Aitken Spence Group bags most tourism and travel Presidential awards

Sri Lanka’s most awarded hotel, Heritance Kandalama was awarded the Presidential Award for Best 5-Star Resort while Dimuthu Kumarasinghe, Skills Development Chef of the Aitken Spence Group won the award for the Best Chef at the Presidential Awards for Travel & Tourism Excellence 2007 held at the Presidential Secretariat.

The Aitken Spence Group was the most awarded group at the Awards, bagging five awards including the Best Destination Management Company and Best Professional Conference Organisation (PCO).

Heritance Kandalama has positioned Sri Lanka on the global tourism map with its recent recognition as one of the Top 15 Green Hotels of the World by the popular US-based Travel & Leisure magazine published by American Express Publishing Corporation. Designed by world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, the hotel has also been recognized by the United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka as one of the corporate sector’s top five best practices. The hotel is the first super brand hotel in Sri Lanka with ISO 22000 HACCP certification and ISO 14001 environmental certification. It is also a tourism symbol promoting Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage with its strategic setting amidst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Dambulla Cave Temple and the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

The group’s Skills Development Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe could probably be considered one of the world’s best chef, is a fitting winner of the Presidential Award. Dimuthu has on his list of unprecedented merits: a record nine gold medals at the Culinary World Cup 2006 in Luxembourg, four gold medals at the Culinary Olympics 2004 in Germany, and has been felicitated by the World Association of Cooks Societies for his achievements and contribution towards innovative culinary skills. He currently works at Heritance Ahungalla while passing on his skills to his peers within the group’s hotel as its Skills Development Chef.

“This is yet another testament of our continued commitment to innovation and standards within our hotels and promoting Sri Lanka Tourism. Dimuthu’s achievement further testifies our investment in people and training. This recognition will further our commitment to positioning Sri Lanka as a world tourist destination”, said Malin Hapugoda, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotels.

Aitken Spence Travels bagged the two main travel awards at the inaugural Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism Excellence for 2007 held at the Presidential Secretariat. The company won the awards for the Best Destination Management Company and the best Professional Conference Organisation (PCO) competing with all other major industry operators.

Aitken Spence Travels is the largest tour operator in the country representing over 200 international tour operators and is the only Sri Lankan Destination Management company equipped with the ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Its subsidiary Ace Travels and Conventions is the leading Professional Conference and Exhibition Management Company in Sri Lanka having coordinated many of the international events to be held in the country such as the International Congress on Aids in Asia Pacific (ICAAP), the South Asia Broadband Conference and the launch of Microsoft Vista.

Aitken Spence Travels, a joint venture between conglomerate Aitken Spence Plc and the world’s largest integrated tourism company TUI Travel Plc has in its existence of over three decades actively contributed towards uplifting the industry. It has participated in the establishment of the new Tourism Law which enables private sector participation in promoting Sri Lanka effectively. The company has also shared its proprietary IT system iTOS which manages tour operations in a professional manner by linking customers with suppliers and services. Gehan M. Perera, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Travels and Ace Travels & Conventions upon receiving the awards said, “This is a great honour and tribute to our dedicated staff who work round the clock to make holidays very special for our guests and meticulously organize Conferences & Exhibitions. Our investment in technology, training and development of staff is a testament to this award. Our team has been innovative and has confidently handled the past years when tourism took a down turn; rising above the situation opening new markets and stimulating different channels in existing markets to keep the Sri Lanka Tourism flag flying high.

“I must also emphasize the award won by Ravindra Palagolla for the Best Chauffeur Guide. He is part of our excellent team and in fact one of the frontline ambassadors for tourism in Sri Lanka working with us 24x7 to make this all possible. Credit must also go to our international principals and local partners who have been an integral part of our success”.