Sri Lanka’s hospitality and tourism industry comes together at Cinnamon Grand Colombo today (29 September) for the International Hospitality Leaders’ Conference 2026 (IHLC 2026), organised by the Institute of Hospitality, Sri Lanka Region.
Bringing together more than 200 hotel owners, General Managers, commercial leaders, investors, policymakers and international speakers from Seychelles, the UAE, the Maldives, Singapore, Belgium and Malta, the conference has been designed as a leadership platform for the conversations that will shape the industry’s next decade.
Convened under the theme Vision 2030: Shaping the Future Performance of Sri Lanka’s Hospitality Industry, the programme moves beyond traditional conference discussions to examine the decisions leaders need to make now to build a more competitive, resilient and future-ready hospitality sector.
The day begins by examining how leadership itself is evolving in an industry where guest expectations, commercial pressures and workforce dynamics continue to change, before turning to the organisations behind high-performing hotels and the role of culture, capability and talent in driving long-term success.
Throughout the day, international perspectives from Seychelles, the Maldives and the global travel industry explore what makes destinations truly competitive, while sessions on artificial intelligence, revenue strategy and consumer behaviour examine how technology is reshaping the way hotels are discovered, priced and experienced, and what travellers will expect by 2030.
One of the day’s defining moments is The Great Reform Debate, where international experts, hospitality leaders and industry voices come together for a moderated discussion on the reforms needed for Sri Lankan hospitality to remain relevant, competitive and globally respected in the decade ahead.
The conference concludes with the Vision 2030 Declaration, a collective statement of intent that will form the foundation of the forthcoming Vision 2030 Whitepaper, capturing the priorities and commitments emerging from the industry’s leadership.
Beyond the conference sessions, IHLC 2026 has been designed as a complete delegate experience, beginning with an executive networking breakfast, continuing with curated hospitality experiences throughout the day, including a Nestlé branded coffee bar and a networking lunch across Cinnamon Grand Colombo’s signature restaurants, before concluding with the Fellowship Cocktail Evening featuring premium cocktails, live music and an early Oktoberfest-inspired celebration.