Sporting excellence at Galle Face Group: Celebration of unity, teamwork

Tuesday, 18 August 2026 10:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cyril Gardiner and Mavis Gardiner Memorial Trophy Inter-Hotels Cricket Tournament 2026 brought together colleagues from across our hospitality family for a day defined not by scores alone, but by shared laughter, encouragement, and the unmistakable feeling of belonging to one team, one family.

Taking a strong interest in the event was Galle Face Group Chairman Sanjeev Gardiner, encouraging a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among the teams. Representing its diverse portfolio of brands—including Galle Face Hotel, EKHO Hotels and Resorts, Heritage Collection, Kandy Queens Hotel, Suisse Hotel, Awanhala, and CHC Houses—16 teams took to the field, each carrying the pride of their property and the spirit of the wider Galle Face Group. What unfolded was far more than competitive cricket; it was a living demonstration of how colleagues from different hotels, roles, and corners of the country can come together as one united force.

Galle Face Hotel delivered an outstanding, consistent performance to claim the Champions title in both the Men’s and Women’s categories. The Women’s First Runners-up honour went to the Galle Face Group Team, while CHC Rest Houses Team 02 fought hard to secure the Men’s First Runners-up position. Meanwhile, EKHO Safari Tissamaharama earned the Best Cheering Team award, their infectious energy and unwavering support reminding everyone that the tournament’s true heartbeat lay in the stands as much as on the pitch.

But beyond trophies and standings, the day belonged to the colleagues who may rarely cross paths in their day-to-day roles but stood side by side—cheering, high-fiving, and celebrating each other’s successes as if they were their own. Friendships were rekindled, new bonds were formed, and the invisible threads that connect our brands were made visible in the shared joy of the game. It is these moments—the encouragement between overs, the shared meals, the photographs taken together—that will be remembered long after the final scores are forgotten.

The Cyril Gardiner and Mavis Gardiner Memorial Trophy remains far more than a cricket tournament—it is a celebration of our people, our shared values, and the unity that binds our family of brands. As we look back on the memories made this year, we look forward with anticipation to many more moments of unity, joy, and sporting excellence in the years ahead.