In an exclusive interview with Kamal Gill, Executive Editor, Today’s Traveller, Manesh Fernando, Area General Manager, Hilton Sri Lanka, discusses the brand’s growth across Colombo and the deep South, Sri Lanka’s rise as an experiential travel destination, and how Hilton’s people-first culture shapes memorable guest stays
Manesh Fernando, Area General Manager, Hilton Sri Lanka, oversees Hilton’s vibrant and dynamic portfolio in Sri Lanka, with a keen strategic focus on showcasing Sri Lanka’s strengths as a sought-after tourist destination, whilst capitalising on the country’s talent pipeline to lead the evolution in the local hospitality industry. Hilton Sri Lanka’s portfolio currently encompasses the flagship Hilton Colombo, an energetic, iconic hospitality landmark in Colombo, Sri Lanka; Hilton Colombo Residences, an upscale all-suite hotel perfect for long stays; Hilton Yala Resort, the brand’s first safari resort located amidst the lush wilderness of Yala National Park; and DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort, a picturesque lakeside resort nestled on the banks of Weerawila Lake in Sri Lanka’s deep South.
In this exclusive interview, Manesh Fernando elaborates on Sri Lanka’s emerging room for potential as a niche tourist destination, Hilton Sri Lanka’s evolving portfolio, and how a positive team culture ensures the delivery of Hilton’s signature stay experience.
TT Bureau: With four more properties in the pipeline, including Kandy, Negombo, and other Doubletree Resorts, your vision for Hilton Sri Lanka’s Growth in ambitious. What excites you most about what’s next?
Manesh Fernando: I have always believed that there is ample room for expansion and growth across Hilton’s diverse brand portfolio in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka demonstrates unexplored potential as a unique travel destination, with its vibrant culture, natural landscapes, and awe-inspiring wildlife that appeals to travellers from across the globe. The past five years have proved to be quite challenging for Sri Lanka’s hospitality and tourism industry, with the 2022 macroeconomic shock and the unprecedented global disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, key facets, including the continued resilience and endurance of the local hospitality industry, Sri Lanka’s positive macroeconomic indicators, and the impressive rebound in tourist arrivals, provide a conducive environment for strengthened foreign direct investments from prospective hotel developers and further growth of the Hilton Sri Lanka portfolio in more exotic locales across the island.
TT Bureau: Looking ahead five years, what signature experience across your portfolio will your guests be talking about?
Manesh Fernando: At the very core of the Hilton brand is the guest Stay experience. All aspects of our hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka have been designed to be centred on delivering the most exceptional Stay, ranging from our immersive hotel/resort experiences across the portfolio to our personalised service delivery.
I feel that Sri Lanka’s unique warmth and hospitality enable us to elevate Hilton’s signature stay experience to one that is both unforgettable and meaningful. We are naturally a welcoming, hospitable people, and those innate qualities instinctively enhance the delivery of our guest service. For instance, across all our hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka, each guest is greeted with a smile and a heartfelt sense of welcome from each of our Team Members as soon as they walk into the hotel. Guests immediately get the impression that they are at a second home away from home, simply due to the warmth exhibited by our Team Members.
The other defining aspect of our portfolio is the breathtaking locales that each hotel is situated in, which has become Hilton Sri Lanka’s key signature. Though Hilton Colombo and Hilton Colombo Residences are based in the same city, they reflect completely different sides of Colombo. Hilton Colombo, being a quintessential business hotel, is surrounded by the pulsating environs of the Colombo Central Business District, showcasing views of the Colombo Port, serene green Beira Lake, the brilliant Indian Ocean, and Port City Colombo – an emerging master-planned city development that would soon boast a luxury yacht marina.
Hilton Colombo Residences offers a refined residential style stay in the heart of Colombo, just minutes from the city’s iconic landmarks, business districts, shopping destinations, and cultural attractions. Ideal for both short and extended stays, the hotel features spacious suites, modern amenities, and leisure facilities including a fitness centre, tennis and squash courts, and a swimming pool. With genuine hospitality and Colombo’s only pet-friendly stay experience, Hilton Colombo Residences creates a welcoming home away from home for families, business travellers, and long-term guests alike.
Our resorts in the deep South capitalise on their respective localities to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind guest experience. DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort, in particular, is situated along the banks of the tranquil Weerawila Lake, a scenic wetland with a rustic rural landscape and serene waters that is also a migratory habitat for many of Sri Lanka’s unique bird species. Hilton Yala Resort sits on the edge of the Yala National Park, where the jungle meets the Indian Ocean. Being a wildlife sanctuary, Yala National Park is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to the iconic Sri Lankan leopard, elephants, and over 215 bird species.
The Hilton Sri Lanka portfolio draws on the very strengths which Sri Lanka has to offer as a travel destination to deliver an unparalleled stay experience.
TT Bureau: With Colombo as your business hub and southern resorts gaining traction, how do you position Sri Lanka as Southeast Asia’s most compelling gateway destination?
Manesh Fernando: Sri Lanka is perfectly positioned to be a niche tourist destination, with a selective focus on experiential leisure travel, MICE, and business travel segments. I believe we need to be a very discerning destination, which prioritises attracting travellers who would want to stay longer, spend more, and experience Sri Lanka’s heritage, culture, and attractions. We must mitigate the environmental impact of tourism as much as possible by promoting the trend towards ‘slow tourism’, bi-leisure, and experiential travel with an emphasis on sustainable practices.
I feel that we are a compact destination that invites travellers to explore and engage in an immersive journey, which is truly unparalleled. Our Hilton Sri Lanka portfolio could perfectly facilitate this demand, whilst our Travel with Purpose initiatives underscore collaboration with our local community and enactment of ESG principles to provide a sustainable stay.
Nestled on the serene banks of Weerawila Lake, the DoubleTree by Hilton Weerawila Rajawarna Resort strengthens Sri Lanka’s southern hospitality offering by positioning itself as a gateway to the country’s rich biodiversity. Its location places guests within easy reach of Bundala, Yala, and Udawalawe National Parks, making it an ideal base for wildlife enthusiasts and experiential travellers. The resort’s lakeside setting also provides unique opportunities for birdwatching, while its rooftop seafood restaurant, spa, and lake-view pool create a balance of relaxation and discovery.
With versatile event spaces, DoubleTree Weerawila caters to both leisure and MICE segments, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s appeal as a compact yet compelling destination in Southeast Asia. By combining immersive nature-led experiences with Hilton’s global standards of hospitality, the resort plays a vital role in shaping Sri Lanka’s positioning as a sustainable and distinctive gateway destination.
TT Bureau: Hilton Sri Lanka has recently been recognised across multiple “Best Workplace” and “Great Place to Work” categories, including for parents. What are the practices that make the biggest difference to that culture?
Manesh Fernando: We believe that Hilton’s signature Stay experience would not be possible if it were not underpinned by a positive team culture. In essence, if we have happy Team Members, we will have happy guests. Our purpose-driven, people-centric team culture thrives on three basic principles: Engagement, inclusivity, and recognition.
Constant employee engagement plays an integral role in our team culture. We strongly believe in fostering a culture of transparency; for example, we conduct monthly Town Hall meetings and recurring team-building events, which encourage open communication. I have also personally engaged in one-on-one sessions with our Team Members to assess overall job satisfaction and their perceptions of our company culture; it is crucial that we reinforce an environment of trust and openness which would allow our Team Members to thrive and serve our customers well.
We further pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace that prioritises well-being for the mind, body, and spirit. This is evidenced by our Team Member awareness programs centred on health and physical fitness, workshops on personal financial management and life administration, and many other activities that encourage a holistic, well-balanced lifestyle. Hilton Sri Lanka offers flexible working hours for parents, with development programs that prioritise enhancing female workforce participation and female leadership.
Lastly, employee recognition is a key component of our culture. We recognise our Team Members on a monthly basis, from awards for excellence in customer service to nominations for Global-level awards, including Hospitality Heroes. We also conduct Team Member Appreciation Weeks, with a keen focus on career growth, professional development, and rewards for achievements. These aspects ensure that our Team Members are motivated and incentivised as they remain dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences.
TT Bureau: How does Yala National Park shape the guest experience at Hilton Yala Resort?
Manesh Fernando: Hilton Yala Resort is more than a luxury property; it’s an experience defined by its extraordinary setting on the edge of Yala National Park, home to the highest density of leopards in the world. The resort was envisioned as a natural extension of this celebrated wilderness, where the rhythm of the jungle shapes every aspect of a guest’s stay. From waking to birdsong and spotting native wildlife, to evenings framed by breathtaking sunsets over the jungle, Yala is not confined to safari hours—it becomes part of daily life at the resort.
The architecture blends seamlessly into the environment, ensuring guests feel deeply connected to the landscape without sacrificing comfort or refinement. What truly sets Hilton Yala apart is how it encourages meaningful engagement with the destination. Guests can embark on expertly guided safaris, bush walks, dune explorations, stargazing, and storytelling sessions led by Field Guides Association of Southern Africa-certified rangers. These experiences foster a deeper appreciation for Sri Lanka’s biodiversity and conservation efforts, elevating luxury beyond physical amenities into something profoundly nature-led.
At Hilton Yala, the essence of luxury lies in discovery, connection, and wonder, where the wild itself defines the guest experience.
Read more – Today’s Traveller Interviews
