Integrating management participation for MICE Tourism and Hospitality Development

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) is Sri Lanka’s largest hospitality private academy and is in partnership with the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) and the William Angliss Institute, Australia. CAHM is a dedicated centre for foods, tourism, hospitality and events. 

While SLIIT is a renowned institute in Sri Lanka, the William Angliss Institute (WAI) has a proud history of 75 years where they have over 21,500 local clients and students, and 1,300 international students from over 45 countries annually, with more than 100,000 graduates worldwide. 

CAHM at SLIIT is situated 30 minutes from Colombo, in the heart of Malabe and is equipped with the largest training kitchen in Sri Lanka and it also has a model accommodation suite, state-of-the-art facilities and practical space. Their courses are designed with industry needs in mind and work to ensure that our graduates are ‘industry job ready’. 

Once the war ended in 2009, the tourism industry boomed rapidly as investments were made to improve infrastructure, renovate and build hotels, launch many budget to boutique hotels, etc. Currently, there are many trade investments and projects that have indicated that many countries are interested in having ties with Sri Lanka. While Sri Lanka ranks 89th in the Forbes’ List of Best Countries for Business, there is simply more potential for the number of tourist visits to increase in the coming years. 

Being one of the fastest growing sectors in the Sri Lankan economy and one of the most rapidly evolving segments, hospitality involves Foods, Tourism and Events as well. CAHM at SLIIT along with WAI have identified the need for professionals in the industry in order to represent their country and welcome corporate travellers, free independent travellers and MICE travellers. 

The importance of these three segments and their characteristics need to be passed on to the future of this industry – CAHM students. In this connection they organised a conference on ‘Integrating the management participation for MICE Tourism and Hospitality Development in Sri Lanka’.

The objectives of the conference were: 

To identify new opportunities to expand MICE Tourism

To encourage the innovative and analytical thinking of developing unique MICE travel packages and suitable products. 

To provide knowledge on how to develop, market and operate the MICE market while breaking the conventional boundaries.

To provide a useful publication as a reference document and source of information for hospitality experts to promote MICE Tourism and Hospitality businesses

Along with the Kandyan dancers and the lighting of the traditional oil lamp the distinguished guests, industry dignitaries and Board of Directors of CAHM inaugurated the conference. To kick things off, CAHM CEO Steven Bradie-Miles addressed the audience and stated the importance of the aforementioned topic. 

In order to achieve the objectives; Guest of Honour Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Paddy Withana delivered a speech on Identifying Business Leads, Ascertaining Target Markets, and Segments in Association meetings, Corporate Meetings, Incentives Travel and Exhibition. Distinguished guests – Sri Lanka Convention Bureau General Manager Vipula Wanigasekara discussed on Bidding for Events Pre and Post bid Activities Direct and indirect lobbying, Sri Lankan Airlines International Aviation College Deputy General Manager Buddhika Hewawasam on Macro & Micro environmental factors on MICE Tourism, Government Policies and Level of Integration of MICE into other Economic Development and Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference and Event Organisers President Ziyan Ameen on the topic of Planning, Organising and Implementation of MICE and Events and Monitoring Performance.  

There was also a panel discussion with some of the industry dignitaries, Ozo Hotels Country Director Human Resources Nayantha Panditha, The Kingsbury Colombo Director Human Resources Salome Senerathne, Galle Face Hotel Colombo Director of Sales Mubarak Gafoor, along with Kasun Abeynayake, the lecturer at CAHM responsible for organising this prestigious event. 

The students at the Academy were enriched with a wealth of information and knowledge through this event. They were able to meet and establish professional relationships with these guests and also they were granted an opportunity to showcase their talents as they themselves organised food and beverages with a sit down lunch. 

The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management focuses on building a student’s confidence by nurturing them through events such as this, and not only the academic aspect of campus life.  Enrolments for the January intake is now on – limited space available. Contact them on +94 11 240 7780 or mail us on [email protected]. 

Pix by Upul Abayasekara

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