Jetwing Hotel debuts “no frills” J in Negombo

Visiting Sri Lanka on a shoestring budget or planning to travel around the country economically? Most of the time the modern traveller, be they young and independent or older and adventurous is limited by income, and cash, thereby becomes a key determinant when deciding on destinations and accommodation. Hence the reason Jetwing Hotels came up with their latest brainchild of Hotel J (www.hotelj.lk), a no-frills accommodation brand offering select service accommodation made to cater for the budget traveller.

No frills hotels are focused on ensuring that clients receive simple products with universally appealing services at extremely competitive rates. The first of its concept, Hotel J, will have 35 rooms and one suite, all of which boast a fantastic view of the Indian Ocean, as the property is located in the Western coastal town of Negombo. Facilities that are on offer include air conditioning, hot and cold water, IDD and Wi-Fi, as well as a restaurant, a bar and a pool.

Jetwing Hotels Chairman Hiran Cooray, refers to Hotel J as a ‘select service brand’ and where the customer “Gets a room with a star class bed, bathroom, access to the internet and a safe and clean environment at prices ranging from US$ 35 to US$ 70 per night.” Everything else that is on offer from food to more personalised services, have to be purchased separately by guests.

Hotel J will herald Jetwing’s entrance into the select service accommodation market. No frills have been described as the wave of the future and Jetwing is proud to be on par with this global trend. A new niche has been carved out in the hotel industry to cater to what is now referred to as the ‘no frills chic’ audience.

Hotels such as Yotel, easyHotel, citizen M and the Pod Hotel are all part of this low cost travel and accommodation revolution abroad. As Cooray said: “The concept popular in the West is fast catching up in locations like Phuket and Bali.” He went on to state that, “Hotel J Negombo, is the first in a planned series, and we hope to continue this concept in other key destinations.”

The importance of this new concept cannot be underestimated as it has the power to change consumer expectations. Thrifty guests and travellers love the concept of a chic experience without having to pay the additional costs. Likewise, the older and more extravagant guests also enjoy no-frills hotels and tend to give up on their more lavish and traditional services in exchange for more reasonably priced options.

Negombo Ideal for

‘no frills hotel’

Negombo is an ideal location for a ‘no frills hotel’ as it is in close proximity to the Bandaranaike International Airport which is just seven kilometres away. It will therefore, be easily accessible to travellers who have just landed in Sri Lanka or are on their way out of the country after an extended holiday and are in search of some idyllic days on the beach. Negombo is a fishing town and with its coconut trees, golden sands and beautiful beaches, it holds all the allure of a traditional fishing centre cum holiday destination.

For food connoisseurs the options are endless. A range of restaurants in Negombo can provide you with many different types of food. From Swiss and German food to Italian pizza there exists a wide variety of culinary delights from the West. Likewise, the traditional Sri Lankan dishes of rice and curry as well as the spicy seafood plates continue to add an authentic flavour to your stay in this coastal town. Negombo is also a great place to check out some of Sri Lanka’s colonial past. Amidst the attractions are some centuries old Catholic churches, a Dutch Canal and of course the famous Dutch Fort in Negombo.

The ruins of the Old Dutch Fort are located near the lagoon and provide visitors with an interesting location to explore. The fort has a well preserved gate at its entrance which carries the date 1678. Not too far away from the Fort is the famous Negombo fish market which is may be a smelly and noisy place to some, but extremely popular as it provides you with the opportunity to come into contact with local fishing and market culture.

The low cost revolution in travel and accommodation is here to stay. However with Jetwing Hotels you can be certain that it will be an aesthetic pleasure and experience, backed by the company’s well deserved reputation as a hospitality provider par excellence. Family owned and in the tourism industry for the past 40 years, Jetwing Hotels has surpassed expectation at every aspect. Building on their foundation of being passionate, as well as the experience of true, traditional Sri Lankan hospitality, constantly pioneering discoveries captures the essence of the brand.

Such a strong statement and direction have enabled Jetwing Hotels to imagine, create and manage marvels and masterpieces, where distinctive design and elegant comfort complement each other and the environment. Considered a priority, sustainable and responsible practice is implemented through the award winning Jetwing Eternal Earth program; with energy efficiency, community upliftment, and education of earth saving measures to schoolchildren being a few tenets of the program.