Multiple celebrations at Confifi Group

The Confifi Group of Hotels will today celebrate the success of their hotels Riverina and Club Palm Garden at the Inaugural Presidential Awards for Travel & Tourism 2007, in being recognised as the Best among Classified Resort hotels in their respective categories. Both Resorts are senior citizens in the Hospitality industry of Sri Lanka. This is the Silver Jubilee year of Riverina and the 32nd year of operation of Club Palm Garden.

The Riverina Hotel has also been recently voted as one of the 20 Most Popular Resorts worldwide by the viewers of Sonneklar TV, of Germany. The TV station accorded further recognition to Riverina as the 2nd most patronised resort worldwide.

The Confifi Group of Hotels, pioneers of the Travel and Tourist industry, commenced operations in 1969, when Chairman, Desamanya M.T.A Furkhan [who was at that time the General Manager of Walker Sons Limited], in consultation with his brother A.C.M. Thassim decided to put up a hotel on one of the most beautiful beach locations on the entire West coast of the country, namely Moragalla.

The Confifi Beach Hotel, opened it doors to foreign tourists with an inventory of 27 rooms in 1970.

“On the 23rd of December, 1970, we opened our doors to our first clients from Neckermann, Germany. Today as we look back over the past 38 years, we have reason to be proud of our continued commitment to provide exceptional holidays to close upon a million visitors both from overseas and from within our own country. Having embarked on this path at a time when the Hotel business was an alien one to Sri Lanka and Venture Capital hard to come by, I am proud to state that today we stand tall as a monument to human enterprise – structured on sound principles, ethics and vision, all backed by hard work, dedication, application and relentless pursuit. We have made a significant contribution to the sustenance and development of tourism in Sri Lanka, and been an exemplary Corporate Citizen, to all stake-holders”, said Deshamanya Furkhan. He also paid a glowing tribute to the management and staff of the hotels whom he referred to as the most valuable asset of the group.

Today, the Confifi Group have a very strong presence along the Golden Mile beach in Beruwela, consisting of the luxurious 5 star Eden Resort & Spa, the Riverina – the largest 4 star Beach Resort in the Island, and Club Palm Garden. The group presents an inventory of 500 guest rooms and a myriad of dining, entertainment and recreation options catering to virtually the entire spectrum of beach tourists and holiday makers. Almost all the recognised tour operators from generating markets have included one or more of the hotels in their brochures. All three hotels have been buzzing with activity and claim to have recorded higher than industry average occupancy. The Presidential awards are surely an endorsement of the esteem the hotels are held in by the highest authority of the land.

Confifi has perhaps the largest inventory of repeat visitors with the leader being Kurt Zehnder of Switzerland, who has stayed with Club Palm Garden on 79 occasions; ample testimony to the quality of facilities and services provided. The Group’s service philosophy is “Everybody is good, but we want to be a little better”.

The Group has a legacy of innovation having introduced many products to the industry in Sri Lanka. The landmark Confifi Management Training programme, was a first in the industry and has been the training ground for many top professionals in prominent places both in the hospitality industry and in other industries in Sri Lanka and overseas. Over 400 have graduated over the years and the alumni come together bi-annually. The other innovations include the engagement of female staff, the first Sri Lankan Club Concept Resort, the introduction of the “All Inclusive” concept, the exclusive “Confifi Beach Club”, the “Kids’ Club”, a professionally manned Medical Center on the Resort, the first Spa Resort etc., etc., the list is endless.

A rich legacy indeed, and the Confifi Group is committed to continue its quest for Award Winning Excellence.