Prema joins Alhambra Hotels Board

Friday, 23 March 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Veteran hotelier Prema Cooray has been appointed to the Board of Alhambra Hotels Ltd., owners and operators of Ramada Colombo.

Cooray currently functions as Managing Director/CEO of CCC Solutions (Pvt) Ltd which is a fully owned subsidiary of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka’s foremost Business Chamber. Prior to taking this appointment, Cooray held the position of Secretary-General/CEO of the Chamber (2003-2008).

He is the immediate Past Chairman of Aitken Spence Plc counts well over 30years in the Travel and Tourism industry. He led the Hotel Sector of Aitken Spence for several years making a significant contribution in making Aitken Spence a leading player in the development of Resorts both in Sri Lanka and Maldives.

He is acknowledged for the pivotal role played in the development of sustainable tourism and especially for his leadership in developing the renowned Kandalama Hotel which has won many global accolades for its contribution to environmental management, food and beverage excellence and service standards of a truly exceptional nature. These attributes signalled the entry of Sri Lanka’s tourism to the world map of the hospitality industry.

He also led the pioneering effort of large scale expansion to the Republic of Maldives in early ‘90s and this regional development contributed exceptionally to the overall profile and growth of Aitken Spence.

Cooray was selected by USAID to lead the Tourism Cluster from 2001 to 2008 which introduced the concept of ‘going beyond beaches’. The diversity in the profile of Sri Lanka’s tourism today is mainly attributed to the efforts made by this cluster.

He is a Past President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (1998-2000) and was the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (2007-2009). Presently he Chairs a Rainforest initiative partnered by the private sector which once completed (early 2011) will bench-mark the best practices for Eco Tourism development in Sri Lanka.

He serves as a Member of the Tourism Cluster of National Council for Economic Development (NCED) and also serves as a Member of the Grants Board of ICTA.

He is also the Chairman of Citrus Leisure Plc, and a Board Member of Lighthouse Hotel Plc, Sigiriya Village Hotels Plc, Marawila Resorts Plc, and Beruwala Resorts Ltd.

Cooray has a MBA from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, is a Certified Management Accountant and he is also a Member of the Institute of Hospitality, UK.