First-of-its-kind six-month intensive programme positions Sri Lanka's leading hospitality brand to cultivate the next generation of General Managers for regional expansion

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Sri Lanka's leading hospitality chain with a diverse portfolio of properties spanning Sri Lanka and the Maldives has launched a groundbreaking leadership development initiative in strategic partnership with the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH). This first-of-its-kind collaboration represents a transformative step in Cinnamon's commitment to nurturing future-ready talent as the brand accelerates its regional expansion and entry into the luxury segment.

The bespoke six-month programme successfully completed its inaugural phase with 15 high-potential senior leaders from Cinnamon Hotels undergoing an intensive week-long bootcamp at ISH's state-of-the-art campus in Gurugram, followed by a week-long orientation across hotel properties in New Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Bengaluru.  This immersive experience was strategically designed to groom exceptional talent for General Manager roles, supporting Cinnamon's vision to become a truly global hospitality leader, entering the luxury segment.

Distinguished faculty from both academia and industry delivered core modules encompassing Finance, Digital Transformation, Marketing, and People Leadership – competencies essential for hospitality excellence in today's dynamic market environment. The programme's comprehensive approach ensures participants develop both strategic thinking capabilities and operational expertise.

This collaboration represents ISH Business Solutions' commitment to delivering capability-building interventions for the hospitality and service sectors. Built upon ISH's robust academic foundation and global affiliations with Sommet Education, the initiative demonstrates sustained engagement with industry transformation across India and offshore markets.

“This initiative is designed to immerse our high-potential talent in transformative, real-world experiences that broaden their global outlook and enhance their leadership capabilities. By investing in hands-on, future-focused development, we are not only strengthening our leadership pipeline but also reinforcing our commitment to positioning Cinnamon as a globally competitive hospitality brand.” said Ishara Naufal, Senior Vice President – Human Resources, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.

As the hospitality industry continues its unprecedented transformation, this collaboration exemplifies how academic excellence and business innovation converge to shape future-ready talent. The partnership with Cinnamon Hotels brings this vision to fruition at a pivotal moment when leadership development has emerged as a clear business imperative.

“The need to build a strong pipeline of future General Managers remains a strategic priority across the global hospitality sector. Future-ready brands like Cinnamon Hotels recognise the value of investing in human capital as they pursue rapid regional growth. ISH is delighted to be their knowledge partners to support the continued learning of their managers,” said Dilip Puri, Founder and Executive Chairman, Indian School of Hospitality.

This strategic investment in human capital development reinforces Cinnamon's position as an industry pioneer in sustainable tourism practices, employee empowerment, and operational excellence. The programme aligns seamlessly with the brand's core values of Curiosity, Inclusivity, and Greatness, whilst supporting its mission to "curate emotional experiences that inspire stories which connect".