Aitken Spence Travels recognised as a ‘Best Employer’ in destination management

Tuesday, 13 August 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Aitken Spence Travels Team

The largest inbound tour operator in the country, Aitken Spence Travels was recently recognised with a ‘Sri Lanka Best Employer Brand Award’ by World Federation of HR Professionals, endorsed by CHRO Asia. Aitken Spence Travels was the only destination management company to have been conferred as Sri Lanka’s Best Employer Brand in this platform.

This was awarded at the fourth edition of the Sri Lanka Best Employer Brand Awards 2019, held at Taj Samudra hotel recently. This is a regional platform linked to the Employer Branding Awards 2019-2020 (currently in its 14th edition) convened by the Employer Banding Institute of India as a build-up to the Global Employer Brands program, part of the World HRD Congress which is into its 28th edition in 2020.

This program was launched in Sri Lanka to recognise the top companies and brands in Sri Lanka that have exemplary HR practices and have effectively used marketing communications for human resource development. Winners are selected by drawing reference from research illustrating highest regard for organisations as preferred employers among diverse stakeholders.

Commenting on this recognition, Aitken Spence Travels Managing Director Nalin Jayasundera said: “We are humbled by this recognition. Our employees are our most cherished asset. In an industry with the highest rate of turnover, and a high representation of millennials, it is common knowledge that Aitken Spence Travels is seen as a training ground of sorts for the best talent. Regardless of the length of time served with us, we have consistently worked towards empowering our workforce with the required skills, experience, industry exposure and information and it is that commitment that has resulted in producing an award winning team. We appreciate these endorsements by globally reputed influencers, which serve to reinforce the Company’s commitment to continuously elevate its performance in the industry by drawing on the expertise of its partners and principals.”

Aitken Spence Travels, part of the diversified blue-chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC, is a joint venture with TUI Travel PLC, and is the leading destination management company in Sri Lanka. Undoubtedly the largest inbound tourism operator in the country, Aitken Spence Travels affirmed its market leadership position by facilitating over 200,000 visitors to Sri Lanka within the 2018/2019 financial year, surpassing the previous year’s record number of 178,000 happy visitors.

In 2018/2019, Aitken Spence Travels invested over Rs. 250 m to promote Sri Lanka as a destination in overseas markets. To manage ISO 9001:2015 Travelife Partner certified quality of service, every effort is taken to educate and equip employees, from top management to tour guides, with the required skills, knowledge and information.

Catering to a varied number of segments in the travels industry from cruise to special interest groups, sports tours, nature and luxury tours, Aitken Spence Travels continuously provides unique propositions to its clientele in order to maintain a competitive edge in the market. The company’s ability to deliver a distinctive value proposition to each market is a testament to its ability in drawing on the capabilities of its talent pool to deliver a competitive advantage for its customers.