 months, a review of the Paradise Road The Villa Bentota was featured in Conde Nast UK’s April edition and has since also been included in Harpers Bazaar’s UK August edition on the Sri Lankan Hot List as being the ‘Best Boutique Retreat’.

Less than 1.5 hrs from Colombo, Paradise Road The Villa Bentota has also become a popular stop for people travelling further down South for dining in The Villa Café. Last week, The Villa Café was informed that it had been voted one of Asia's finest restaurants and will be featured in The Miele Guide 2010-2011.

With the end of the war, development underway throughout the country, the positive energy buzzing and the sharp increase in tourist arrivals, 2011 is looking upbeat for all in the Tourist trade, both direct and indirect and Paradise Road group of companies is looking forward to the change!

Paradise Road The Villa Bentota is housed in Mohotti Walauwa, an ancestral home which was first converted into Sri Lanka's first boutique hotel in the 1970s by world renowned Sri Lankan Architect Geoffrey Bawa. Thereafter it changed hands several times before Shanth Fernando, designer and proprietor of Paradise Road, refurbished and extended the property and re-opened it as Paradise Road The Villa Bentota.
With 7 rooms, 7 suites and the grand Mohotti Suite (which was rated the islands best value indulgence by Conde Nast US), the hotel now houses a The Villa Spa run by Spa Ceylon Ayurveda offering luxury ayurvedic treatments, The Villa Shop, a Paradise Road gift store, The Villa Café and The Villa Gallery, exhibiting Sri Lankan contemporary art for sale.

Images: Architect Geoffrey Bawa and Shanth Fernando