HILTON RESIDENCES CELEBRATES 100Th ANNIVERSARY
Hilton currently operates 39 hotels in South/ East Asia
Hilton, one of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in the world, has kick-started its 100th-anniversary celebrations in South East Asia. In the lead-up to its centennial milestone on 31 May 2019, the global hospitality company aims to bring what it coined “The Hilton Effect” to life through a series of initiatives that will involve more than 12,000 Team Members across nine countries to impact communities and surprise guests.
Over the last century, Hilton has impacted over ten million team members globally. The strength and impact of the Brand have had positive, world-altering impact on the lives of Team Members, communities, and guests around the world – this is known as the ‘Hilton Effect’. This has been researched and documented by business authors Chip Heath and Karla Starr to document the impact on travellers, industry, communities, and team members.
Hilton Colombo Residences employs two differently-abled team members in its operations. Diluksha Weerasinghe, 20, is employed as a pool attendant and therapist in the sports centre. Diluksha is hearing impaired and has been mute his entire life. Despite these circumstances, he pursued his education at the Rathmalana School for the Deaf and Blind. Under normal circumstances, Diluksha would not have received an opportunity to work in a 100-year-old pioneer in the hospitality industry.
Shyamal Chinthaka, 36, has been with the hotel since 2018 and is employed in the capacity of Water Bottling Plant Attendant.
Chithra Jayaweera, 50, who is employed in the kitchen in the capacity of Commis III says that her lifelong ambition was to be a chef in a hotel. Nuwan Tharanga, 33, was a victim of the flood in 2017. With days left for his wedding, he was unsure if he would be able to go ahead as he had lost his home and belongings. Janaka Fernando, 38, restaurant manager, too, had an unfortunate incident where his home succumbed to a devastating fire earlier in 2019.
Speaking of Hilton’s 100th anniversary, Linda Giebing, General Manager of Hilton Colombo Residences says that Hilton has a long history of operating in Sri Lanka, and during this time it has impacted not just guests, but also on the lives of Team Members. Hilton currently operates 39 hotels in South East Asia, with over 12,000 rooms across nine countries, and a pipeline of 51 hotels which will open in the next three to five years.