Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Saturday, 1 June 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
TripAdvisor prides itself as the world’s largest travel community, with more than 32 million members and over 75 million reviews and opinions of hotels, resorts, restaurants and tourist attractions.
Founded in 2000, TripAdvisor thrives on user-generated content and offers travellers and foodies around the world information that would shape their travel and dining decisions. Award winners set the benchmark for hotels and restaurants in achieving recognition for their world class facilities, food and service excellence. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller/diner reviews on TripAdvisor and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.
Approximately 10% of accommodations listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. To qualify for the Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.
Loon Tao certainly deserves such recognition, being a favourite for many locals and foreign guests from all around the globe. The charming restaurant was first opened in 2008, the first Chinese seafood restaurant on the (Mount Lavinia) beach. The ambience is very unique as it has adopted Balinese architecture. It also offers live acoustic music performances daily by some of the best loved musicians in the country.
Loon Tao is known to serve ‘fresh food’ by serving catch of the day’s seafood, daily sourced ‘fresh’ meats, vegetables and fruits. It uses all ingredients directly imported from China, handpicked by the Master Chef hailing from mainland China. Loon Tao was also ranked among the three best restaurants in the country by LMD/Living Magazine for 2011.
Founder of Loon Tao Janaka Wimalananda praised the dedication and commitment shown by the restaurant’s staff and commented: “Throughout the five years we have been in this industry, we have come to be known not only for great food or wonderful architecture, but for the experience and service we offer – that of true Loon Tao hospitality. We all look forward to the years to come, and to deliver that experience to even more local and foreign guests from all over the world.”
“Loon Tao is fairly new on the scene but the continuous accolades are testimony to the passion and pride of the Loon Tao team in propelling the restaurant to the top of the leader board. “The TripAdvisor award makes us very proud of our contribution to the emergence of memorable dining experiences in Sri Lanka,” Wimalananda added.
“We are pleased to receive the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for Loon Tao, which shows consistency as a whole. We strive to offer our customers a great experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.”
TripAdvisor for Business President Christine Petersen said: “TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional businesses for consistent excellence, as reviewed by travellers on the site. The Certificate of Excellence award gives highly rated establishments around the world the recognition they deserve.”
