Business
Aitken Spence Travels wins top Sustainability Award 2022
Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd emerged as the most sustainable Destination Management Company (DMC) and the role model of sustainability in the tourism industry at the recently held “Sustainability Awards 2022,” organized by the AHK (Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka), together with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
The Sustainability Awards 2022 serves to recognise sustainability initiatives and award companies across the agriculture, textile, and tourism industries for such efforts. The nominees were reviewed under four broad categories, namely, holistic approach to sustainability, visionary leadership, innovative capability, and resistance to external factors to reward.
As one of the leading DMCs in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka for 45 years, Aitken Spence Travels being part of the Aitken Spence PLC group has sustainability engrained to the DNA of the company and is serious about its commitments and principles. The company works within the industry to safeguard and strengthen the livelihoods of communities, promote social integration and peace through cultural exposure, and help to foster goodwill among different communities. Moreover, has integrated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specific targets into the company’s sustainability strategies as the outcome would contribute towards national and international development needs.
Offering community-based excursions, offsetting carbon footprints, and executing CSR projects such as “The Art of Giving”, Tree planting programs, and “Travel Kindly” initiative are salient contributors to the company’s successful sustainability journey.
Commenting on the company’s stellar performance, Stasshani Jayawardena Executive Director, Aitken Spence PLC and Head of the Tourism and Leisure, said, “Aitken Spence Travels has continuously strived towards making meaningful contributions to local and global development needs in the tourism industry. This achievement resonates with the values of the organisation and our unwavering commitment to reach greater heights in sustainability amidst many challenges faced in the tourism industry.”
Nalin Jayasundera, the Managing Director, Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, also commented, “We are delighted to win this award, which is a reflection of our effort to preserve sustainable tourism at every step of our value chain. We are thankful to our staff, consumers, suppliers, partners, and all other stakeholders for their patronage that has helped us to extend and excel in sustainability.”
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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