Leading global hospitality company Hilton has announced the opening of Hilton Yala Resort, marking Hilton's third flagship-branded property in Sri Lanka. Just outside Sri Lanka's Yala National Park and surrounded by lush greenery, the resort provides an elevated escape for guests seeking adventure and relaxation, with a vast view that overlooks the Indian Ocean.
As a strategic hospitality leader, Alan Christie brings over two decades of senior asset management experience most recently as Executive Vice President Advisory and Asset Management with JLL Singapore to his new role as Area General Manager, Sri Lanka, where he will be focused on driving the strategic performance of the Radisson portfolio in Sri Lanka.
Whilst political unrest and the national financial crisis put pressure on the trainees, as families struggled to fulfil their daily needs, 27 trainees celebrated their graduation yesterday, determined to build a better life for themselves and their families. This comes at a time when over one in five young people globally are not in education, employment or training,[1] and youth unemployment in Sri Lanka is rising, with 26.1% of young people not in employment.[2]
A true city icon and urban lifestyle resort, Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort brings the vibrant spirit of Colombo to life by presenting a multitude of experiences that will delight and enchant the discerning traveller, who embraces the unconventional.
The travel and tourism sector is an important income generator for Sri Lanka. However, the ongoing economic crisis coupled with Ukraine–Russia war and China’s zero-COVID policy has put the sector in jeopardy. Against this backdrop, the country will face an uphill task in restoring a once thriving sector, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
La Vie Hotels & Resorts, one of Asia Pacific’s leading and fastest growing independent hotel management companies, has signed a landmark deal with Radisson Hotel Group and Sino Lanka Group to operate three hotels in Sri Lanka.
João Corte-Real joins the team in Sri Lanka as Cluster General Manager overseeing Anantara Kalutara Resort and its neighbouring and sister property Avani Kalutara Resort.
Research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed Sri Lanka’s economy could face losses of more than LKR260 million each day it remains on the UK’s disruptive and damaging ‘red list’ for travel.
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has become a mainstay of the economic development in the country in the past decade, contributing over 10% to the country’s GDP and 11% of the total employment in 2019 as per WTTC. Having realized the potential of the tourism sector as a chief economic propellant, the Sri Lankan government, over the past several years, has focused on facilitating its growth through effective policy measures and massive infrastructure development. For instance, upgrading the Colombo airport is a major step to improving infrastructure that has helped increase the number of flights into the country. Hotel development in the country has also seen significant growth from 113 classified hotels with 9,377 rooms in 2010 to 156 classified hotels with 14,232 rooms in 2020, as per the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
The island nation of Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in South Asia since the three-decade-long civil war in the country ended in 2009. The country, popularly known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean due to its rich natural beauty and cultural heritage, offers tourists a plethora of experiences with multiple attractions ranging from pristine beaches, beautiful rainforests, tea plantations, wildlife parks, to historical sites, ancient ruins, temples and even casinos. The country’s tourism sector bounced back immediately after the war, becoming the key economic driver in post-war Sri Lanka.
Today, global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work® announced Hilton’s placement on this year’s Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka list. This is the second time that Hilton has been named one of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplaces.
Marriott International, Inc. signed an agreement with Colombo City Centre Partners (Private) Limited, part of the Abans Group, one of Sri Lanka's largest conglomerates with diversified interests in retail, real-estate development, environmental management and logistics to debut the Courtyard by Marriott brand in Sri Lanka. The hotel is expected to feature 164 rooms and is anticipated to open in late 2021.
"Undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world" proclaimed Marco Polo upon visiting Sri Lanka in the 13th century.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced its partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) to launch Hilton Liya Diriya - a specially curated female development program in Sri Lanka.
Mövenpick Hotel Colombo welcomed Roshan Perera as their new General Manager on December 15. Roshan started his career as a trainee in 1986, at the InterContinental Hotels Group, after which he worked for leading hotel companies such as Lanka Leisure Management Services (Pvt Ltd), Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, The Blue Water where he served as the General Manager for 4 years and then as the Chief Executive Officer for the group, Union Resorts Ltd while he continued to serve as the General Manager of The Blue Water totalling nearly 12 years of his career.
With a degree from The Hotel Management School Maastricht in Holland, Stephan has over 15 years of hospitality industry experience.
Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort, a new three-story, 78-room modern resort in Weerawila, Sri Lanka. The newly built resort is owned by KDU Adventures (Private) Limited and joins Hilton Colombo and Hilton Colombo Residences as the third hotel to be managed by Hilton in the country.
ONYX Hospitality Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Jan Ifcic as Cluster General Manager of ONYX Hospitality Group in Sri Lanka. Jan succeeds Russell Cool who departs following more than two years of leadership, and will oversee the company's three hotels in Sri Lanka - Amari Galle, OZO Colombo and OZO Kandy.
The Galle Face Hotel, opened in 1864 and one of the oldest hotels east of Suez, is gearing up for a strong future with the announcement of key appointments."This is such an exciting time, both in the country and in the hotel. Lonely Planet has rated Sri Lanka the "Top Country for Travel in 2019", meaning a new era of growth for the destination. We want to ensure we have the team to take the hotel on that journey, creating new and authentic experiences for our guests in the years to come," said Galle Face Hotel Chairman, Sanjeev Gardiner, the hotel's owner.The new team have a combined total of 100 years of local and international experience in hospitality - experience they are now bringing to the Galle Face Hotel.
Next Hotel Colombo and Kafnu Colombo will open their doors to welcome guests in third quarter 2019. This will mark the entry of Next Hotels and Kafnu into Sri Lanka, a fast-growing tourist destination and will be the first foray of the Next brand outside of Australia.