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The Melheim Beach Hotel, Norochcholai, Kalpitiya is investing Rs. 60 million to add more rooms and facilities to meet future demands, as the domestic tourism sector is picking up and tourists are trickling back to Sri Lanka.
Melheim Beach Hotel is part of the Melheim Resort and Spa which also owns and operates The Melheim Boutique Resort in Beragala and Melheim Kandy Villas.
Chairman Harin De Mel, a diversified entrepreneur, said that they invested in the leisure sector as they wanted to economically benefit communities in the area by job creation and indirectly helping in other ways.
“Another dream in selecting these areas (such as Norochcholai and Beragala) was to include them in the international tourism map. We also wanted the guest to offer beach, nature, culture, adventure and also a cool climate and to this reason why we decided on three different geographical locations to build these properties. Melheim Beach Hotel, Kalpitiya now a 3.5 star property offers six beach front luxury rooms and we now want to build four large interconnected family rooms on two floors. As there is a growing demand from corporates to host MICE events we will invest to add more conference facilities. The management hopes to invest around Rs. 60 million for these in 2021. We plan to add more keys to Melheim Beach Hotel, Kalpitiya in the coming years as the demand is picking up.”
De Mel said that when they opened the two properties in Norochcholai and Beragala there were no other star class hotels and today other hoteliers have invested in these areas.
Melheim Beach Hotel Kalpitiya Resident Manager Derrick Jerome Bell said that the hotels adopt strict safety measures spelled out by the health authorities. “We also follow industry cleaning and disinfection practices of Safe Travels (WTTC – Global) and Intertek Cristal (3rd party expert – Global).”
Another plus point is the diversified cuisine that is prepared by experienced chef S. Regis, which is drawing several walk-in guests for meals. The hotel in two areas also has a larger garden area, private beach, pool with kiddie’s pool and a bar, lounge, hot and cold water, AC, safety lockers, mini bar, 24-hour room service and laundry facilities and large restaurant.
“The boutique hotel is located in an ideal place for those who love the ocean as well as for adventurous water-sports enthusiasts.”
Bell, with over 40 years’ experience having worked in Afghanistan, Maladies and Oman in global hotels chains, said the hotel was also a transit point for Wilpattu safari and Kalpitiya dolphin and whale watching tours.