Business
Aitken Spence’s Heritance Aarah shines among world’s best at Culinary World Cup 2022
Premier hospitality chain Aitken Spence Hotels showcased their prowess in the culinary sphere, winning five (05) Gold, four (04) Silver and four (04) Bronze at the recently concluded prestigious Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup. Its flagship Maldives resort, Heritance Aarah collectively took home 13 medals.
The five (05) member team from Heritance Aarah, competed against 60 teams from 55 nations, in an intense five-day competition in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, vying for the prestigious prizes. The winning team was led by Executive Chef Amila Silva and the team was mentored and trained by the Culinary Olympic Record Holder Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe (nine-time Culinary Olympic Gold medallist) and the Corporate Chef Maldives Sector Lalith Gunasekare.
Chef Kumarasinghe is the Aitken Spence Hotels Assistant Vice President, Ambassador Heritance Cuisine / Chefs & Culinary Art Development Officer. Excellence in skill, collective values and expertise of the team, together with sheer hard work, commitment and dedication; along with the spirit of Aitken Spence proved to be the prizewinning ingredient for Heritance Aarah.
Curating innovative and unique dishes that are a melange of flavour, colour and presentation. Heritance Aarah’s inimitable approach to gastronomy, the out-of-the-box creations not only caught the eyes of the judges but also received commendation by all present.
In line with the premium lifestyle experience presented to its discerning guests, Heritance Aarah extends the most generous all-inclusive offering. Standing apart from the orthodox all-inclusive offerings in the Maldives, a key distinction at Heritance Aarah is the 11 F&B outlets, of which seven are for dining. The culinary journey that its guests are privy to includes a holistic epicurean journey from street food to the traditional, to fusion to fine dining, unravelling an experience unlike any other. With culinary among its core values, the resort team, since 2019 has brought home many a medal in the field, including multiple wins at the Culinary Olympics and Culinary Food Expo.
These achievements further reiterate the company’s continued efforts and investment in strengthening its leadership position in culinary excellence as well as in soft skill development, as part of long term strategy. “Heritance Aarah is a unique resort that was designed to challenge the status quo. We turned this into a skill we are proud to have honed and nurtured over the years – our exceptional talent in the culinary world,” Aitken Spence PLC Director, Head of Tourism and Leisure, and Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotels Management Stasshani Jayawardena said congratulating the team. “We are ever so proud to see these achievements and world-class recognition which proves that we are very much in line with the company’s vision. My heartiest congratulations to you all; and thank you for keeping the Aitken Spence flag as well as Sri Lanka flag flying high.”
Adding to Ms. Jayawardena, Aitken Spence Hotels Managing Director Susith Jayawickrama also echoed her sentiments. “This global recognition is a reward for our continuous investment on culinary training and exposure and proves that Aitken Spence Hotels is among the world’s best in the culinary arena.”
The winning team was welcomed at the Bandaranaike airport by the Senior Management of Aitken Spence Hotels followed by a felicitation lunch and ceremony with the attendance of the Group Supervisory Board of Aitken Spence PLC – Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake, Dr. Rohan Fernando, Ms. Stasshani Jayawardena, Ms. Nilanthi Sivapragasam, members of the Senior Management of Aitken Spence Hotels and well-wishers from across Aitken Spence subsidiaries.
Recognised as one of the largest and most important cooking competitions in the world, the Villeroy & Boch Culinary World Cup is a prestigious gastronomic festival that meets the highest standards. The Culinary World Cup was held in line with EXPOGAST Trade Show 2022.
Aitken Spence Hotels is part of the Sri Lankan blue-chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC. Aitken Spence Hotels owns and operates 18 hotels and resorts across Sri Lanka, Maldives, Oman and India. The Company’s owned hotels are reflected under the Heritance, Adaaran and Turyaa brands, popular around the world for its exceptional service and undisputed product and curated lifestyle experiences. The Company’s Sri Lankan portfolio includes 8 hotels and resorts spread across the island of which five are Heritance properties, whilst the Maldives resorts totals to five (with one Heritance resort), four in Oman and one in India.
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.”
