Cinnamon adjudged ‘Best Marine and Wildlife Tourism Provider’ at PATA InSPIRE Awards

PATA InSPIRE award winners proudly display their awards (from left): Joselito R Costas, Project Consultant and Community Organiser, Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association, The Philippines; Andrew Jones, Vice Chairman, PATA and Guardian, Sanctuary Resorts, Hong Kong SAR (receiving the award on behalf the Blue Yonder, India and CBT Vietnam); Mario Hardy, CEO, PATA; Loraine Gatlabayan, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Somsak Inthachai, Head of Ban Rai Gong King Community-Based Tourism Club, Thailand; Mariglo I. Laririt, Director of Environment of Sustainability, Ten Knots Development Corporation/El Nino Resorts, The Philippines; Chitral Jayatilake, Head of Eco-Tourism at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts; Henry Llames, Operation Manager, Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Malaysia; and Baton Bijamin, General Manager, Sukau Rainforest Lodge Malaysia

Standing from left: United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Loraine Gatlabayan, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Head of Eco Tourism Chitral Jayatilake and PATA Chief Executive Officer Mario Hardy

Cinnamon Hotel & Resorts was anointed Best Marine and Wildlife Tourism Provider at the Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015 in the recent edition of the prestigious PATA awards. The award was presented to Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts for its clear commitment to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices, tangible impacts and measurable outcomes. The coveted award was handed over to Cinnamon at a gala awards dinner held in Legazpi, Albay, Philippines on 27 November. 

The Tourism InSPIRE Awards were presented to outstanding applications in six categories: Best Branded Accommodation, Best Independent Accommodation, Best Marine and Wildlife Tourism Provider, Best Culture and Heritage Tourism Provider, Best Responsible Tourism Destination, Best Community Based Tourism Initiative. Winners exemplify use and application of sustainable consumption approaches (resource efficiency, value chain approach, eco-innovation, sustainable consumption, sustainability reporting, community action, cultural heritage, and collective impact). 

Entries were received from a broad range of travel and tourism businesses and organisations in 19 designated countries. These are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, TPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Head of Eco Tourism Chitral Jayatilake commented, “We are delighted to be selected as the Best Marine and Wildlife Tourism Provider at the Tourism InSPIRE Awards 2015. These awards by a global organisation such as PATA are inspirational and to be selected as winner affirms Cinnamon’s commitment to position Sri Lanka as a great destination for nature based tourism. As a hospitality chain pioneering many industry firsts in the country, we are leading the way in sustainable and responsible tourism. As a brand with sustainability in its DNA, we will continue to raise the benchmark in this sphere thus firmly placing this amazing land as the ultimate island safari experience.”

Other award winners include El Nido Resorts, Philippines, for Best Branded Accommodation, Sukau Rainforest Lodge of Malaysia for Best Independent Accommodation, Borneo Rainforest Lodge of Malaysia for Best Responsible Tourism Destination together with other category winners.

Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy Support Component (RPSC), and managed by UNEP, funded by the European Union, and implemented by PATA, the Tourism InSPIRE Awards Gala Dinner, hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, is an integral part of the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum.

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is a motivated and progressive brand, creating inspired experiences for each and every stakeholder, using a responsible and awakened approach. As a collective of fourteen diversified properties across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the unique community and environmental needs of each destination have been a priority factor. 

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts are a stylish range of diverse getaways located in Sri Lanka and Maldives. They are modern, iconic, and vibrant spaces designed to redefine the best of contemporary Sri Lankan culture, entertainment and hospitality. Their main focus is on people, seeking to enjoy quality time and enjoying life’s best moments with friends. They call it ‘inspired living’.