Thinking of operating a spa?
So you want to open a day spa. Have you considered what type of spa you want to operate? What range of treatments do you plan to offer? How do you decide which treatments work best for your customers? For read more...
Leisure
Sparring with spas
Sparring is normally distinct from fights in competition, the goal of sparring normally being the education of the participants. This article will attempt to carry that educational mantle in describing the role of a Spa without prejudice to any argumentative read more...
Health is wealth
Yes, I certainly do agree ‘health is wealth ‘… that familiar saying one encounters in some way or the other. The life styles we lead, needs to be assessed concentrating on a healthier aspect in living a meaningful life. Today read more...
Ayurveda...A long-life journey
‘Ayurveda’ is a science of life and longevity. I.e.’ Ayu’ is age, life, longevity, and ‘Veda’ is knowledge. Perhaps the most ancient known healing system in the world ‘Ayurveda’ is believed to have existed before five thousand years in India. read more...
Timeless spa treatments
Almost everyone deserves to experience a spa treatment in their life time. Although some treatments come at a price, the practice of having a massage, after a haircut at a salon gives an added value for the guest. Some people read more...
Aromatherapy and essential oils: the non-toxic way to feel and smell good
Linda Buck and Richard Axel carried out a revolutionary study on the sense of smell; the scientifically proven results of which won them the Nobel Prize in Physiology in 2004. In essence, their study proved that perfume can stimulate the read more...
How can spas boost sales during troubled times?
Following the horrific Easter Sunday bombings that left over 250 dead and several more injured, the bottom literally fell off for the hospitality industry. While hotels, been the ‘engine of thrust’ for the industry may suffer the most, the ‘theatre read more...
What do customers look for or expect when visiting a spa? - Part 1
When deciding to visit a spa, there are those who exactly know what they want. Likewise, there are others who are nervous with the idea of going to a spa. Many people have their first spa experience when they receive read more...
What do customers look for or expect when visiting a spa? - Part 2
When deciding to visit a spa, there are those who exactly know what they want. Likewise, there are others who are nervous with the idea of going to a spa. Many people have their first spa experience when they receive read more...
'Ayubowan' - no handshakes please...this is 'So Sri Lanka'
In a sign of times to come, shaking hands, kissing cheeks, hugging and even high fives will be a thing of the past - thanks to the corona virus. The virus, abbreviated COVID-19, primarily spreads through contact with infected persons read more...
The role of an interior designer in hospitality
In the business world, the bottom line is defined in terms of revenue. In interior design, the bottom line is the customer. In the majority of instances the customer is the owner – be it a house or an office read more...
Is swimming in a hotel pool safe during COVID-19, or is it safer to take a dip in the ocean?
Living in a mask-wearing and a socially distant world after staying indoors for a lengthy period, taking a swim in a pool is indeed tempting.
As long as you abide by the safety guidelines and, the pool is uncrowded, the risk read more...
Operating a spa during COVID-19
Having endured months of ‘lockdown’ and isolation, spa-loving people will yearn to gratify their appetite for wellness. However, there will be underlying anxieties of ‘safety first’ before all.
It will take time for customers to feel comfortable and less afraid of read more...
The eco friendly hotel of tomorrow
Even before COVID-19 turned things upside down, many hoteliers were determined to reduce their carbon print by introducing new energy saving technology, sustainable strategies and so on. Thankfully, the recent advances in technology make it achievable for hotels to put read more...
Spas: the way forward post-Covid
In the post Covid era, one way forward is to focus on achieving a healthier and wellness orientated lifestyle. A simple definition of ‘Wellness’ is; “it is a complete state of mental, physical and social well being. The core of read more...
Don't be undone by done print
In his blog ‘The Dirtiest Fine Print I’ve Ever Seen in Contracts’, Sean Kernen claims that almost 91% of users do not read contract terms and conditions in full before signing. Come to think of it I sometime don’t. The read more...
PPE: To wear or not to wear?
Travelers boarding a plane nowadays find themselves face-to-face with the ‘new normal’ of flying - from masked fellow passengers to the crew whose designer uniforms including the makeup and hairdos of stewardesses, are now totally camouflaged behind PPE, face shields read more...
Are we really on the track to recovery from COVID-19?
“We will bounce back by 2021”, “Tourism will recover and when it does be ready…” “The increasingly promising news of the vaccine finally offers a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel”, “We predict the worst is behind read more...
Omicron triggers global fears for future travel
How bad is Omicron going to be? No one really knows, but, that hasn’t stopped several countries from unleashing blanket measures to keep it at bay. Some countries have suspended entry of all foreign visitors, whilst others have barred foreign read more...
Calculating the carbon footprint of products - a quest for clarity
Which costs more - a kilo of strawberries or a steak? Which is more expensive - a can of beer or a bottle of shampoo?
If I am looking for an answer in Euros or dollars this might be a fairly read more...
Seriously...it's time to get real
Back in late July this year, the Chairman of SLTDA expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will close 2022 with a near one million visitors. He said that they expected to see an increase in the number of arrivals to at read more...
The next big travel destination could be the airport itself
Your next entry into an airport may not require you to carry a passport. Infact, you don’t even need to catch a plane. Airports now want you to hang out – even without having to take a flight.
Usually, if one read more...
Have luggage will travel
Packing light for a long trip away from home is hard – unless going to prison. For a short journey though packing light is easier done than said. Having said that, comes the question of whether to check or not read more...
The year ahead for Sri Lanka Tourism: mostly sunny with a likelihood of downfalls
Despite falling shy of around 50,000 visitors to achieve its goal of welcoming 1.55 million International visitors last year, Sri Lanka Tourism’s spirits remained high, and soared even higher, after it was reported that a total 25,619 visitors had arrived read more...
Don't snooze on the booming business of sleep tourism
Everyone’s tired these days. One in three adults don’t get enough sleep, and 50m-70m Americans have chronic sleep disorders. And it’s fueling a thriving sleep tourism industry, which is expected to grow by ~8% — more than $400B — between 2023 and 2028.
Now, the hospitality industry read more...
Is travel playing its part in saving the planet?
In a world where everything is moving faster…why should flying towards extinction be any different?
According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), 2023 has been a year when air transportation very nearly returned to its pre-pandemic pace of activity. All regions, read more...
Safety Tips for hotel guests
When choosing a hotel:
Ideally, the hotel you select a hotel should have modern electronic guest room locks. These locks automatically change the lock combination with every new guest. The problem with room keys is that they can be duplicated. However, read more...
Happy hours, killjoys and the law
In a letter to a leading star-class hotel in Colombo, the Chairman of Sri Lanka’s National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) informed a Colombo 5-star hotel in writing, that NATA had received several complaints regarding hotels with liquor licenses read more...
'Bare-adise' adventure: This nude cruise is due to set sail from Miami in 2025
What do you need to pack for a cruise? When it comes to this upcoming cruise from Tour and Travel Company Bare Necessities, the answer appears to be very little.
The nudist cruise specialist is teaming up with Norwegian Cruise Line read more...
Rather than dual-pricing, why not a four-tiered one?
“I’m surprised that everywhere any monument, any temples, any park, anywhere, foreigners are charged heavily....What kind of a policy is this? Just looting foreigners and tourists? Also there is a unbelievable huge difference in charges for entry between Sri Lankans read more...
These tips will help when flying on a plane
A plane is no place to get a good sleep, not unless one is flying 1st class or where one has the knack of knocking off anywhere. Tightly packed like cattle in economy class with noise all around, sleep is read more...
Medical Tourism history
The practice of travelling for health and medical reasons has a long history. Even the ancient civilizations recognized the therapeutic effects of mineral thermal springs and sacred temple baths. For example, the Sumerians constructed health complexes around hot springs more read more...
Ultimate Ambassadors
In travel and tourism, there are five A’s visitors to a tourist destination look for: attractions, accessibility, accommodations, activities and amenities. But these 5 A’s alone aren’t enough.
Regardless of why visitors have chosen your destination for their next trip, tourism experts agree read more...
Staying with ghostly residents
Looking for an ‘out of this world’ getaway vacation? Look no further. These are hotels that boast of uninvited inhabitants who are not recorded on the nightly occupancy stats - despite some of them being the longest long-staying guests. These read more...
1.1 billion Tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024
Global tourism set for full recovery by end of the year with spending growing faster than arrivals
Around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024, as the global tourism sector recovered 98% of pre-pandemic levels. According read more...
Having the wrong type of tourism is as bad as overtourism
For the majority of countries, a big focus is on increasing the number of visitors. More visitors translate to more success. However, prioritising a quantity over quality approach can create an imbalance between the economic benefits of tourism with city read more...
The truth about why AI can never compete with travel agents
Yes, ChatGPT is great for sifting through information, but it can’t replace the human touch when it comes to booking a holiday
I did a strange thing last week — I used ChatGPT to plan a trip. I was bound for read more...
Why are airline seats so small?
Pamela Vetter deals with small airline seats like a lot of passengers: she pretends they don't exist.
"I have a fully charged phone, and I just watch a movie," says Vetter, the vice president of a networking organization in Los Angeles. read more...
The rich are ditching hotels. Here's why
Travelers are leaving behind five-star hotels in favor of luxurious homestays and authentic experiences.
In 2024, the luxuries industry has seen a noticeable decline from the post-pandemic boom: inflation, political instability, and economic disruption mean that consumers are tightening their metaphorical read more...
Sri Lanka: The new hotspot for leopard photography
This trip was my first time setting foot in Sri Lanka, and I knew which of its animals I most wanted to see and photograph … the leopard. Not only an unquestionably beautiful cat, it’s also one of great power, tenacity, read more...
Is Sri Lanka Tourism on a roll or on tenterhooks?
Global tourism is not just returning to previous highs - it seems to be on an upward trajectory. And Sri Lanka is right up there, as it sets its sights high, aiming to substantially increase tourist arrivals to 3 million read more...
This is the biggest scam in the travel industry
And it's never been more dangerous. Here's why.
Say the word "free," and it's enough to make even the most experienced travelers lose their marbles.
For example, if I offer you 100,000 free bonus miles for signing up for my precious-metal credit read more...
Passengers need to be more aware of in-flight theft
Reading about a man traveling in business class on flight UL 226 from Dubai to Colombo, which arrived on February 3rd, getting caught stealing from fellow passengers' hand luggage took many by surprise. Apparently many hand luggage items were found read more...
Choosing the right vehicle for tourism purposes
Now that the import ban has been lifted, our car-starved country is finally having its appetite for new vehicles being satiated. Yes, prices are astronomically higher than before. That’s because of several factors, the most significant ones being exchange rates read more...
Sri Lanka Tourism: the good, the bad and the inexplicable
To overdo is far less the risk than the risk of under-doing things.
It’s been a “could have”, “should have” or maybe a “would have”…kind of start to 2025.
Sri Lanka’s status as a “must visit” destination has been on the ascendance read more...
Sri Lanka simply stunning
Sri Lanka’s famed cultural triangle serves up a bevy of World Heritage ancient treasures in the heart of the island writes Mike Yardley
Sri Lanka has loomed large on my bucket-list for quite some time. I’ve just ventured to the teardrop-shaped read more...
Understanding the types of vehicle engines available in 2025
You may recall that a few weeks back, I penned (OK, typed) an article about selecting the right vehicle for tourism purposes. In that article, I mentioned the fact that there are several types of engines available. Your vehicles fuel read more...
Why are airline passengers so entitled and inconsiderate?
Civility is dead. Here's how to navigate the new normal in the sky.
On a recent flight from Dublin to Istanbul, I heard the unmistakable soundtrack to the kids' TV show Bob the Builder blasting through my noise-canceling earbuds.
That's funny, I thought. My read more...
A call for a purpose - driven and sustainable form of tourism
“Purposeful travel helps us change the way we see the world”
A topic that keeps popping up is purposeful travel. Purposeful travel is not the same as being dispassionately asked by that stone-faced border control guard; “what is the purpose of read more...
