Stephen Wilson, Hishan Singhawansa, Patrick Pereira and Mikael Svensson of Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts together with Eranga Basnayake, Mahesh Ariyarathna and Chulangani Perera of the Vocational Training Authority

A key objective is to increase female participation in traditional and non-traditional roles within Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts

Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) providing opportunities for the youth to work with a reputed establishment in the hospitality industry.  

In this industry-first partnership to uplift human capital, a key objective is to increase female participation in traditional and non-traditional roles within Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts. The agreement with VTA provides formal recognition for Cinnamon employees, which will enhance their motivation and enable them to continuously grow within the organization whilst attracting more young talent to the sector.  

VTA meets the vocational training needs of Sri Lankans by providing learning opportunities through excellent pre-employment training in various fields at its many training facilities across the country.  

The partnership with VTA reflects the industry giant’s commitment to developing youth and promoting internal talent development. Cinnamon has also pledged to increase females in its workforce to 25% by 2024/25 while providing over 250 trainee opportunities within 2023. The partnership aims to disrupt stereotypes of females working only in certain roles. With the appropriate training from VTA, females can work in non-traditional roles such as hotel maintenance, pool attendance and kitchen services.  

Commenting on the novel initiative, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts’ Chief Executive Officer, Mikael Svensson said, “We believe as leaders in the industry, it is our responsibility to remain positive in a difficult time and continue to move forward in all areas possible, especially in developing the talent of the country and attracting youth to join the hotel industry. VTA with its country-wide network of training centres will be able to develop the talent pipeline we require for our growth, and we can share our industry expertise and best-in-class practices to uplift the standards of VTA facilities and curriculum. We believe this mutually benefiting relationship will enable both organizations to achieve its vision and set a benchmark for others in the industry to follow.”  

The future of the hospitality industry and, indeed, the economy depends on the quality of its human capital and this partnership aims to elevate the skills and knowledge of the youth. Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts being a hospitality trendsetter intends to remain at the forefront of improving and upskilling the industry where possible and this partnership with VTA is one such shining example.