The Galle Face Hotel appoints Wendell Rebeira as Director – Operations
~ Unveils plans for resorted North Wing ~
16th October 2015, Colombo; The Galle Face Hotel recently announced the appointment of renowned hotelier Wendell Rebeira as its Director Operations. The former Resident Manager of the famous Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok and F&B Director of the Velassaru Resort in the Maldives, he counts over 19 years in the global hospitality industry.
Wendell Rebeira’s appointment coincides with the final stages of the iconic property’s restoration of its Classic Wing (Now North Wing) to its former glory positioning the hotel as ‘The Bespoke’ property in Colombo. The Galle Face Hotel is now gearing itself to open its doors to a global market of refined and leisure travelers, business professionals as well as celebrities, expatriates and locals alike seeking to enjoy the luxuries of life while reminiscing on an era of Ceylon gone by. The re-opening of this Wing will be one of the signature hotel openings that Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry has ever witnessed which will see popular international acts perform along with the participation of local VIPs and international celebrities.
Explaining his vision for The Galle Face Hotel Wendell Rebeira says that he is a staunch believer in the importance of retaining the prestigious identity of the hotel as a celebration of its rich history. Working closely with Antony Paton, the General Manager of The Galle Face Hotel, he intends on ensuring ‘Personable Service’ to each and every guest that enters the hotel to enjoy its timeless grandeur. “I believe that every team member of the hotel must receive specialized training in international standards of luxury hospitality in order for us to live up to what we promise. In my new role I hope to provide individual training to each team member on various areas of service such as customizing a menu, the importance of the right balance of ingredients, inspecting and identifying each touch point of the hotel to provide clear entry to the property and to further expand the hotel’s service offerings to its clientele,” he stated.
Under the ‘Restoration Project’, the hotel’s signature fine-dining restaurant 1864 has been restored to offer guests a truly unforgettable dining experience. The restaurant’s à la carte menu offers the finest of contemporary dining with personalized, tableside service, preceded by drinks at the lounge. Diners will be treated to the soothing sounds of Jazz music during dinner until 10pm after which the tempo is increased to create a vibrant, fun setting that will keep visitors entertained till 2am.
The famed Sea Spray restaurant will now operate with twice the floor space and will continue to offer its distinctively interactive dining style with live cooking stations serving the finest in BBQ’s, grills and sauces. The hospitality team at the restaurant will ensure the complete well-being of the diner while serving up mouth-watering dishes complemented by wine serving on par with international standards.
The Verandah offers all day pan-Asian dining, reminiscent of the regional flavours handed down from Colonial times, are enjoyed in tranquil colonial settings. The fully Sri Lankan menu features a variety of gastronomic delights that draw inspiration from the Malay, Kandyan, Burgher and many other ethnicities from all walks of life, across the island.
The newest addition to the hotel’s offering, The Travellers’ Bar, features the most exclusive beverage menu in Colombo offering the most premium spirits along with a list of highly crafted and experimental cocktails including drinks of iconic celebrities that have stayed at the Galle Face Hotel over the past century.
The hotel has built up quite a reputation for itself as a property that any traveler will either stopover for lodging or drop in for a visit as guests can’t help but be drawn to its elegant charm and superior hospitality. A visit to The Galle Face Hotel is a unique experience as it is a museum of hospitality, and an embodiment of rich history as it reflects the transformation of Sri Lanka from the period of British colonial rule up until the modern day period where comfort and luxury merge together as one.
The Galle Face Hotel is testimony to both Sri Lanka’s colonial past and its independent present. Celebrated within the hospitality world, it blends historical splendour with luxurious modernity to form a new model for heritage properties.