Reyhan Morris appointed GM of Ranna212, Tangalle

For Reyhan Morris, who had been away from his island home for over 16 years, the upturn in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka posed the perfect opening to return and share the wealth of his experience.

Having held varied positions with globally acclaimed restaurants and hotel chains, Reyhan’s experience in hospitality spans the crisply alluring city’s of Australia to the culturally rich resorts of Thailand; from the sun-kissed shores of the Maldive islands to the vibrant bustle of Malaysia. Back home in Sri Lanka, Reyhan finds his place as General Manager of Ranna212, Tangalle – a member of Auro Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.

A student of William Angliss Institute, specialising in Hospitality Management, Reyhan holds a Bachelors in Tourism. He commenced his career working with celebrity chefs in Melbourne and later at the famed ‘Rock Pool’ restaurant.

Reyhan’s passion for hospitality shone through every new placement his career offered. Joining Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, he excelled whilst working on many of their brands including the pre-opening of the first luxury resort for W Hotels in the Maldive islands; the strategic rebranding of select Sheraton properties and also as part of the Task Force for special projects for Westin. His work with Starwood has meant he honed the skill of crafting varied brand elements to target specific audiences.

Joining Auro Holdings, Reyhan is excited to be a part of a local group with two swank, new properties, namely, Ranna212 & Colombo Courtyard. “Working with Auro to build new brands is an entirely refreshing experience,” says Reyhan. “We are the first to complete a property of its size on the Deep South coast. The group has a clear strategy of growth with feasibility studies underway in other key touristic locations too.”

On Ranna212, Reyhan smilingly added: “When I first visited Ranna at the site where you now see this resort, all I could see was lush wilderness leading to blue waves.”

Reyhan has toiled from ‘concrete to coffee’ – Ranna212 is now a trendy resort offering 54 rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a spa and swimming pool. The property will also soon commence its expansion to 124 rooms including unique water villas.

Reyhan uses his expertise in F&B to create distinct experiences for Sri Lanka. New as it is, the property has gained popularity for its exceptional barbeque restaurant ‘Flame,’ where you can enjoy the finest seafood on the south coast and the great mixology menu at Tonic, the bar.

Reyhan holds firm that the Deep South coast of Sri Lanka has much that is yet unexplored in terms of its tremendous tourism potential. “Entrenched deep in tradition and history coupled with lush natural beauty, the Deep South has a charm of its own,” he said.

Around the property are dotted exciting excursions including the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary, whale watching sites of Mirissa, the ancient rock temple of Mulkirigala and more.

Reyhan’s a people person. It doesn’t take long to gather that. Meeting him at Ranna212 when he interacts with his guests or at a business meeting where his astute mind ticks away, Reyhan’s ability to identify with people is likely to be what strikes you as most memorable. He’d associate with you to gather untold wants and craft a perfect holiday experience or he’d bring out deep talent yet unearthed in a fellow member of his team.

For the wealth of skill and experience Reyhan holds, his ability to connect deeply with persons of varied nationalities or backgrounds is likely to be where his contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism sector will be the strongest.