Colombo Hilton - reinstated as King of Hospitality
Bojoon.com has been patronizing Colombo Hilton for a very long time, but over time the hotel began to feel invincible and snobbery crept in. Even 'Fine Things' lost its flavor when, save for one or two old timers, were filled with inefficient staff who took forever to process an order. The once bustling 'Thorana Lounge' with its tantalizing 'tittle-tattle' fell into indifference. 'Spices' restaurant was dominated by a sullen hostess who really soured the experience. The hotel that boasts by repute as the finest of its products in Sri Lanka came to a state where it could not produce a fresh fruit juice after midnight!

The problem was not the product for the hotel has a number of restaurants that are the finest in the town. Their Italian restaurant, 'It Ponte' reigns supreme and even Cinnamon Grand's 'Echo' can't hold a candle to it. Their restaurant 'Spoons', (pardon the pun) spoons some of the best food in town and equal kudos goes to their Japanese restaurant, 'Ginza Hohzen'. Though bojoon.com has many grumbles about the step-motherly treatment levied on their Sri Lankan restaurant, 'Curry Leaf', it is still the only decent restaurant in town you can host a real Sri Lankan food in style. Their cakes and pastries are so fine that it needs a gossip of its own to give its due worth (which will be in this column very soon).

The product is fine; it is the indifferent attitude of the hotel staff that has driven many of its long standing patrons to other 5-star establishments like Trans Asia and Cinnamon Grand. Trans Asia has no illusions about its homely affair and despite its great restaurants its service remains humble and friendly as ever. Cinnamon Grand of course has the grandness to match Colombo Hilton, but because of its hawkish eye on competition, it will not allow its staff to slack into snobbery as Hilton allowed.

After staying away from Colombo Hilton for so long, bojoon.com took a chance and dropped in for their breakfast buffet just last Saturday and were amazed by the complete overhaul of attitude. There is a huge difference from mere courtesy and friendliness and we experienced this happy difference from the doorman to the manager to the waiter.

When we arrived, we were only a few minutes before closing time and expected very much to be turned away. If they did, we would not have held it against the hotel and fully accept responsibility for our disappointment. No one stopped us but graciously took our order for pancakes and offered to send the pancakes to our table, as was customary. A while after we served ourselves a very courteous waitress (for the sour one seemed to have been re-located) inquired whether it would be alright to close the buffet.

Colombo Hilton has bounced back! They are once again setting the example of service. When everywhere else buffets and restaurants are closed on the dot, and reservations are refused even 10 minutes to closing time, here is Colombo Hilton allowing the guest to enjoy a meal even though it is well passed their closing time. Other hotels should certainly follow this lead - especially during lunch time. Colombo life, unlike the laidback Kandy life, is very busy and hectic and rarely can one have their meals, especially lunch, on time. Many times, when we get off for lunch, it is well after 2PM and the last order is taken at 2.30PM and unless you are very well known reservations are not taken after 2.15PM. Utterly Ridiculous!

Apart from the superb service, the food was excellent and we were especially delighted with the wonderful Sri Lankan spread. Colombo Hilton must be certainly applauded for there are making their 'come-back' at a time when tourism is under attack. When many other establishments and tourist-related enterprises are slacking on investment and quality making terrorism the excuse, Colombo Hilton is working to the contrary.

Terrorism is a global threat now and no longer exclusive to so-called third-world countries. Thus, we can no longer make terrorism the excuse for our lack of tourism. We have to face the reality that our problem is that we don't have the product or the promotional mechanism equal to Maldives and other countries. Why else would countries like Bali and Egypt where tourists are been targeted continue to thrive in tourism whereas Sri Lanka - for its credit has safeguarded tourists in the face of its 3 decades of terrorism - suffers? All our tourist-related establishments and enterprises can certainly take a leaf from Colombo Hilton's new attitude!