Thursday Jul 30, 2026
Thursday Jul 30, 2026
Thursday, 30 July 2026 04:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s premier hospitality leadership forum to convene 200+ senior industry leaders at Cinnamon Grand Colombo on 29 September 2026
After five years of navigating global turbulence, Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector is moving beyond recovery. To secure long-term competitiveness, the Institute of Hospitality (IOH) Sri Lanka Chapter is launching the International Hospitality Leaders Conference (IHLC) 2026 - a leadership forum designed to produce a definitive, industry-wide roadmap for 2030. Backed by IOH UK’s global network and more than 80 years of international standing, the conference brings a calibre of expertise and worldwide perspective unmatched by any other hospitality event in Sri Lanka.
The industry now faces a critical inflection point: how does Sri Lanka position itself for long-term competitiveness in an era of digital disruption, shifting traveller expectations, and complex global sustainability requirements?
“Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry has successfully navigated some of the most challenging years in its history. As we move beyond recovery, the conversation must shift - from resilience to long-term performance,” said IHLC 2026 Conference Chairman and Shangri-La Hambantota General Manager Refhan Razeen. “Vision 2030 is about ensuring that our industry remains globally competitive, commercially resilient, and prepared for the future. The International Hospitality Leaders Conference has been created to bring together the leaders who will help shape that future.”
A commitment-driven platform
The International Hospitality Leaders Conference 2026 is not designed as a standard conference and networking event. It is a strategic leadership platform where senior decision-makers will explore the priorities that will define the country’s industry performance. Convened under the global banner of the Institute of Hospitality, and featuring internationally recognised industry leaders on its speaker roster, IHLC 2026 stands as the only event of its kind in Sri Lanka — one that places the nation’s hospitality sector firmly on the world stage. The forum is built to produce commitments, not just conversations, and will culminate in the Vision 2030 Whitepaper—the sector’s first collective industry roadmap for the years ahead.
Who should attend
The conference will convene more than 200 senior industry leaders, including:
Strategic pillars of dialogue
The program will address six core pillars, each structured to produce actionable positions:
1.Future-ready leadership and governance
2.Commercial strategy and business performance
3.Innovation and digital transformation
Sustainability and responsible tourism
4.Talent development and workforce readiness
5.Destination competitiveness and global positioning
Registration and Partnership
Attendance is through paid registration at Rs. 25,000 per delegate. Organisations interested in partnering with this national initiative are invited to explore tiered sponsorship opportunities, which offer brand visibility, direct engagement with senior decision-makers, and legacy credit in the Vision 2030 Whitepaper.
