More than 250 hospitality leaders and global experts convene in Colombo to advance the future performance and competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector.
The Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Region successfully convened more than 250 of the country’s senior hospitality and tourism leaders at Cinnamon Grand Colombo for the inaugural International Hospitality Leaders’ Conference 2026 (IHLC 2026), bringing together global expertise, industry leadership and a shared commitment to shaping the future performance and competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector.
Held under the theme “Vision 2030: Shaping the Future Performance of Sri Lanka’s Hospitality Industry,” the conference brought together international speakers from Belgium, Malta, Seychelles, the Maldives and the UAE, alongside leading Sri Lankan hospitality executives, tourism strategists, business leaders, academics and industry professionals.
A particularly distinctive aspect of the conference was its core organising committee, which brought together senior hospitality professionals with extensive operational, commercial, learning and brand marketing experience. Led by Refhan Razeen, General Manager, Shangri-La Hambantota; Patrick Pereira, Vice President Learning & Development, Aitken Spence Hotels; Nazoomi Azhar, General Manager, Cinnamon Grand Colombo; and Pramukshi Kariyawasam, former Director – Marketing & Communications at Shangri-La Dubai and former Director – Brand Marketing & Partnerships at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, the committee brought a strong practitioner perspective to the programme. Having worked together across previous workplaces and projects, the team was able to combine their respective areas of expertise and create a conference that was deeply rooted in the realities and opportunities facing the hospitality industry.
The discussions moved beyond individual businesses to consider the wider ecosystem required for Sri Lankan hospitality to compete more effectively in an increasingly dynamic global tourism landscape. International perspectives from destinations including Seychelles and the Maldives provided insight into destination leadership, national positioning and industry collaboration, while sessions on AI, revenue management and consumer trends explored the technologies and behaviours reshaping hospitality. These conversations culminated in the Great Reform Debate, which challenged speakers and delegates to consider what needs to change if Sri Lanka is to realise its Vision 2030 ambitions.
A key outcome of IHLC 2026 was the Vision 2030 Declaration and an industry whitepaper, which has already been drafted by academics from APIIT Sri Lanka. Bringing together research and industry perspectives on the future direction of Sri Lankan hospitality, the whitepaper will now be circulated among industry and relevant government stakeholders as a reference to support wider dialogue, policy thinking and future action.
“We did not create this conference to celebrate what we have endured. We created it to confront what comes next. Our industry has already proven its resilience. The next chapter is about reimagining how we lead, compete and grow together,” commented Refhan Razeen, Conference Chairman, IHLC 2026 and General Manager, Shangri-La Hambantota.
Beyond the programme, IHLC 2026 created opportunities for networking and experience-sharing throughout the day, with Official Hospitality Partner Cinnamon Grand Colombo playing a central role in the delegate experience. The hotel curated a special breakfast to welcome delegates, followed by a showcase of its signature restaurants at lunch and dinner, with individual stations bringing together a wide selection of cuisines and culinary experiences under one roof. Delegates praised the breadth of the selection and quality of the food, making the dining experience an important part of the conference itself. Powered By Partner Nestlé Professional also hosted an all-day coffee lounge and introduced its new Nescafé Superiore range.
“Supporting IHLC 2026 was our way of investing in the people, ideas and conversations that will shape Sri Lanka’s hospitality future. As a leading local hospitality brand, we felt it was our responsibility to support an initiative that brought together the industry’s leaders and created a platform for meaningful dialogue around its future. The response to the conference and the quality of engagement throughout the day reaffirmed the value of bringing the industry together, and we were proud to contribute to an event that was so well received by the hospitality community,” stated Nazoomi Azhar, Vice Chairman, IHLC 2026 and General Manager, Cinnamon Grand Colombo.
“Seeing this vision become reality has been incredibly rewarding. My sincere thanks go to our organising committee, partners, speakers and every delegate who made the inaugural International Hospitality Leaders’ Conference such a meaningful success. What we have started through IHLC 2026 is an important conversation for our industry, and I hope the Vision 2030 Declaration and the work that follows will continue to bring our sector together around the opportunities and challenges ahead,” said Ramesh Dassanayake, Chairman, Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Region.
IHLC 2026 was proudly Powered By Nestlé Professional, with the support of Platinum Partners CodeGen International and APIIT Sri Lanka; Gold Partners Lion Brewery Ceylon and Rockland Distilleries; and supported by Lakarcade, Celsius, LAUGFS, SriLankan Airlines, Classic Travels, Aitken Spence Travels Ninewells Hospital, Hameedia and BYD Sri Lanka. Cinnamon Grand Colombo served as Official Hospitality Partner, while Maharaja Media Network was Official Media Partner.
The inaugural IHLC 2026 marks the beginning of an ongoing platform for the Institute of Hospitality – Sri Lanka Region to convene industry leaders, bring international thinking into the local hospitality conversation and support the sector in translating ideas into meaningful action towards 2030.
