Heritance Hotels and Resorts secures 4 wins at World Travel Awards 2026

Heritance Hotels and Resorts has secured four distinguished titles at the World Travel Awards 2026, with three national awards recognising its Sri Lankan properties and an international title for Heritance Aarah in the Maldives.

The three Sri Lankan titles recognise Heritance Tea Factory as Sri Lanka’s Leading Heritage Hotel 2026, Heritance Ahungalla as Sri Lanka’s Leading Luxury Hotel 2026, and Heritance Kandalama as Sri Lanka’s Leading Wedding Hotel 2026. Heritance Aarah was named the Indian Ocean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2026.

Internationally recognised within the global travel and tourism industry, the World Travel Awards celebrate excellence across hotels, resorts, and destinations. Recognition at this level affirms the quality, distinctiveness, and consistency of the experiences delivered by Heritance Hotels and Resorts.

Aitken Spence Hotels Chairperson Stasshani Jayawardena said: “Recognition at the World Travel Awards is a meaningful affirmation of the standards we strive to uphold across Heritance Hotels and Resorts. These awards are particularly significant as they acknowledge distinct strengths across our portfolio, from the heritage and sense of place at Heritance Tea Factory and the refined luxury of Heritance Ahungalla to the destination wedding experience at Heritance Kandalama, and the premium all-inclusive experience at Heritance Aarah. They reflect the dedication of our teams and our continued commitment to creating experiences that showcase the best of Heritance hospitality to guests from around the world.”

Named Sri Lanka’s Leading Heritage Hotel 2026, Heritance Tea Factory offers an experience deeply rooted in the history of Sri Lanka’s tea industry. Set more than 2,000 metres above sea level amid the misty mountains and tea estates of Kandapola, the hotel occupies a restored 19th-century tea factory and retains many elements of its industrial past.

Heritance Tea Factory offers a distinctive way to experience the landscapes, culture, and enduring heritage of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. Guests can discover the story of Ceylon tea through tea-plucking, tea-tasting, and a visit to the Mini Tea Factory, while nature walks, cycling, and sections of the Pekoe Trail provide opportunities to explore the picturesque highlands. The region’s heritage is also reflected at TCK 6685, a restaurant housed within a restored railway carriage at the hotel. Here, the essence of the region is conveyed through the surrounding landscape and activities as much as through the architecture itself.

Heritance Kandalama, named Sri Lanka’s Leading Wedding Hotel 2026, brings together striking architecture, integrated into the natural surroundings to create a unique destination wedding experience.

Designed by renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa and set within Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle, the hotel sits in harmony with its natural surroundings, with the forest landscape and Kandalama Lake forming an intrinsic part of the experience. Weddings range from intimate outdoor celebrations to larger receptions, supported by personalised coordination, refined dining, and atmospheric accommodation.

The experience extends beyond the celebration, with couples and their guests able to explore the region’s cultural and natural heritage, including Sigiriya and Dambulla, as well as enjoy nature experiences, wildlife excursions, and the hotel’s own immersive offerings. Signature dining experiences, including the Bawa Cave Dinner and village-inspired dining, further showcase the destination’s distinct culinary and cultural character.

Heritance Ahungalla was recognised as Sri Lanka’s Leading Luxury Hotel 2026, adding a significant accolade to the portfolio’s coastal offering. Designed by Geoffrey Bawa and located along Sri Lanka’s southern coastline, the resort combines tropical modernist architecture with ocean views, spacious accommodation, personalised service, and a range of beachside and family-friendly experiences.

In the Maldives, Heritance Aarah was named Indian Ocean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2026. Located in Raa Atoll, the resort’s Premium All-Inclusive experience brings together seven restaurants and five bars, wellness at IASO Spa, marine activities, and opportunities to discover Maldivian culture. This recognition highlights the resort’s distinctive approach to combining personalised service with culinary delights, wellness, and island experiences.

Together, the four World Travel Awards titles recognise the diversity of Heritance Hotels and Resorts’ portfolio across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, celebrating Sri Lanka tea heritage in the central highlands, the architectural and natural legacy of the Cultural Triangle, and serene coastal hospitality. These hard-won accolades reflect Heritance’s commitment to creating experiences connected to each destination’s culture, landscape, and sense of place, while meeting and exceeding internationally recognised standards of hospitality.