Minor rebrands Centara Ceysands as NH Bentota Ceysands Resort

By Uma Chandrasiri

The picturesque NH Bentota Ceysands Resort sits proudly on a peninsula, with the vibrant Indian Ocean on one side and the murky waters of the Bentota River on the other, basking in a unique locational advantage shared by only a few hotels on the Bentota peninsula but not the average beachfront property. With a warm personality that speaks of years gone by, exceptional service standards, and immersive cultural experiences, the NH Bentota Ceysands Resort gears itself up for an exciting new chapter under the original ownership of the Softlogic Group, but with brand management dedicated to the celebrated NH Hotels since June 2024. NH Bentota Ceysands Resort is the first NH hotel to be established in Sri Lanka.

“There is a gap between visitors identifying Centara Ceysands as their go to travel destination and being somewhat unaware that the same familiar and much-loved hotel is now rebranded as NH Bentota Ceysands Resort, but this situation is currently being remedied” says NH Hotels Sri Lanka Marketing Communications Cluster Manager Indunil Karunarathne. “As one of the oldest hotels in the Bentota beach stretch, this iconic property maintains the character and charm of a bygone era with carefully preserved wooden floors and muted batik tapestries that adorn the ceilings and room walls. We also stress on immersive cultural experiences such as devil dances, painting of masks and gokkola weaving which guests take to with enthusiasm and delight” she adds.

Minor Hotels appointed Wim Fagel, a Dutch national with his heart in Asia, and with nearly 4 decades of expertise in restructuring and renovating luxury properties in Europe and Asia, as the General Manager of NH Bentota Ceysands Resort in July 2022. “I mix my Dutch heritage with my understanding of Sri Lanka and her ways” says Wim who is passionate about elevating the resort and bringing in innovation while maintaining its Sri Lankan roots. “I took away the hotels’ Thai restaurant as I believe that visitors come to Sri Lankan hotels to enjoy authentic Sri Lankan cuisine. I have asked my chefs to cook like they do at home” he adds. Wim and his team focus on constantly elevating customer experiences by organising monthly mask (wesmoonu) parties with a garayaka and fire eating, barbeques and a host of immersive experiences. “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, guests sought hotels out, post-COVID-19, we have to take the hotel experiences to them” he adds.

The rebranding of the resort from Centara to NH hotels is expected to bring out a gamut of benefits by being under the management of the Minor Hotels, a global leader with over 560 hotels, resorts and branded residencies across 58 countries, with 8 exceptional hotel brands such as Anantara, Avani, Elewana, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks and Tivoli adding value to the group. “We will be stronger with additional support from the NH hotels head office, and we can be stronger in the market due to the alliance of the 5 Minor Group hotels in Sri Lanka – Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle, Anantara Kalutara, Avani Kalutara, NH Collection Colombo along with us, NH Bentota Ceysands Resort. The Minor Group is also expanding fast, as they plan to establish 50 hotels in India alone by 2034 and more than 100 in Asia”.

This elegant 4-star resort of 165 spacious rooms and suites promises a serene escape with every comfort, exquisite local and international cuisine at 5 dining venues, a chance to unwind at the spa, hike up the adrenaline with exhilarating water sports or a workout at the gym, swim laps in the beachfront infinity pool, sink into the ultimate in tranquillity when you take a boat ride through the eerily silent mangroves or just soak up the sun and the sunsets on the private and pristine beach. The resort’s 360 seafood restaurant also doubles as a spacious and romantic wedding venue with direct access to the beach. They also offer their valued guests conference and meeting venues as well as a colourful kids club and E-zone for family friendly activities.

NH or Navarra Hotels was founded in 1978 in Navarra, Spain and currently operates over 350 hotels in 35 countries. The acquisition of NH hotels in 2018 by the Minor Group has been a pivotal point in the group’s expansion and the group is said to consider Sri Lanka as an exciting emerging market and a case study. “Sri Lanka is experiencing a boost in tourism with positive growth indicators and increasing global recognition. Minor Hotels is proud to be a part of this transformation, bringing international brands to a market that is ready for a new era of hospitality” stated a Minor Group communique.