Cinnamon Future of Tourism Summit to host investor forum to explore way forward

In celebration of World Tourism Day, Cinnamon Future of Tourism Summit is set to be held on 23 September at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo under the theme ‘Challenges and Growth in the Face of Crisis’. One of the key highlights of this year’s event will be an exclusive investor forum which will feature top industry professionals who will shed light on how the industry can continue to attract international interest and investment. This will be an opportunity to listen to industry leaders on their views of the potential the industry has and the challenges faced in tourism in Sri Lanka. 

With Sri Lanka securing a place in Lonely Planet’s ‘Top 10 Countries to Travel to in 2019’ list, the investment in Sri Lanka’s tourism sector was steadily growing. Following the 4/21 attacks, the industry has rallied together, to recover, rebuild and gear up for a new era of growth. The highly anticipated investor forum will be moderated by JB Securities Ltd. CEO Murtaza Jafferjee and will bring together the foremost thought-leaders in the local and regional travel industry, providing them with a platform to discuss new ideas and strategies that will revive investment in Sri Lanka’s travel sector. 

Sharing their ideas at the forum will be Minor Hotel Group CEO and Minor International COO Dillip Rajakarier. From working at Orient Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises, to becoming part of the senior leadership at the Minor Hotel Group, Dillip had taken a proactive approach in the overall leadership and strategic direction of the company. His guidance has been instrumental in sustaining the growth of the chain over the last few years and he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise. 

Joining Dillip on stage will be the Managing Director of Resplendent Ceylon, Malik Fernando, who is also a Director at Dilmah Tea. Holding an executive role in Sri Lanka’s first luxury resort brand, Malik has developed a remarkable circuit across the island with a range of authentic experiences whilst contributing to the development of local communities and the protection of the environment through the MJF Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. After the tragic 4/21 attacks, Malik went on to spearhead the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance and mobilised the private tourism sector under the ‘Love Sri Lanka’ campaign banner. 

Also taking part in the forum will be Krishan Balendra, the Chairman of John Keells Holdings, Sri Lanka’s largest blue chip conglomerate, and a Director of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sri Lanka. Krishan has also served as the Chairman of Nations Trust Bank and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He started his career at UBS Warburg, Hong Kong, where he worked in investment banking, and focused primarily on equity capital markets. Krishan holds an LLB from the University of London, and an MBA from INSEAD, and is recognised as one of Sri Lanka’s top corporate leaders.

Sharing her expertise on the platform will be Jetwing Hotels Chairman Shiromal Cooray, a highly respected leader in the travel industry who is currently placed amongst the 50 most Powerful Women of Business in Sri Lanka. An Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounts in the United Kingdom, Shiromal holds an MBA from the University of Colombo. Over the years, she has held many prestigious positions and has served as the Vice President of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL), as well as the President of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) – the foremost representative body for tour operators in the country. She brings with her years of experience and know-how to the forum discussions. 

Commenting on the Future of Tourism Summit and the addition of the investor forum to the agenda, John Keells Group Vice President, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Head of Brand Marketing and Cinnamon Life Mall CEO Dileep Mudadeniya said: “Whilst natural disasters, terror attacks and other crises can have a detrimental effect on the growth and stability of a nation’s tourism industry, it is important that travel brands from across the sector have response protocols and strategies in place to rebuild and revive. This year’s event is geared to provide all stakeholders within the industry with the tools and guidance that they need to strategically grow and move forward. Investment the sector is an important factor for its growth as well as the country’s economic growth and we hope that this specialist forum, which features Sri Lanka’s top leadership, will help to provide valuable insights and ideas on how the island’s travel industry can continue to attract international investment and recover.” 

The summit is to kick-off with the keynote speaker of FOT 2019, UNWTO Special Advisor to the Secretary General Anita Mendiratta, who will explore her topic ‘Rising Above – Emerging Stronger Through Crisis’ followed by a special discussion on the comprehension of future of tourism locally and globally with CNN Correspondent and Quest Means Business host Richard Quest. On the topic of ‘Facing a Crisis – Best Practices and implementing a winning destination campaign’, TATA Group Taj Hotels Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal will share his experiences and initiatives for Taj Hotels. 

He will then join Dileep Mudadeniya and Anita Mendiratta for the first panel discussion moderated by E-Tourism Frontiers CEO Damian Cook. Besides being the conference curator and moderator to panel discussions, Damian Cook will also speak on ‘Priority actions, partners and channels when connecting with resilient markets’.

It will also feature Book My Show Founder and CEO Ashish Hemrajani, who will speak on the ‘Role of Entertainment in Destination Rebuilding’, Euromonitor International Sr. Regional Communications and Marketing Consultant – Southeast Asia Vesta Ratkeviciute on ‘Global Consumer Trends; Opportunities for the Travel Industry’, Impetus Alliance CEO and Managing Director Michael Yam on ‘The breakthrough in Investment tourism’ and STR Business Development Manager, Central and South Asia Vidhi Godiawala, on ‘Post recovery of Accommodation Sector – Lessons from other destinations and trends in Sri Lanka’ and DER Touristik UK CEO Derek Jones, on ‘Building destination confidence amongst tour operators’. 

A closing panel will focus on hospitality best practices, implementing a winning destination campaign and a recovery marketing plan with reference to case studies from Kenya, Bali and Taj Hotels with Vidhi Godiawala, Derek Jones, Vesta Ratkevicuite, and Ashish Hemrajani moderated by Damian Cook.

Cinnamon Future of Tourism Summit endorsed by United Nations World Tourism Organisation, International Media Partner, CNN Travel, In Association with Mercedes Benz Sprinter by DIMO, Powered by Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Destination Partner – So Sri Lanka, Electronic Media Partner – YES101 and Legends 96.6, Airline Partner – SriLankan Airlines, Mobile Partner – Mobitel, Digital Partner – Xiteb. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is a chain comprising 14 distinct hotels and resorts located in key areas across Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The brand embodies a passion for inspired living and promises holistic and enhanced experiences that are tailor-made to suit the specific interests of travellers. The Cinnamon brand focuses on delivering memorable holidays and getaways that deliver exceptional standards of service whilst showcasing the warmth and vibrancy of contemporary Sri Lankan hospitality. For more information or to reserve your tickets visit www.cinnamonboxoffice.com or www.futureoftourism.com or call on 071 711 8111.