Beyond Escapes : Decade of Distinction

Beyond Escapes celebrated its 10th Anniversary in Business at the Regent Country Club in Malabe recently, with industry participants. Distinguished guests, including Professor Athula Gnanapala, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies at Sabragamuwa University, Dr. Rohantha Athukorala, former Chairman of SLTPB; Bhagya Mahawithana, Deputy Director of Investor Relations at SLTDA; Dr. Sumith De Silva, Head of Marketing at Airport Aviation Services and Prasanjit Perera, former Vice President of Aitken Spence Travels, were invited as guests of honour. The event also welcomed distinguished industry representatives from premier hotels in Sri Lanka, esteemed lecturers specialising in hospitality and tourism from various universities, and activity providers situated in diverse locations across the country.

Founded in 2013, Beyond Escapes has emerged as an award-winning SME travel company in Sri Lanka, offering over 1000 authentic experiences across the island. Despite facing significant challenges during its first 10 years, including the Easter attacks in 2019, the impact of COVID-19 in 2020-2021, and the economic crisis in 2022, the company remained resilient, maintaining continuous operations. Even during the COVID-19 period, Beyond Escapes innovatively ran its operations to attract local travellers. These efforts resulted in the company receiving the Most Innovative and Unique Tourism Service Provider award from the prestigious Travel and Hospitality Awards in 2021 and the Go Global Awards in the same year. In 2023, the company earned four international awards at the Asia Awards 2023.

Addressing the gathering, Ruwan Ratnayaka, Chairman and Managing Director of Beyond Escapes, emphasised the need for effective marketing strategies to promote diverse experiences across the island. He also urged hoteliers to refrain from endorsing and supporting undercutting practices prevalent in the industry, often with the support of hotels.