Competing amongst the best hotels and hospitality related companies from more than 50 countries across the world this year’s winner is Colombo Courtyard who has won two 5-star awards in the categories of Small Hotel and Spa Hotel for Sri Lanka in the Asia Pacific region Hotel Awards for 2014. This award is sponsored by the leaders in industry and Rolls-Royce motor car.

Winners of the International Hotel Awards initially have to prove they are the best nationally before competing against other top scoring hotels from across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas, Arabia, Africa and the UK. Joining this highly competitive field for the first time this year are Peru and the Bahamas.

Colombo Courtyard
Following extensive scrutiny by the International Hotel Awards’ judging panel, chaired by Sir David Michells, winners at national level and also the ultimate World’s Best Hotel winners will be presented at a gala dinner ceremony at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on Monday, 26 January 2015.
“We are so thrilled to have been awarded this accolade of being chosen for both categories and even more proud to be leading the way in urban ecological tourism for our beloved Sri Lanka, paving the way in the international arena,” says Colombo Courtyard’s Chief Executive Officer, Nishan Moonesinghe.

Giant Creeper
Colombo Courtyard, nestled in the heart of the city is an urban boutique hotel which perfectly captures a fusion of contemporary style with the essence of environmental design. Art and elements with the extensive use of recycled material, dashes of vivid colour and a sense of space are all thrown together to create a striking impact. With open courtyards and water bodies, Hotel with 32 rooms including 15 Suites each uniquely designed. The successful renovation of four mixed – used/old buildings from different architectural periods, using an over-arching theme of recycled materials is a unique application in the hotel industry. Prominent environmental design elements define this urban property. The limited negative spaces have been transformed in to a series of inter-connected courtyards creating multiple green spaces in a previously dense construction. An outstanding collection of original artworks is displayed, featuring recycled metal sculptures that are an integral part of the design. The extensive foliage privacy screens create an oasis in this urban location, which has quickly become a landmark in Colombo.

Plunge pool
Moreover Colombo Courtyard now has been certified as the first CarbonNeutral city hotel in South Asia on 12 February 2014 after measuring its Carbon Footprint for the period from January 2013 to December 2013 in accordance with the internationally recognised GHG protocol published by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. This independent assessment was conducted by the Carbon Consulting Company.
Stuart Shield, president of the International Hotel Awards says, “This is the fourth year of the International Hotel Awards. Its aim is to highlight excellence in the luxury hotel industry and praise the outstanding levels of service and style. The competition also boasts specialist categories to further spotlight the most outstanding spa, convention and golf hotels. Smaller luxury hotels are also featured as these specialise in delivering a more intimate environment for those seeking a quieter and more relaxing experience.
“With many five-star hotels offering an exemplary service on a 24-hour a day basis, we feel honoured to be able to highlight those that are making an art out of the process. They really do deserve recognition for all the effort they put into their business as well as their overall presentation and innovation.”
Colombo Courtyard is situated at 32 Alfred House Avenue, (Duplication Road) has easy acess to all the various attractions in the city like the Natural History Museum, the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa’s former residence, and of course the latest shopping arcade in independence square which is a must see, along with numerous other handicraft shops like Barefoot, Paradise Road to name but a few in Colombo.
Colombo Courtyard though a small Luxury, Boutique hotel supports various outlets like the Cloud Cafe, which encapsulates dining up in the stars on a starry night which is quite popular and frequented by discerning vsistors who love the ambience and the food. Then the industrially themed Loft Lounge Bar, which has earned a reputation of serving up of delicious, award winning cocktails to tantalise those taste buds.
Recently the Happy Hour has gained immense recognition and custom among the local and expatriate communities in Colombo. And the Scarlet Room, which offers some authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, where the Pappardelle Pasta and obviously all the original sauces are freshly prepared to tantalise your palate!
Amber Spa at Colombo Courtyard being one of the last spas to join the fray in the recent years, has gathered massive appeal as only few of them can boast of the Hot Stone Therapy carried out by our qualified Balinese therapist who administer more than just this, to a most relaxing aromatherapy session to unwind after a stressful day!
Most recently Sri Lankan Airlines has entered into a partnership with Colombo Courtyard, to offer its members a host of exciting offers and benefits. With this partnership, FlySmiLes  members will now have the opportunity to earn miles for stays, Amber Spa treatments and dining at the Colombo Courtyard.  The Colombo Courtyard Hotel is certainly leading the way to create new standards in the boutique hotel sector.

Source :http://www.ft.lk/2014/12/04/asia-pacific-hospitality-award-for-colombo-courtyard/