Two hotels of Jetwing win at World Luxury Hotel Awards

Known as the pinnacle of achievement for hotels the world over, the World Luxury Hotel Awards was hosted at the prestigious Harbour Grand Hong Kong. In the presence of over 300 attendees, two of Sri Lanka’s foremost properties were awarded the global title of Luxury Wildlife Resort (Jetwing Vil Uyana) and in Sri Lanka, Luxury Coastal Resort (Jetwing Yala).

A recognised global organisation providing luxury hotels with recognition for their world class facilities and service excellence provided to guests, the Awards are presented to luxury hotels in different categories on a country, continent and global basis. 

With the aim of encouraging and raising service standards within the luxury hotel industry, the 9th Annual World Luxury Hotel Awards saw over 300 attendees at a red carpet, black tie event. The Awards are exclusive to Luxury Hotels, Lodges, Resorts, Hotel Groups and do not include any other areas of the travel industry. The final outcome is based upon votes per category on a country and global basis, and a victory regarded as the highest accolade that a property can receive within the global luxury hotel industry.

Jetwing Yala was launched in January 2014, and has quickly established itself as the beacon of the Deep South of Sri Lanka. Featuring 80 rooms and 10 luxury tented villas, Jetwing Yala brings world class luxury and hospitality to the wilderness of Yala, in a stunning location overlooking massive sand dunes and the vibrant hues of the Indian Ocean. 

The entire property was designed from ground up to be as sustainable as possible, to match the local ecosystem by maximising natural ventilation and lighting, along with muted colours to complement the surroundings. Winning the title for Sri Lanka’s Luxury Coastal Resort is perfectly in-line with the property’s positioning, as a truly unique combination between a safari, beach, and wellness stay.

Set over an expanse of 28 acres, Jetwing Vil Uyana represents the rich potential in sustainable and eco-friendly destinations. Formerly an abandoned land used for sporadic agriculture, Jetwing transformed the property into a man-made wetland featuring two lakes and thirty individual dwellings over distinct habitats such as Water, Forest, Paddy, Marsh and Garden; with six more paddy dwellings to be opened in December 2015. Over the years, the resort went on to be home to a variety of flora and fauna, such as the elusive loris, and also counts 20 species of mammals, 112 species of birds, 36 species of butterflies, and 35 species of amphibians and reptiles. 

Nature is highly respected, and provided ample space to flourish – with three acres being designated as a loris conservation site, the first in the country. Jetwing Vil Uyana was also the recipient of the Tourism for Tomorrow Award for the Environment category in April 2014, organised by the World Travel and Tourism Council, and was also listed in National Geographic Traveler’s Best Ecolodges of the World issue in August 2013. Thus, it comes as no surprise for Jetwing Vil Uyana to be the winner of the Global Luxury Wildlife Resort – in the midst of other storied properties from destinations such as Thailand, Indonesia, Spain, Kenya, and China.

“Jetwing Vil Uyana and Jetwing Yala are two properties that are considered our flagship hotels,” said Ishanth Gunewardene, Head of Sales and Marketing for Jetwing. “We believe that the experiences and spaces that these resorts personify are completely unique, and winning two of the most prestigious country awards show that all over the world, our visitors believe the same. I’d like to thank our associates at Jetwing Vil Uyana and Jetwing Yala for their commitment to excellence, and on behalf of the Jetwing family, to win more awards next year,” he added.