Business
How to build a culture of service excellence: Ron Kaufman to lead event in Colombo
In light of Sri Lanka’s emergence from its worst-ever economic crisis, organizations must prioritize customer service excellence as they navigate evolving business landscapes, changing customer needs, and heightened competition. Effective, authentic customer service remains the cornerstone of any successful organization.
Well-known Global Customer Experience Guru Ron Kaufman will lead an event in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 6 June 2024 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla, focusing on uplifting customer service and elevating organizational excellence amidst challenging contexts.
Ron Kaufman is known for his holistic approach to service design, execution and transformation to create a customer service culture that supports employees, delights customers and drives organizational performance.
A case study demonstrating the transformative power of excellence in customer service is the experience of Air Mauritius. Collaborating with Kaufman and his team in June 2012, the airline successfully overhauled its service culture. This effort resulted in a remarkable turnaround: the organization reversed a $30 million loss, achieved profitability, reduced employee attrition to less than 5%, and significantly improved the compliments-to-complaints ratio from 2:1 to 12:1.
Another compelling example is the case of LUX resorts in Mauritius and Maldives, which faced the challenge of maintaining stability during a profound financial crisis in 2010. Despite lacking substantial capital for significant investments due to the fragile external environment, the leadership focused on what they could control. Collaborating with Kaufman and team, the organization concentrated on cultivating an exceptional team capable of delivering a world-class guest experience. Through this strategic approach, LUX successfully transformed a mid-tier group of struggling properties into highly acclaimed luxury resorts, achieving remarkable improvements in room rates, occupancy, and profitability by prioritizing excellence in customer service.
A unique aspect of the event is that it is attuned to Sri Lanka’s current contexts and challenges, offering valuable insights for organizations aiming to revamp their services for diverse client bases. Additionally, the event is tailored to accommodate entrepreneurs and professionals across all levels, ranging from c-suite executives to managers to customer service representatives.
Furthermore, the insights gained from this session will prove invaluable to leaders, teams, and organizations in leisure & travel, airlines, logistics, IT/Software BPO services, banks & financial services, insurance, telecom, retail business, hospitals, education, real estate, various professional services, exporters and investor services.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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