Veteran hotelier Hapugoda takes on new role at Aitken Spence hotels
View(s):Veteran hotelier Malin Hapugoda, among a few in the industry who began his hotel career when the Bentota tourism hub was set up in the early 1970s, has been appointed a full-time Director/Consultant at Aitken Spence Hotel Managements Pvt Ltd.
Malin Hapugoda
Mr. Hapugoda, responsible for much of the development at Aitken Spence hotels in recent times including its foray into the Middle East and India, “will continue on a full time basis as ‘Director / Executive Consultant’ of the hotel sector and facilitate a smooth transition”, a company source said.
The company recently announced the appointment of Susith Jayawickrama as the ‘Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Pvt) Ltd’ with effect from July 1, taking over from Mr. Hapugoda who served in the position for many years.
In his new role, Mr. Hapugoda will hold specific responsibility for the group’s management of Oman hotels; the 501-room RIU Hotel project at Ahungalla; management of Heritance Ayurveda Mahagedera including sales and marketing; and strategy and direction of sales and marketing of the hotel sector together with the Managing Director (in hotels in Sri Lanka, Maldives and Oman).