Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has been recognised as a winner at the inaugural DEI Champions Awards 2025 awarded for “Leadership in Gender Equality” category, in celebration of its exceptional commitment to fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) across its operations.
Organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce under the SCOPE Programme, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Foreign Office, and implemented by GIZ Sri Lanka in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and National Integration, this landmark initiative acknowledges businesses leading the way in embedding inclusive values into their organisational culture.
The award recognises Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ holistic approach to DE&I, with progressive efforts that go far beyond recruitment and hiring. In retention, the organisation addresses every aspect from safety and facilities to learning, engagement, and morewhile advancing female leadership, empowering underrepresented communities, supporting persons with disabilities, and fostering youth development. Signature programmes such as EmpowHer, the PWD Inclusion Plan, and community engagement projects like Hikka Batiks, Palmyra Creations, the Diriyata Athwalak Project, and The Kadjan Roof Weaving Project in the Maldives have further strengthened the organisation’s impact.
“We are honoured to be recognised as a DEI Champion. At Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, inclusion is embedded in the way we operate. We believe diversity fuels creativity, equity drives opportunity, and inclusion inspires belonging. This award reflects the collective commitment of our teams to building a more inclusive future for the hospitality industry and the communities we serve,” said Hishan Singhawansa, CEO, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
The DEI Champions Awards 2025 brought together both SMEs and corporates, with the evening graced by Industries and Entrepreneurship Development Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, National Integration Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer and The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chairman Krishan Balendra, the event brought together over 250 participants, including industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and development partners.
This achievement reaffirms Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ position as a pioneer in shaping inclusive hospitality in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, offering a blueprint for other organisations to follow.