Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo announces its latest accomplishment as recipient of the ‘Best Luxury Hotel, Sri Lanka’ award at the Business Destinations 2012 Travel Awards. Currently recognized as the ‘Best Five Star City Hotel’ by Sri Lanka Tourism, the award brings international recognition to the already locally awarded hotel. The Hotel has also been recognized at internal forums, with triumphs at the John Keells Leisure Awards under the pledges ‘I will stand out wherever I am’ and ‘I will get it right the first time all the time’ as well as an award for ‘Best Innovation’.

As the winner of ‘Best Luxury Hotel, Sri Lanka’, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo was recognized for achieving overall excellence in innovativeness, unparalleled standards in product and service, corporate values and sustainable practices.

In keeping with owning company, John Keells’ vision to be the hospitality trendsetter, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo has raised the bar in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry with trendsetting initiatives such as the launch of the first purpose built floating venue in the country ‘8° on the lake’.  The venue has become one of the most exclusive and sought after venues in the city for private events.

The Hotel is the only large scale property in the South East Asian region to successfully implement a trolley-less housekeeping service for the entire hotel.  In 2011, the hotel replaced the trolleys traditionally used by the Housekeeping team with a more aesthetically pleasing and practical basket system.  Cumbersome trolleys no longer clutter the corridors of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

The priority check in process offered to Executive Floor guests with the implementation of a wireless tablet and credit card machine system is a further example of the trendsetting initiatives that result in the exceptional Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo guest experience.

Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo’s continuous dedication to sustainable business was another factor that contributed to its victory at the Business Destinations Awards.  It is the first five star hotel in Sri Lanka to be Green Globe certified and the only one in Sri Lanka to be consequently recertified for its contribution to a greener environment.  The hotel extends its green drive by encouraging guest involvement.

The Hotel’s involvement in corporate social responsibility has been a fundamental aspect in its sustainability drive.  In the last year Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo has carried out three cultural restoration projects where hotel associates volunteer to restore religious structures around the country such as the restoration of the Abhayagiriya temple, St Anne’s Church Paradise in Kuruwita and the Ayeshwariya Lakshmi Kovil.

The award endorses Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo’s position at the forefront of the developments in the hospitality industry.

Business Destinations is a UK based business travel magazine that caters to travel professionals around the globe.  The leading business travel magazine specializes in news, features and hotel advice for business travelers and covers global correspondence, city focuses, food and drink.  The magazine carries features from leading journalists and celebrated personalities.

Business Destinations Travel Awards celebrate top hotels around the world under the luxury, business and service hotel categories.  Business Destination Award winners are decided by regular contributors to Business Destinations, industry professionals, experienced business travelers and magazine subscribers.

A panel of experts selects the nominees from various areas of the tourism industry.  Criteria such as innovation, originality and product quality are used to judge the winners.  Business Destinations also looks for organisations that are likely to dominate the market in the next 12 months.