With over 17 years at the John Keells Group (JKH), Singhawansa steps into leadership at a time when Sri Lanka’s arrivals from India have surged by more than 30% in the first half of 2025, reaffirming India as the country’s largest source market.

“Sri Lanka is one of the most accessible and exciting destinations for Indian travellers, just 90 minutes away from Chennai and Bengaluru, and under four hours from Delhi and Mumbai,” said Singhawansa. “With scale, innovation, and consistency, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is ready to elevate these connections, offering luxury, lifestyle, and authentic experiences that resonate deeply with Indian leisure, MICE, and wedding segments.”

Cinnamon’s flagship development, Cinnamon Life Colombo, represents a US$1.2 billion integrated resort the largest of its kind in South Asia. With 687 rooms and 160,000 sq. ft. of MICE facilities for up to 5,000 guests, it is designed to position Colombo alongside Singapore, Bangkok, and Dubai as a regional powerhouse for Indian weddings, corporate events, and large-scale conferences.

Beyond infrastructure, the group is investing in people and purpose. The Cinnamon Hospitality Academy is equipping Sri Lanka’s workforce to meet world-class standards, while initiatives such as EmpowHer target a 30% increase in women’s participation within three years, creating safer, more inclusive hospitality workplaces. Meanwhile, Cinnamon Nature Trails, the brand’s conservation-led tourism arm, continues to offer experiential journeys from whale watching to wildlife safaris that appeal to India’s rapidly growing interest in sustainable travel.

“Tourism is about economic transformation and community empowerment,” added Singhawansa. “Our commitment is to be a catalyst for change, ensuring Indian travellers not only experience the best of Sri Lanka but also contribute to uplifting local communities.”

As the only Sri Lankan brand within the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts connects with over 30 million loyalty members worldwide through its Cinnamon Discovery programme. With a portfolio of 17 hotels and resorts across Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Cinnamon is uniquely positioned to capture India’s outbound growth, delivering authenticity, innovation, and scale to strengthen Sri Lanka and the Maldives as leading global destinations.

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In his most recent role, Gaurav led Enhance Hospitality, a luxury hotel representation firm, successfully managing top-tier international brands in the Indian market. His expertise in sales strategy, market expansion and partnership development will strengthen Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ presence in India, a key source market for the group and the destination.

In his new role at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Gaurav will drive revenue growth across Corporate, Leisure and MICE segments and execute sales strategies to strengthen Cinnamon’s brand presence in India. He will also be responsible in enhancing partnerships for the Global Sales Office, to drive market growth across India.

Commenting on the appointment, the Chief Commercial Officer of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Radhey Tawar, said “We are delighted to welcome Gaurav to Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts at a pivotal time to support us in our efforts to expand our sales presence in the Indian market – our top source market for tourist arrivals currently. His deep understanding of the Indian outbound travel landscape will support us to strengthen our presence and manage meaningful partnerships across Corporate, MICE and Leisure travel segments.”

Gaurav Arora also commenting on his new role as the Director of Global Sales for India for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, says, “I am excited to join Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts as the Indian outbound travel to Sri Lanka and the Maldives is experiencing significant growth. I look forward to leveraging my expertise to expand our brand presence and to ensure strategic alignment to the success of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in India.”

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has strengthened its presence in India with Global Sales presence in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. These dedicated teams of experienced Indian hospitality professionals play a crucial role in facilitating engagement from both trade and consumer segments while expanding strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders.

As the hospitality brand continues to position itself as a preferred choice for Indian travellers, Gaurav’s appointment demonstrates the brand’s commitment to driving sustainable growth and its leadership in the competitive Indian outbound market.

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