By Vrinda Rastogi
In conversation with the senior leadership at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts – Sri Lanka’s multi award-winning luxury hotel chain brand – Globalspa discovers the many facets of the country and its hospitality with Vice President Sales of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts – Mr. Mano Gunasekara, Area Vice President Operations, Colombo Hotels – Mr. Kamal Munasinghe, and Area Vice President Operations, Sri Lanka Resorts Hotels – Mr. Ilias Vamvakas.
With its ethos of unique experiences, Sri Lanka has been making big waves welcoming tourists from all across the world. With the beauty of its warm beach, the rolling hills, the glamorous city skyline, and the enchanting jungle, the city’s arms are open for travelers to experience its fullest.
In conversation with the country’s leading hospitality brand, here’s Globalspa in conversation with the spearheaders of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts as Sri Lanka looks to India as a critical market for the country and its economy.
1. Starting off, please share with us a bit about Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
Out of our eleven properties, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in the capital offers three: Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo and Cinnamon Red Colombo with several other outlets. We have recently launched our business hotel Grand with a dedicated wellness center, spa and gym. Grand also offers travelers a unique experience of visiting a typical Sri Lankan village at one of the oldest landmarks registered by the Colombo Council. Cinnamon Lakeside is our resort in the city equipped with a spa and plenty of recreational amenities, while Red offers more of a laid-back luxury with a dedicated bar, pools and fine dining. Currently we are relaunching our spas and select properties.
2. How are things settling in post-pandemic and the protests?
We have been witnessing good traction since November. We are yet to witness more from the Indian segment, but the UK and business communities have come up big while leisure came into play mid-December. We believe now is a great time to visit with things right on track, and we would like to spread the message of positivity to come explore Sri Lanka and all that it offers.
3. Why is India an important player for the Sri Lankan market?
We have seen what Indian tourists can bring to the country given that they are geographically closest to us and bear the income to travel. We are also culturally connected with a long history so there is familiarity. The culinary aspect is also great for Indian travelers since Indian food is so famous here. A lot of extended families also live in Sri Lanka so the interconnection is always strong. It is like home away from home. There is no culture shock. You get your getaway while being in a homely place in just hours. So many experiences are also personalized which we believe brings in the high-quality service every traveler seeks.
4. And how essential is the aspect of wellness to the brand?
Within our three properties, we have many different outlets where we don’t just talk about spas as wellness but about overall wellbeing and mindfulness. We offer many experiences which one may not be able to witness in big cities. We offer plenty of activities for relaxation so you feel truly fulfilled. There are many things travelers can do here to truly connect with nature and eventually, themselves.
5. Since we are living in the digital era, how is social media involved in the brand’s growth plans?
Our strategies are aligned on identifying who can highlight the different flavors of experiences we offer. We are looking at the social media savvy Gen Z traveler since social media is a more active and better means of communication for Indian travelers. What we are doing now is building up on what we may have built in the past. We are reaching out to influencers and media houses so as to provide a clear perspective. As a brand, we are moving away from the common to bring genuine content considering the authentic experiences we have. We want to use social media to shine light on multiple lenses that Sri Lanka along with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is adopting to appeal to a wide array of audiences.
6. What are your thoughts on sustainability? Any initiatives the brand has adopted?
We are aware of wellness travelers looking for sustainable tourism, and we have a dedicated team looking over our sustainability initiatives such as in-house gardening, using local produce, and biogas. We also have a separate facility for waste segregation and its recycling along with monthly evaluation on all prospects. Under the flagship of John Keells Group, one of our main activities is reforestation and all branches of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts are active participants in this project. We also look over community-based projects – we serve 10,000 meals yearly for underprivileged neighbors under “Meals That Heals” and have also partnered with community temples, providing more than 2000 meals every day.
Another initiative Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is coming up with is building talent in the industry. We are in the process of collaborating with Sri Lanka’s top hospitality institutions to sponsor 50% of the students who sign up for the program. We are hoping to bring it forth by the second quarter of this year.
7. Lastly, any words for our discerning travelers thinking of exploring Sri Lanka?
Kamal: Sri Lanka is ‘the’ place to discover. It is our brand promise that you will experience true authentic Sri Lankan hospitality. We truly have something unique to offer.
Ilias: I strongly believe that Sri Lanka is a big USP. You feel like exploring the roots of the country? You want to go whale watching? Craving street food or some adrenaline pumping activities at the beach? Maybe a religious experience? Sri Lanka has it all. It is a country which can accommodate any adventure.
Mano: Cultural or commercial, Sri Lanka offers multiple opportunities. We are a safe place and travelers can enjoy many experiences here. Come visit us, see what you’re missing!
