Sri Lanka Tourism Excellence Awards 2026

Celebrating Excellence, Shaping The Future Of Sri Lankan Tourism

Recognizing outstanding achievements, innovation and service excellence across Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Excellence Awards 2026 (SLTEA 2026), introduced by The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL), is a national initiative dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the organizations and enterprises contributing to the growth and development of Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry.

The awards ceremony will take place on 26 January 2027 in Colombo, bringing together industry leaders and outstanding performers to celebrate excellence, inspire innovation and recognize the achievements shaping the future of Sri Lankan tourism.

 

About the Awards

Guided by the theme “Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Innovation, and Shaping the Future of Tourism,” SLTEA 2026 aims to recognize outstanding performance, sustainability, innovation and exceptional service across the tourism and hospitality sector.

The awards provide a national platform for organizations to showcase their achievements, benchmark their performance against industry standards and contribute to raising the overall quality and competitiveness of Sri Lanka as a tourism destination.

 

Three Core Pillars

The awards program is built around three fundamental pillars:

Sustainability

Recognizing responsible business practices, environmental stewardship and initiatives that contribute to sustainable tourism development.

Hospitality

Celebrating exceptional service, authentic guest engagement and meaningful experiences that reflect the warmth and excellence of Sri Lankan hospitality.

Excellence

Recognizing outstanding performance, innovation, effective leadership and continuous improvement across the industry.

 

Award Categories

To ensure fair and meaningful evaluation among organizations of different operational scales, eligible enterprises will be assessed under six categories:

  • Micro
  • Small
  • Medium
  • Mid-Large
  • Large
  • Extra-Large

The awards will recognize achievements across a range of operational and performance areas, with more than 70 accolades to be presented, including overall Gold, Silver and Bronze distinctions.

 

Eligibility Criteria

Enterprises meeting the following requirements are eligible to apply:

  • Must be registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
  • Must have been actively operating in Sri Lanka for a minimum of three years.

 

Evaluation Process

The evaluation process will consist of three stages to ensure a comprehensive, transparent and structured assessment:

  1. Documentary Assessment – Initial evaluation of submitted applications and supporting documentation.
  2. On-site Verification – Verification of operational practices, facilities and information provided by applicants.
  3. Final Judging – Final deliberations and selection by an independent Panel of Judges.

 

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed across seven key dimensions:

  1. Service Excellence
  2. Guest Experience and Product Excellence
  3. Innovation, Digital Transformation and Global Reach
  4. Sustainability and Responsible Tourism
  5. Operational, Financial and Performance Excellence
  6. People, Leadership and Governance
  7. Industry, Destination and Socio-Economic Impact

 

Recognition and Benefits

Beyond celebrating achievement, SLTEA 2026 aims to provide lasting recognition and industry-wide visibility to award recipients.

Successful award recipients will receive:

  • Three-year usage rights to the official SLTEA emblem.
  • Permanent recognition in the SLTEA Virtual Hall of Fame.
  • Feature coverage in leading publications.
  • Opportunities to share best practices through national and international industry platforms.
  • Recognition of their achievements and contribution to Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry.

 

Be Part of Sri Lanka’s Tourism Excellence Journey

The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka invites eligible tourism and hospitality organizations across the country to participate in this national initiative.

Showcase your achievements, gain recognition for your contribution and become part of a movement that celebrates excellence and inspires the future of Sri Lankan tourism.

Event Date: 26 January 2027
Location: Colombo, Sri Lanka

 

Submit your application and be recognised for your excellence.

APPLICATION DEADLINE – 30TH NOVEMBER 2026

For applications and further information:

Ms. Nadee Wijeweera, Secretary, SLTEA Secretariat, Tel: +94 112 192667, E-mail: tourismawards26@gmail.com

Mr. Prasantha Abeykoon, SLTEA Technical Committee Member, Tel: +94 77305 9993

Ms. Chamathka Mallikaarachchige, Tel: +94 11 55 888 16, E-Mail: thasl@chamber.lk