The Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka recently hosted the latest edition of its ConnectED Thought Leadership Series at the Australian High Commissioner’s Residence in Colombo, bringing together senior leaders from Sri Lanka’s tourism, hospitality, travel, events, education and related sectors.
The discussion, themed “Beyond Arrivals: Can Tourism and Hospitality Power Sri Lanka’s Next Growth Phase?”, focused on the role of tourism and hospitality beyond visitor arrival numbers, examining how the sector could contribute to Sri Lanka’s broader economic development.
The distinguished panel comprised Shiromal Cooray, Chairman and Managing Director of Jetwing Travels; Angeline Ondaatje, Chairperson of Tangerine Beach Hotels PLC, Royal Palms Beach Hotels PLC and Tangerine Tours; and Grant Dreher, Chief Executive Officer of William Angliss Institute Australia.
The discussion was moderated by Wayne Crosbie, Director – International and Business Development, William Angliss Institute Australia, who facilitated the conversation around the evolving needs of the tourism and hospitality industry and the importance of connecting education, skills development and workforce readiness with industry demand.
Adding a practical and experiential dimension to the evening, students from the Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) played an active role in delivering the cocktail reception for the distinguished guests.