Integrated living is slowly becoming the trendiest way to live in the city. This new phenomenon of living in environments with your every need at hand has also caught Colombo by storm with the upcoming Cinnamon Life integrated development. To understand what living in an integrated complex is like, let us show you what your backyard will look like:

We constantly complain about the lack of time to do the thing we really want to because our lives are governed by the rat race. Wouldn’t it be nice to be presented with an alternative where you actually have the time to stop and smell the roses? Living in an environment that makes your life easier and saves you precious time are bound to make you happy. Cinnamon Life presents a new way of living, letting you engage in the thing you want to, from indulging in hobbies to spending quality time with loved ones.

Integrated development is fast becoming a fashion statement with younger professionals and for good reason: if you have the convenience of your every need within reach – preferably in your backyard – it makes life all the more convenient. Cinnamon Life also promotes sustainable living for residents and business operators, letting you walk to your destination or just take a short drive.

Cinnamon Life has been designed as a one-stop centre for all your needs, incorporating convenient components to integrate and compliment the many things your life is about. The residential towers are designed to co-exist with a shopping mall with separate entrances that include a drop off lobby, private residence entrances, exclusive car parks and separate security.

It also promotes the idea of live, work and play in a single location, allowing for convenience at every turn. Reducing traffic and pollution with lower usage of cars, better quality living, less time wasted commuting, pedestrian-friendly environments within the vicinity and the ability to live near all your needs combine to make this the new benchmark for 21st century living. Space to unwind and enjoy a cup of coffee and places to mingle with friends are features added specially to incorporate the essence of your lifestyle.

Integrated living endeavours to help you live a healthier and better quality life and keeps all your needs in the vicinity of your home. Just walk out of your apartment and down to the walkways lined with trees and some beautiful scenery or just pop down to the gym a few floors away. Maybe do a bit of grocery shopping on your way back home or take your family out to dinner downstairs. Everything you need literally is in your backyard when you live at Cinnamon Life.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts hosted celebrity three Michelin star chef and Judge of MasterChef Australia – Marco Pierre White on a tour of Sri Lanka from the 18th – 30th January 2016, flown down courtesy of the national carrier SriLankan airlines. One of the many sub events Cinnamon conceptualized and executed was the ultimate “Master Class” for executive chefs and culinary professionals of Sri Lanka.

At the exclusive Master Class organized for 50 Sri Lankan Executive Chefs by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka presented Chef Marco Pierre White – fondly known as the Godfather of Modern Cooking with an honourary membership. He is the first non – Sri Lankan to receive this honour.

Marco Pierre White arrived at the Master Class after breakfast at the Temple Trees since the Prime Minister spontaneously invited him for breakfast after attending one of the dinners organized by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

The celebrity chef provided a “hands-on” learning experience to the entire industry of Sri Lanka and covered a series of themes relevant to chefs and culinary professionals. All participating chefs were given the opportunity for a sit down lunch with Marco himself. Marco had a one-on-one engagement with the participants and created one of his very own signature dishes for the chefs.

A high level “Master Class” such as this by a three Michelin star chef had not taken place in Sri Lanka previously. This event was therefore arguably one of the best opportunities that have been created for the Sri Lankan culinary professionals of the industry. All executive chefs that participated in this master class received a certificate of participation from the Chefs Guild Sri Lanka together with World Association of Chef Societies (WACS) and was signed off by Chef Marco Pierre White himself.

Marco Pierre White’s tour of Sri Lanka was presented by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in collaboration with the British High Commission of Sri Lanka, the national carrier SriLankan airlines, HSBC, Knorr Sri Lanka, Quintessentially Lifestyle, Land Rover Sri Lanka, Hellman Logistics, Sri Lanka Tourism, Cinnamon Air and Trekurious.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, as Sri Lanka’s premier Hospitality brand has been spearheading the process of taking Sri Lanka to the world over the recent past by organizing several high level international events. These have generated significant media publicity and awareness Internationally for Cinnamon as a brand and Sri Lanka as a destination. The latest venture of this vibrant Lifestyle brand is to host American Celebrity Photographer and TV personality Nigel Barker on a tour of Sri Lanka from the 15th to the 23rd of July.

Nigel is a celebrated reality TV show personality, noted fashion photographer, author, spokesperson, filmmaker, and former model. He is best known for his participation as a judge and photographer on the reality show “America’s Next Top Model”, and is now the host of reality show “The Face” alongside Naomi Campbell.

Nigel Barker was born in London. His father is of Irish and Portuguese descent while his mother Mrs. Gillian Barker is of Sri Lankan ancestry and was in fact a former Miss Sri Lanka!

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts will be hosting the Barker family comprising of Nigel, his wife and two children, joined by Mrs. Gillian Barker on a seven day tour of Sri Lanka. They will be visiting Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, Cinnamon Citadel Kandy, Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and Cinnamon Wild Yala. Nigel Barker will also be endorsing Cinnamon’s Leopard Project by participating in the donation of a Steel Pen to a cattle farmer in Yala.

The Leopard Project was setup by Cinnamon to help eliminate the Man vs Wild conflict between the cattle farmers and Leopards in Yala. The project has been well received both locally and internationally and Cinnamon has been able to donate over 50 steel pens to the local farmers in order to protect their livestock.

Cinnamon will also organize a half day workshop with Nigel Barker on the 23rd of July, which will benefit the entire Fashion industry of Sri Lanka. The workshop will revolve around the themes of: The art of Fashion Photography, Modelling for Success, Building and Managing your Brand and the Inspirational Story of Nigel Barker.

On the eve of the 23rd Nigel will participate in a book signing event, where he will showcase and talk about his latest book “Models of Influence” while also interacting with those participating at the event.

President of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Ajit Gunewardene commented “We are proud to be instrumental in bringing the international celebrity Nigel Barker to Sri Lanka. As a brand, Cinnamon is committed to promote contemporary Sri Lankan art and culture as well as organize high level international events with celebrities such as Nigel Barker to promote Sri Lanka to the world.

Having Nigel stay with us is an endorsement of our brand acceptance by global celebrities. We are confident that he will leave Sri Lanka with great memories after his experience with Cinnamon.”

Nigel Barker is a key influencer and his association with the Cinnamon brand resonates well for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts as well as for Sri Lanka as a destination. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is confident that on his return he will recommend Sri Lanka as a must-visit destination.

‘Kirala’ is an endemic fruit of Sri Lanka. A flair bartender of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts decided to make a bourbon punch using Kirala juice!

Let’s first get the curiosity of the name out of the way. Yes, the island did derive its name because of a pigeon population residing happily there. These pigeons are similar to the feral pigeon and are called rock pigeons; it is a rocky island after all.

In addition to being the home to these wild bird Pigeon Island is also a marine national park. It is best known for diving (Ahoy all you snorkelers out there!) and is not far from the shore of Trincomalee, with only a 20 minute journey from Chaaya Blu Trincomalee.

It also has a healthy coral reef. A word of importance through, if you are going on a snorkelling or scuba diving expedition DO NOT stand on the coral reef since it will destroy them. The island also has a healthy marine population with marine eels and fish of vibrant colours.

Here’s 4 interesting facts about Pigeon Islands that you should know!

1. Pigeon Islands is one of two only marine national parks in Sri Lanka which contains some of the best coral reefs in the island. The other is in Hikkaduwa on the Southern Coastal belt.

2. It was used as a shooting range during the colonial era

3. It is home to over 100 species of corals and 300 types of coral reef fishes

4. The Black Tip Reef Shark is popular siting around the island’s rich marine life along with the many colourful coral fish species and turtles around.

Important Information:

• Opening Hours – 7am – 5.30pm
• Entrance Fees – $15 Approximately

• Cinnamon Nature Trails offers an accompanying naturalist, snorkelling gear and boat ride from Chaaya Blu Trincomalee for $40 per person (2-3pax) and $30 per person (4-5pax).
  *This excludes entrance fees mentioned above.

Cinnamon red Colombo, part of the dynamic Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts chain, won the ‘Best New Hotel of the Year’ award in the ‘Mid-Market’ segment at the 11^th Hotel Investment Conference –  South Asia (HICSA) 2015, held on the 7^th and 8^th April 2015, in New Delhi, India. The prestigious annual HICSA ‘Hotel of the Year’ awards were instituted to honour and recognise the most outstanding hotel developments in the region for the past year. Hosted by HVS Asia, a dedicated hospitality consulting firm, the conference provides a highly respected platform for new hotels to gain prominence. Winning this award reaffirms that Cinnamon red is perfectly positioned to cater to the demands of the new age travellers – the new millennials – and due to its strong brand presence, especially in the South Asian region, provides a unique experience for its guests.

Terrence Fernando, General Manager of Cinnamon red Colombo received the award on behalf of Cinnamon red at the awards ceremony held on 7^th April at the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi.

In its published report on Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector, HVS noted that the launch of Cinnamon red Colombo presents an excellent opportunity to tap into the burgeoning mid-market outbound traveller segment, primarily from India and China. The new, emerging breed of discerning travellers seek the assurance of a hotel that understands and anticipates their needs, while providing the right amalgamation of comfort, efficiency and convenience – the precise concept of Lean Luxury which Cinnamon red is pioneering. By adapting to the growing needs of this segment, Cinnamon red has yet again emerged as a preferred choice for travellers, more recently winning a Booking.com award for guest satisfaction as well.

“Winning the HICSA award in the Mid-Market category is an immense achievement for Cinnamon red Colombo, as it has been in operation for a little over six months. This is yet further proof that Cinnamon red is fast gaining visibility and generating a buzz in the South Asian region, clearly reflected in the high number of votes it has received to go on and secure this award. We envisage Cinnamon red emerging as one of the foremost hotel brands in the mid-market segment in the region in time to come. The South Asian region is a key market for tourism in Sri Lanka and we expect Cinnamon red to command pride of place and establish itself as a destination in itself”, said Rohan Karr, Sector Head for City Hotels.

“I am delighted that Cinnamon red Colombo has been awarded the Best Hotel of the Year in the mid-market segment at HICSA 2015. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has aspired to carve a unique niche for each of its tiers and Cinnamon red was conceptualized to cater to a select segment. Cinnamon red introduced the concept of ‘lean luxury’ to Sri Lanka, in response to global hospitality trends, thereby fulfilling a long-felt need for a quality hotel at an affordable price. We are confident that Cinnamon red heralds a new benchmark both for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and the lean luxury category in the country, and is poised as the game-changer in Sri Lanka’s evolving tourism industry. The Cinnamon red team needs to be commended for delivering the brand promise with panache”, said Terrence Fernando, General Manager of Cinnamon red Colombo.

The HICSA awards 2015 had received 44 nominations for ‘Hotels of the Year Awards’ in the Luxury/Upper Upscale, Upscale/Upper Mid-Market, Mid-Market and Budget/Economy categories. Cinnamon red Colombo emerged the winner from three finalists, the other two contestants being Mirage Lords Inn Kathmandu and Ozo Colombo. Awards are given based on a voting system, and registered delegates, who are from the hospitality industry, are allowed to vote. HICSA attracts about 500-600 attendees annually for its conference.

Following the extremely successful First Ever Travel Bloggers Conference in Asia by Cinnamon, the next phase announced at ITB, Berlin!

Last year Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts successfully organised the First Ever Travel Bloggers Conference in Asia – TBCasia 2014, in association with the Professional Travel Bloggers Association (PTBA).

In November 2014, 50 Top Travel Bloggers from around the world were flown in courtesy of the National Carrier – SriLankan Airlines and hosted at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts for a three day tour. Thereafter the Conference which was organized for the benefit of the entire Sri Lankan Travel & Hospitality Industry featuring Global experts in Travel, Digital Media and Tourism as speakers, was held at Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

“With the enormous response and exposure for Cinnamon and Sri Lanka that is still flowing through Social Media and popular Travel Blogs, it was an obvious decision to have another installment of TBCasia. However we wanted to see how we can elevate this edition to maximize on the novel concept. Hence, we plan on hosting more travel bloggers at TBCasia 2016 and in addition we will also be pioneering the most comprehensive Travel Blogger Awards to recognize the contribution that bloggers make to creating awareness on travel and destinations” commented Dileep Mudadeniya – Head of Brand Marketing for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

Dileep together with the President of the PTBA Craig Martin officially announced TBCasia 2016 and Cinnamon Travel Blogger Awards which is to be held in Sri Lanka in April 2016 at ITB Berlin – the leading Travel Fair underway currently in Germany.

The PTBA commended last year’s conference stating that; “It was an absolute success and the feed-back we have got from the bloggers as well as industry experts has been overwhelming. We cannot wait for TBCasia 2016 which we are sure will be even bigger and better than the last. The introduction of the Cinnamon Travel Blogger Awards is also a landmark step towards recognizing the importance of Travel Bloggers and their contribution to the industry”.

They’ve almost completely surrounded us now. There are four behind us, five to the left and one 12 foot tall mammoth to the right. Foot by foot they converge on our jeep. Their deep growls reverberate into my chest. Their prehistoric trumpets pierce my ears. They stare at us with unwavering blood red eyes. In them I see myself. I see panic. I see an animal ready to take flight for its life.

Suddenly the engine roars. But as the jeep thrusts forward, the heard begins to charge.

The driver instantly slams on the break and we glide to a muddy stop. The heard pauses, their eyes determined, their stance aggressive.

I can sense the drivers fear now. He yells towards the big one, half demanding and half pleading for it to stop it’s advance.

But the standoff continues. Seconds seem like minutes. I consider my possibilities. I could run towards the lake. I might not make it but it might buy some time for my fellow travel bloggers to escape.

I can’t take it anymore.

Yala, yala, drive! I scream like an angry Egyptian cab driver, looking ahead towards our only escape.
The driver hits the gas. For precious seconds the tires spin helplessly in the mud. Suddenly the jeep catapults us forwards.  And then by some divine hand, the elephants are held back. The jeep races to safety. We escape, but our racing hearts are still trapped within the elephants crosshairs.

I’ve felt threatened by animals before, by alligators in Australia and crazy monkeys in India. But I’ve never experienced the kind of primitive fear that a heard of angry wild elephants can invoke. It was terrifying yet awe inspiring, and it provoked a renewed respect for the natural world and these incredible mammals. I have never felt more alive and more grateful to be alive. If you’re looking to roam among wild elephants, Sri Lanka’s Kaudulla National Park is where it’s at.

This awesome elephant encounter is thanks to Travel Blog Conference Asia 2014. It’s a 5 day conference/tour with 50 other travel bloggers hosted by the PTBA, Sri Lankan Airlines, Cinnamon Hotels & Sri Lanka’s only domestic airline, Cinnamon Air. It’s the first time I’ve ever taken a tour or traveled with a group and I love it more than my beloved sugar cane juice.

Lefi Harum – TheRunawayGuide

Leif Harum was hosted by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and SriLankan Airlines in partnership with the Professional Travel Bloggers Association for TBCasia – Asia’s First Ever Travel Bloggers Conference 2014 in Sri Lanka.

For those that want to explore some of the more delicious accents to their meal,s you must try the array of spicy dishes that accompanies each main entry. Following are some of the main condiments worth trying out:

Chutneys

A mainstay of any Sri Lankan dish, chutneys are usually a nice and sweet accent to any dish that you may add to a dish. Typically made from a variety of tropical fruits including: papayas, mangoes, pineapple or dates. Their is an endless variety of chutneys made around the island. If you like things more spicy, then there are also chile versions that are available for tasting.

Coconut Sambol

Dried coconut flakes with hot pepper, spice and fiery hot chile are added to this dry condiment. For those who want to have a nice hot accent to their dishes, this is the perfect compliment to any entry from breakfast dishes to an evening meal

Mint Sambol

A spicy but not hot (chile) accent, the mint sambol is a really nice complement for an added flavor to any meal. It’s a cooler alternative condiment made primarily with mint and a variety of spices, lime and coconut ingredients. Mint sambol adds a refreshing touch to any beef or chicken dish, but also works well with fish.

Shrimp Sambol

A favorite sambol with a seafood punch, it’s perfect with seafood dishes or any other entree that you may want to infuse extra shrimp flavoring. Made primarily with small dried shrimp, this is a very pungent and tasty condiment to add to your plate.

When you stay at any Cinnamon Hotel, make sure to look out for these condiments typically next to the entree stations at a buffet or if you are ordering a la carte, there may be a station available. Also, you can request a sample tray of condiments to go with your meal and they will be more than happy to oblige and bring these to your table. Enjoy them and watch for some of the very spicy sambols with chiles, they really do pack a punch.

Noel Morata – Travel Photo Discovery

Noel Morata was hosted by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and SriLankan Airlines in partnership with the Professional Travel Bloggers Association for TBCasia – Asia’s First Ever Travel Bloggers Conference 2014 in Sri Lanka.

A 3D Walk through of the Waterfront Project which will change the Skyline of Colombo, Sri Lanka This will be named Cinnamon Life and is scheduled to open in 2018!

• Integrated Resort Development of 4.5 million Sq ft.
• 800 room luxury hotel, large high end retail mall, luxury residencies and state of the art office space
• Largest private sector investment in Sri Lanka
• Iconic design by world acclaimed British based Sri Lankan architect Cecil Balmond
• A project of significant national importance
• Envisioned to be the epicenter of modern South Asia