Hearts open, wallets follow as Valentine’s Day sparks spending surge

By Nuzla Rizkiya

Valentine’s fever has gripped Colombo with more than just romantic gestures, with spending patterns reflecting a newfound optimism. As consumer confidence continues to rise post-crisis, florists, hotels, and restaurants are seeing an increase in demand for Valentine’s offering and sales are expected to exceed last year’s highs.
A walk through Colombo’s Dean Street showed a busy consumer market regaining its footing. Florists, busy making a range of bouquets, noted “good” sales and consumer interest compared to last year.

Prices showed single red roses ranging from Rs. 250 for local varieties to Rs. 400 for premium ones, with imported roses averaging Rs. 300, a substantial drop from the Rs. 600 priced in 2023.

A dozen-rose bouquet ranged from Rs. 8,500 to Rs. 12,000, while a mixed flower bouquet averaged at Rs. 2,830. However, many florists reported higher utility expenses than last year, with most flowers sourced from Nuwara Eliya and transported via train and bus.

“Maintaining them and preserving them in this heat is a little draining this time,” a florist told Mirror Business.
However, salesmen remained confident that consumers will continue to splurge on flowers, especially among last minute shoppers on Valentine’s Day. 

Meanwhile, The Hotel Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) expressed optimism for a fruitful season, with hotels across the country reporting solid demand for Valentine’s Day packages compared to last year.

THASL President M. Shanthikumar attributed the surge towards economic stability, which he opined motivated people to spend more on leisure and experiences.

“Almost all hotels have introduced special Valentine’s Day reservations and most of them were pre-booked and sold out,” Shanthikumar said.

Supporting his sentiment, several leading hotels in Colombo reported high demand for their Valentine’s Day offerings. At Shangri-La Colombo, Communications Manager Chamika Katunaratne noted a significant uptick in demand for their all-day dining and F&B offerings. 

“It’s a promising season ahead. Consumers are looking for quality and experience. We are expecting an increase in last-minute reservations,” Katunaratne said. 

The hotel’s special dinner buffet is priced at Rs. 8,800++ per person. Managed by the Hayleys Leisure Group, the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo reported 10 percent YOY growth in reservations for the season compared to 2024.  Speaking to Mirror Business, the Groups Head of Marketing Manuri Jayasinghe credited the improved bookings to the changing consumer behaviour influenced by social media. 

“There’s a noticeable Western influence on spending patterns. Customers are looking for entertainment and curated experiences, which is why we rolled out our social media campaigns early on,” she explained. 

The hotel’s Valentine’s packages starts from Rs. 5,500 per couple. The Hilton Hotel in Colombo too reported a willingness among consumers to invest in exclusive experiences, signalling a strong shift in spending post the economic crisis.

The Hotel Chains Cluster Marketing & Communications Director Iromal Perera shared that the brand this year focused on unique Valentine promotions such as live orchestras and themed giveaways, to offer what they believed people looked for. “People are willing to pay for our exclusive premium experiences. So they are looking for more than just a meal. They want a special memory,” Perera said. 

- Pix by Pradeep Pathirana