Ranweli Holiday Village

Ranweli Holiday Village

Source: http://www.hotel-r.net/lk/ranweli-holiday-village

Reducing Ranweli Holiday Village to its overly modest and simplest self-description "a recreation-based, ecotourism-oriented facility" - may quickly communicate it’s greatest, attributes, but does Injustice to, the effort and refinement that have earned it acclaim Ranweli is far greater than the sum of its parts, even I if it^’s most robust selling points are indeed its positioning, as an upmarket resort that emphasizes outdoor experiences and, says Chandra de Silva, Founder Director and CEO of Ranweli, ifs success-at achieving two major  objectives of ecotourism development, gamely preservation of nature and' the welfare of the community;"

Quiet Paradise

Ranweli is stashed away at the end of a. side road in Waikkal village, 11 km north of Negbmbo. On a seaside peninsula flanked to the east by a mangrove-fringed canal, it works to be at one with the nature of nine hectares of former coconut plantation. Its full capacity of 170 guests in 72 chalet-style bungalows, 10 family rooms and on expanded suite comes as a surprise on ground that, despite wide open spaces arid the proximal sea, promise a real sense of community, intimacy and security.

Source: https://www.tripadvisor.de

In-fact, the entire compound-is made to resemble a traditional Sri Lankan village, constructed using local materials and the wood of one coconut tree & each room. Even the interiors are decorated with pottery and brass lambs made nearby. The ”indigenous aesthetic" extends.to favoring natural light -and refreshing sea-breeze ventilation in all public areas, reliance on which is encouraged in private rooms as well. This is all part of a hotel policy of reduced energy consumption (for example, hot water showers and the kitchen is solar-powered) although all rooms are electrified and provided with the full array of modern Western comforts, including air-conditioning, ceiling fans, mini refrigerators, radios, telephones and en-suite bathrooms. 
The pervasive quality of native ease is further enhanced by the total absence of vehicles, Access tithe peninsula Is controlled via a hand-pole,The swift float from one bank to another Is a delightful sleight of passage delivering guests to a truly tranquil and relaxed world.

Complete Picture 

Holiday goers in search of full services and professional pampering will quickly realize they need not re traverse the canal until departure, delighting Instead In all they could ask for on site; copious and quality buffet meals of Western, Eastern and local cuisines; fully stocked all day bars; a daytime swimming pool and beach access; table sports; Internet access; laundry; currency exchange; Palathuru Masse (fruit and herbal drink stall); and shops selling personal essentials, gems and Jewelry, books and local handcrafted creations as gift items.
Anyone craving more serene solace for the body and soul will appreciate the Ayurvedic Center (open daily except poya holidays), where a free consultation with the doctor directs patients to targeted body therapies and massages, oil showers, herbal saunas, full-body treatments and more. Additionally, paid yoga sessions with a master practitioner are available n Sundays from 4:30-5:30pm.

Outdoor Fun

Of course, one of Ranwell's strongest selling points is its outdoor, active indulgences. Hotel patrons benefit from free access to badminton, Rooms blend with the environment basketball, volleyball and fishing. Facilities for squash and tennis are also available for a fee, as are canoes, and paddle boats. Accompanied motorboat river excursions can be arranged, but water skiing was discontinued due to disturbing noise levels and a negative impact on river and sea habitats.

Day trip devotees will be thrilled by guided or self-led cycle forays to surrounding area attractions and four-wheel jaunts to Annaivilundawa Wildlife Sanctuary for bird watching, or the historic ruins of Panduwasnuwara and Yapahuwa for archaeological appreciation.

Back on the hotel grounds, Wednesday noon is activity time. Village locals visit the hotel to demonstrate cottage-industry crafts like basket, mat or cadjan-leaf weaving, pottery, coir-rope making, toddy tapping, honey/jaggery producing, traditional cooking and medicinal drinks mixing. Finally, there is postprandial entertainment every night - Sri Lankan cultural shows, magic shows, fire limbo dancers, Calypso bands or Oriental bands.

Environmental Awareness

As recreation-conscious as Ranweli is, it is even more committed to making a positive contribution to sustainable tourism. Behind the scenes, waste is first separated and then recycled, composted or sent to a piggery. Solid waste and water are treated. Dependence on plastics has been reduced. Compost is used as a natural fertilizer in the hotel's organic vegetable plots. However, to guests, Ranweli's dedication to environmental awareness is demonstrated through eco-programs focusing on the settigs flora and fauna. An abundance of mangroves has propagated a whole ecosystem easily appreciated from a raised boardwalk in the company of a staff naturalist. Interpreted nature walks bring to life the interconnections of the people and the common plants and animals, complementing the hotel's changing displays of flowers, spices, birds and butterflies of the day.

More complete guides are available for butterfly and bird lovers. These full-colour "folders' catalog (with many illustrations) the mall and female species of 50 of the 54 butterflies and 90 of the 130 birds sighted at Ran well: Boat-based bird watching programs with a resident ornithologist navigate interior canals and last three to four hours. Ranweli is a member of the Bird Friendly Resorts network of the Field Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka.

Community Connections Fundamental to the success of any enterprise concerned about sustainable tourism is the local community of which it is a part. "I have been successful in some small measure in building a symbiotic relationship between the facility and the neighboring community," says de Silva in an article from 1997. "A very significant feature is that this cordial relationship has enabled to preserve the lush and varying vegetation including the mangrove community along the river with its ecosystem enjoyed and studied by many of our guests."

Today, the relationship described is even more true, the surrounding community serving as a source of local materials, fruits and vegetables and staff (43% are local), and benefiting from the hotel guests' need for taxis, shops and artisan goods. Ranweli also supports environmental education in local schools and its company directors are involved beyond the scope of hotel (de Silva is Founder President of the Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka).

Selling Eco-Friendliness

Despite all its qualities, Ranweli still sometimes faces an uphill battle for bookings. “Sri Lanka is still following a model that is now obsolete,"says de Silva. “The model of chain hotels is anathema.The greater the number of stars, the more destruction, the more energy, the more water. The model is wrong. It's the one the World Bank discounted In the 1970s,"

However, just because Ranweli is doing things better does not make it easier. 'Marketing the property as a special product has been hampered by tour operators who do not wish to change their marketing strategy from the beach holiday package," says de Silva.

“You have to have a new generation of hoteliers. The human resources are here, but not yet the business sense. After all, you don't come here to eat steak; you come here for a herbal drink.”*