Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Elevates India Market with New CEO Hishan Singhawansa and Major Colombo Development

New Leadership and Strategic Focus on India

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has recently named Hishan Singhawansa as its Chief Executive Officer, marking a pivotal shift in its expansion strategy with India set as the prime growth market. This follows a notable 30% rise in Indian arrivals to Sri Lanka in the first half of 2025, underlining India’s status as the largest single source of visitors to the country.

With India’s geographic proximity enabling easy access—just 90 minutes from Chennai and Bengaluru and under four hours from Delhi and Mumbai—the brand is seizing the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of Indian travellers. These include leisure seekers, business conference attendees (MICE), and wedding parties, all drawn to authentic, luxury, and lifestyle experiences.

Cinnamon Life Colombo: A South Asian Hospitality Marvel

Central to the group’s growth is the USD 1.2 billion Cinnamon Life Colombo, hailed as South Asia’s largest integrated resort. This monumental project features 687 rooms coupled with 160,000 square feet of meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition (MICE) facilities, designed to accommodate up to 5,000 delegates. Its scale and sophistication aim to position Colombo on par with other celebrated hubs like Singapore, Bangkok, and Dubai, especially for Indian weddings and large corporate events.

Facilities Highlights

Investment in Workforce and Sustainability

Beyond infrastructure, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts invests heavily in talent development and social initiatives. Its Cinnamon Hospitality Academy is elevating local workforce skills to meet global hospitality standards. On the inclusion front, the EmpowHer initiative targets increasing female workforce participation by 30% within three years, fostering more diverse and inclusive workplaces.

The group’s conservation division, Cinnamon Nature Trails, is expanding eco-conscious offerings such as whale watching and wildlife safaris. These experiences appeal to an expanding segment of Indian travellers driven by sustainable tourism, blending adventure with environmental responsibility.

Programs and Initiatives Overview

• Cinnamon Hospitality Academy: Professional hospitality training with global standards
• EmpowHer Initiative: Boosting female participation in hospitality workforce
• Cinnamon Nature Trails: Conservation-focused travel experiences

Building Community and Expanding Global Partnerships

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts also plays a significant role in community upliftment, highlighting tourism’s power as a tool for economic transformation and social empowerment. This approach ensures that Indian visitors not only enjoy premium experiences but also contribute positively to local communities.

As the only Sri Lankan hospitality brand in the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), Cinnamon benefits from global loyalty reach through the Cinnamon Discovery program, which connects more than 30 million loyalty members worldwide. With 17 properties across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the group is well placed to deepen its influence in the Indian outbound market and enhance the regional travel appeal.

Наслідки для служб таксі та трансферу

The expanding Indian tourist influx and large-scale events hosted at Cinnamon Life Colombo suggest a growing demand for reliable, comfortable transfer services—be it for airport rides, wedding guests, or corporate attendees. This trend positions taxi companies and private transfer services to tailor offerings to meet the luxury and lifestyle expectations connected to this market.

Platforms like LocalsRide.com offer travellers the advantage of choosing their exact vehicle and driver to match their preferences—options that perfectly complement such high-end hospitality experiences. Transparency in pricing and vehicle details ensures travellers can plan seamless transfers ahead of time, turning the journey in a new city into part of the overall enjoyment.

Основні висновки

• Hishan Singhawansa’s leadership aligns with aggressive growth targeting India.
• Cinnamon Life Colombo is a landmark project aimed at positioning Sri Lanka as a top destination for major events.
• Workforce development and inclusive social initiatives are integral to Cinnamon’s strategy.
• Sustainable and conservation tourism attracts eco-conscious Indian visitors.
• The loyalty program enables connectivity to a vast global traveller base.
• Taxi and transfer services will increasingly play a role in supporting luxury hospitality demand.

While detailed reviews and feedback inform decisions, nothing beats personal experience. On LocalsRide, travellers can easily hire verified cars with drivers at competitive fares, ensuring informed choices without surprises. The platform’s wide selection of vehicles and additional service options offers unmatched convenience, affordability, and transparency. Book your ride and enjoy your destination worry-free at LocalsRide.com.

Though this shift may not drastically alter the global travel map overnight, it’s a clear signal of evolving tourism dynamics in South Asia that hospitality and transport sectors must embrace. LocalsRide stays attentive to these changes, empowering travellers worldwide to navigate new experiences smoothly. Start planning your next adventure and secure reliable transfers globally with LocalsRide.

In summary, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ strategic focus on India through visionary leadership, landmark infrastructure, skilled workforce development, and sustainability efforts enhances Sri Lanka’s allure as a travel destination. Coupled with digital platforms enabling precise, personalized transfers, travellers can look forward to delightful journeys from airport to hotel, and beyond, all underpinned by convenience and transparency.