The John Keells Group won nine awards at the Presidential Awards for Travel and Tourism 2009, the highest tally of awards won by a single company at the awards ceremony on June 15, the company said.
Of the nine awards, seven (7) went to the Group’s Leisure Inbound Sector, with Walkers Tours and Whittals Travel winning Best Domestic Tourism Operator, Best Nature and Adventure Tour Operator (Nature Odyssey), Best Charter Airline Operator (Condor), Best Chauffeur Guide - Pramo Welagedara, Best Guide - Keerthi Wijesinghe, Best Destination Loyal Partner (Foreign) - Kuoni Travel, and Hall of Fame Award for Best Destination Loyal Partner - Kuoni.
The Hall of Fame award was earned by Kuoni for winning the Best Destination Loyal Partner for the third consecutive year. Cinnamon Grand Colombo won the Luxury Accommodation Best Five Star City Hotel, and Hall of Fame Award for Luxury Accommodation Best Five Star City Hotel, by winning the Best Five Star city Hotel for the third consecutive year, the company said in a statement.
“We are delighted with this achievement. It is noteworthy that they cover all areas of Destination Management – Nature and Adventure, Best Overseas Tour Operator, Charter Airline Operator as well as the Best Guide and Chauffeur Guide all of which were won for the second consecutive year. This is a true endorsement of the commitment of our team which strives to achieve excellence and meet global standards at all times,” said Head of Leisure Inbound Sector Vasantha Leelananda.
Commenting on Cinnamon Grand Colombo’s achievement, its General Manager Rohan Karr said “whilst the Hall of Fame Award has cemented the Cinnamon Grand's legacy as a premiere establishment offering services of the highest calibre, The Best Five Star City Hotel Award has reinforced Cinnamon Grand as a market leader.”
In the picture are Walkers Tours CEO, Michael Elias, CEO Consultant, Travel and Tourism Awards Council, Nalin Attygalle, Cinnamon Grand Colombo, General Manager, Rohan Karr, Director General Tourism and Investments, Dr. Saj U. Mendis, Head of Leisure Inbound Sector and Executive Vice President, Vasantha Leelananda, and Yohan Peries, Whittals Travel CEO, among others, with Chief Guest Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene, Deputy Minister of Economic Development. |
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