Heritance Resorts clinch Green and individual awards
Sri Lanka’s premier resort brand, Heritance Hotels & Resorts swept the green and individual awards at the recently concluded Sri Lanka Tourism Awards. Sri Lanka’s most internationally awarded hotel, Heritance Kandalama won the awards for Best Practices in Green Architecture and Best Green Practices in Accommodation. Chef Lalith Gunasekera of Heritance Ahungalla was awarded the coveted Best Chef of the Year award, while Kumara Karunarathne from Heritance Ahungalla was named the Best Employee of the Year and Best Restaurant Manager of the Year award went to Thushara Gunanaratne also of Heritance Ahungalla.
Aiming to recognise and reward excellence in the travel and tourism industry, thus promoting and enhancing the delivery of service standards, this year’s Sri Lanka Tourism Awards was held for the 5th consecutive year on the 30th of August.
Heritance Kandalama is routinely recognised as one of the most eco-friendly hotels in the world, setting industry benchmarks recognised and applied globally. It is also a supreme exam- ple of Bawa’s philosophy of adapting architecture to suit the environment.
Chef Lalith is one example of a truly loyal employee of the Aitken Spence Hotels chain. Since completing his training at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management he joined the Aitken Spence group at the Browns Beach Hotel in Negombo. Following a stint at the Hotel, he also played the role of an executive chef at Club Rannaalhi in The Maldives and the Waters Edge in Colombo, before settling down at Heritance Ahungalla. Frequently rewarded for his expertise, the Waters Edge being awarded the prestigious recognition of becoming the Most Outstanding Hotel Team, under the leadership of Chef Lalith, at the Culinary Art Competition in both 2005 and 2007 is perhaps most noteworthy.
Having worked in various capacities at Hill Top Kandy for a period of twenty years, Kumara Karunarathne was promoted and transferred to Heritance Ahungalla in 2010. Winning several service awards, such as the Best Wine Waiter of the Region award at a competition organised by Orient Lanka at the Hotel Swiss in Kandy, Kumara has time and time again been recognised for his potential and good works.
Thushara Gunanaratne is yet another success story. Since the start, he was a personality with tremendous public relations skills, who started treading in the path of success within a short time span of being in the industry. Today, Thushara brings with him a unique set of skills and capabilities, satisfying both internal and external customers as a restaurant manager at Heritance Ahungalla.
Heritance Ahungalla, was awarded the Best 5-Star Resort in the island, successfully taking over the baton from Heritance Kandalama who held the award for the last three consecutive years.
This win secured for the resort a position in the prestigious Hall of Fame last year. In addition, Heritance Tea Factory emerged winners in the Best 4-Star Resort category for a second year. Further demonstrating the dominant position maintained by Heritance Hotels & Resorts in Sri Lanka, Heritance Kandalama was awarded the Best Host Hotel for Eco Tourism reaffirming the group’s commitment towards the environment.