SATA 2026 Marks a Decade of Tourism Excellence with Grand Gala and Award Ceremony in the Maldives

By Thasmina Sookoor

The 10th edition of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) brought together tourism and hospitality professionals from across South Asia in Malé, Maldives, on the 7^th and 8^th of October celebrating industry achievements while providing a platform for discussions on the future of regional tourism. Held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé, the two-day programme featured SATA Connect & Conversation on the 7^th of October, followed by the SATA Grand Gala and Award Ceremony on the 8^th of October. The milestone edition recognised achievements across Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, with 52 Gold winners and 98 Silver winners announced across various categories.

Established in 2016, SATA has developed into a regional platform recognising achievements in travel, tourism and hospitality. Its 10th edition combined industry recognition with discussions on leadership, innovation, guest experiences and regional cooperation, reflecting the changing priorities of the tourism sector. SATA Connect & Conversation brought together industry representatives to exchange ideas, explore emerging trends and strengthen professional relationships. Three panel discussions examined key issues affecting tourism, including destination development, investment, hospitality leadership, guest experience and digital transformation.

The opening panel, “Beyond the Horizon: The Future of Tourism, Transport & Investment in the Maldives,” explored tourism development, transport connectivity and investment opportunities in the Maldives. The discussion featured Mr. Mohammed Hussein Alshaali, Chairman and Co-Founder of Gulf Craft, and Mr. Jasim Janah, Group Chief Executive Officer of Hotels & Resorts Investment Maldives. Mr. Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, Chairperson of Visit Maldives Corporation, also featured in the opening programme.

The second panel, “Redefining Leadership, Luxury and the Guest Experience,” brought together hospitality leaders from Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The panelists were Mr. Ugyen Dorji, Vice-Chairman of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Bhutan; Mr. Enric Reina Canitrot, Hotel Manager of Barceló Nasandhura Malé; Mr. Nazoomi Azhar, General Manager of Cinnamon Grand Colombo; and Mr. VK Karthi, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan.

The discussion examined how leadership influences service quality and guest satisfaction, alongside changing expectations among luxury travellers. Panelists considered the importance of authentic experiences, destination marketing, regional cooperation and retaining skilled hospitality professionals.

The third panel, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” explored how digital technologies and artificial intelligence could reshape destination marketing and tourism operations. Speakers included Mr. Abdulla Yasir, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Visit Maldives Corporation; Ms. Amal Goonetilleke, hospitality marketing consultant for Sri Lanka and the Maldives; Mr. Tek Mahat Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer of the Hotel Association of Nepal; and Ms. Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council.

The programme also featured presentations by Mr. Suran De Silva, Chief Commercial Officer of Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives, and Capt. C. R. Rejith, General Manager of Gulf Craft. The panel discussions were moderated by Ms. Dinushka Chandrasena, Editor of Travel Talk Asia, Director of PR Skål Asia and Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance

The SATA Grand Gala and Award Ceremony on October 8 recognised achievements across accommodation, travel services, aviation and hospitality, celebrating both established industry organisations and individual professionals.

Among the ceremony’s principal honours was the Face of South Asia Award, presented to Mohamed Solih, Chairman of Damas Company, in recognition of his contribution to the regional tourism and hospitality sector.

The Visitors’ Choice Awards were another highlight, recognizing Sri Lankan Airlines as Leading International Airline, the Maldives as Leading Adventure Destination, Bhutan as Leading Heritage Destination and Sri Lanka as Leading Wellness Destination.

Sri Lankan tourism and hospitality businesses were among the Gold Award recipients, earning recognition across a range of categories spanning accommodation, travel services and specialised tourism experiences. The awards reflected the diversity of the country’s tourism industry and the contribution of its hotels, resorts and travel companies to the wider South Asian market.

Sri Lankan Gold Award winners included:

• Leading City Hotel (40 Rooms and Above): The Kingsbury, Colombo.

• Leading City Hotel (40 Rooms below): Marine Bay Colombo

• Leading Cruise Travel Agent: Aitken Spence Travels

• Leading Travel Agent - Inbound: Aitken Spence Travels

• Leading Travel Agent - Outbound: Classic Travel

• Leading Designer Hotel/Resort: Nüwa at City of Dreams Sri Lanka.

• Leading Eco-Friendly Hotel/Resort: Heritance Kandalama.

• Leading Luxury Resort: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort.

• Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort: Galle Face Hotel.

• Leading Hill Resort/Hotel: Amaya Hills, Kandy.

• Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort: Amaya Lake, Dambulla.

• South Asia’s Best New Hotel/Resort: Newburgh Ella – The Tea Factory.

• Leading Wellness & Spa Hotel/Resort: Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort, Sigiriya.

• Leading Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort: Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

• Leading Wildlife Lodge/Tented Camp: Cinnamon Wild Yala.

Individual achievements were also recognised. Gayani Punchihewa of Cinnamon Grand Colombo received Gold in the Outstanding Young Hotelier category, while Chef Rohit Sangwan of The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, received Gold in the Outstanding Chef category. Sri Lankan chef Bandula Priyantha Bogahawaththa of Royal Palms Beach Hotel received Silver in the Outstanding Chef category, recognizing his contribution to the country's hospitality and culinary sector. Cinnamon Grand Colombo also received recognition for its hospitality leadership and food and beverage offering. General Manager Mr. Nazoomi Azhar was among the Gold recipients in the South Asia’s Best General Managers category, while the hotel received Silver for Leading F&B Hotel/Resort.

The ceremony brought together tourism authorities, hospitality leaders and industry partners from across the region, reinforcing SATA’s role in recognizing achievements while encouraging closer cooperation among South Asian destinations. As SATA enters its second decade, the 2026 edition highlighted the importance of combining service excellence with innovation, effective destination marketing and investment in people. The panel discussions addressed the need for tourism businesses to respond to changing traveler expectations, embrace technological developments and strengthen regional partnerships in an increasingly competitive international market.

For Sri Lanka, the recognition of its hotels, resorts and hospitality professionals offered an opportunity to celebrate local achievements within the wider South Asian tourism industry. The awards also highlighted the contribution of individual professionals, including emerging hoteliers and culinary talent, to the region’s hospitality sector. With its combination of industry dialogue and recognition, SATA 2026 marked a milestone for the awards while providing a platform for tourism and hospitality stakeholders to exchange ideas and consider opportunities for the region’s continued development.