Cinnamon Hotels launches hospitality training academy with top world universities

 Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Deputy CEO and COO Hishan Singhawansa, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Senior Vice President Ishara Nuafel, Swiss Hospitality Management Academy Dean Daniela Munasinghe and A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd CEO and MD and SHMA Director Rolf Blaser

By Nuzla Rizkiya

Cinnamon Hotels of the John Keells group, in partnership with the Swiss Hotel Management Academy (SHMA), this week officially launched the operations of its hospitality education initiative branded Cinnamon Hospitality Academy. 

The launch marks a notable cornerstone for the local hospitality education sector, as the programme involves a collaboration with the EHL Hospitality Business School and Swiss Hotel Management School, both of which are ranked as the top two universities for hospitality management in the world.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Cinnamon Hotels Deputy CEO and COO Hishan Singhawansa said that the industry would see the programme as a timely initiative, as Sri Lanka is in a dire need to strengthen its human capital in the tourism sector.

He opined that the new government’s medium-term target of attracting four million tourists per year is a realistic possibility, considering the factors such as the island’s strategic location, its strong appeal as a tourist destination and natural hospitality of its citizens.

“Achieving this is a possibility from Cinnamon and John Keells’ point of view. We believe that attracting four million tourists and catering to them well will develop the human capital of this country. Over the years, we’ve faced issues with people leaving. The statistics show that the demand versus supply dynamics of people entering the industry is declining and this needs to be addressed urgently,” Singhawansa said.

His statements reflect those of several industry experts and stakeholders in the sector, who have repeatedly highlighted the lack of a strong human capital workforce as a critical issue hindering the industry’s potential to grow.

Last week, The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) listed the lack of skilled and unskilled staff as one of the foremost areas of concern, requiring immediate attention to sustain the sector in the country. 

According to THASL President M. Shanthikumar, the development of the required human capital in large numbers should be a top priority and the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) should be immediately reorganised to better train youth for roles in hospitality.

Moreover, the labour force challenges in the tourism sector were also a major point of discussion at Human Capital Summit of Sri Lanka 2024, held this year.

The experts at the summit highlighted that improving skills, expanding industry-specific training and retaining and attracting skilled professionals are three key opportunities to reap the full bankability of the sector.

According to the summit’s report, Sri Lanka’s tourism industry directly employs 204,591 individuals and indirectly supports additional 225,051 jobs, which reflects the sector’s dominance and potential impact it can have on national employment.