Cinnamon clinches the Prestigious PATA Gold Award
View(s):Cinnamon was recognised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for a PATA Gold Award for the significant cultural impact made together with the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya and in partnership with the John Keells Foundation for the Guru Gedara Festival.
Cinnamon will be presented with the Gold Award for Culture at the gala awards ceremony set to take place in Kazakhstan during the highly anticipated PATA Travel Mart 2019 in September this year.
Taken up as a non-commercial venture under the social connect vertical of Cinnamon’s comprehensive sustainability approach – the Guru Gedara Festival was Sri Lanka’s first immersive traditional performing arts experience. Realised through the collaboration with John Keells Foundation and the long-established Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation (CVDF), the 4-day festival was held at the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya – Colombo last year, and mirrored the ancient village concept of community spaces dedicated to the learning and teaching of various traditional performing arts.
‘We are grateful for playing our part in the efforts to conserve and promote a founding pillar of Sri Lanka’s unique experiential tourism offering,’ commented Nadija Tambiah, Head of CSR and EVP of John Keells Group.
‘We understand that community engagement and community commitment is critical to the conservation and promotion of Sri Lanka’s culture. the results and awareness generated through the Guru Gedara Festival sets precedent for local tourism industry leaders to take action in preserving Sri Lanka’s cultural identity, uncompromising in the face of global tourism demands’.
The PATA Awards 2019 attracted 198 entries from 78 organisations. An independent judging committee consisting of 15 senior executives from the global travel, hospitality sectors will selected the winners.
