Six Senses Resorts and Spas Chief to present ‘Sustainable Tourism’ at GCNC forum

Friday, 16 March 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The topic of Sustainable Tourism will be featured at the Global Compact Network Ceylon’s quarterly Sustainability Knowledge Hub, to be held on Thursday, 29 March.

At 6 p.m., the Auditorium of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute will open its doors to an eminent panel of speakers which includes Six Senses Resorts and Spas founding Chairman and CEO Sonu Shivdasani.

In less than two decades Shivdasani has created a vision for sustainable tourism, coining the concept of barefoot and intelligent luxury. The co-existence of luxury holiday making and care for the environment has propelled the Six Senses Group to successfully operate almost 26 resorts that are either open or under development, and 41 Six Senses Spas in the Group’s own portfolio or managed by third-parties. He will also share his insights on the role that the Sri Lankan hospitality industry can play as a driver for sustainable tourism.

The distinguished panellists featured at the forum include leaders in the hospitality industry and tourism development authorities. The eminent panel includes Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Nalaka Godahewa,

Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka President and Asian Council on Tourism Chairman, Anura Lokuhetty, Aitken Spence Hotels Managing Director Malin Hapugoda and Citrus Leisure Chairman Prema Cooray.

Tourism is one of Sri Lanka’s largest industries and sources of income. However, if not managed well, tourism can threaten natural resources and lead to environmental degradation and negatively impact localities, Global Compact Network Ceylon – Focal Point, Sutheash Balasubramaniam noted. “Sustainable tourism has been identified as a successful sustainability practice and creates great potential for development and advancement of the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. To this effect we are pleased to feature Shivdasani, a visionary in his field, to share his expertise” he stated.

Global Compact Network Ceylon (GCNC) was incorporated in 2011 and is the official GC Local Network for Sri Lanka. Its vision is to ’Drive Economic Growth Sustainably’ among its membership. The GCNC was established with a view to uniting a wide range of companies and organisations committed to the UNGC principles of responsible corporate citizenship in Sri Lanka. Its membership in Sri Lanka is gradually growing and currently consists of 40 companies comprising MNCs, corporates, SMEs and NGOs.