Aitken Spence Hotels has secured five awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026. The group won four Gold awards and one Silver across properties in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India.
The awards cover five areas of hospitality. These include all-inclusive stays, responsible tourism, romance, diving and city hotels. Together, they show the wide range of experiences offered across the Aitken Spence Hotels portfolio.
Heritance Aarah won Gold for Leading All-Inclusive Hotel / Resort. Heritance Kandalama received Gold for Leading Eco-Friendly Hotel / Resort. Meanwhile, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo won Gold for Most Romantic Resort.
Adaaran Club Rannalhi also received Gold for Leading Dive Hotel / Resort. Turyaa Chennai completed the group’s awards tally with Silver for Leading City Hotel (Above 40 Rooms).
Five awards across different hotel experiences
Heritance Aarah received Gold for its Premium All-Inclusive experience in the Maldives. The resort is located in Raa Atoll. It offers beach and overwater accommodation, dining, wellness and personalised service.
The resort also offers Ambula, described as the world’s first Maldivian–Sri Lankan fusion restaurant. In addition, guests can enjoy the IASO Spa and curated island activities. These experiences bring together Maldivian culture and the surrounding ocean.
In Sri Lanka, Heritance Kandalama received Gold for Leading Eco-Friendly Hotel / Resort.
Designed by Geoffrey Bawa, the hotel is set within a 211-acre protected forest. It combines architecture and nature through conservation-led operations and wildlife-sensitive practices. Guests can also enjoy experiences in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle.
The two Gold awards for Adaaran Resorts highlight different experiences in the Maldives.
Adaaran Prestige Vadoo received Gold for Most Romantic Resort. The resort is located in the South Malé Atoll. It offers an intimate overwater setting, private villas and direct lagoon access.
It also provides personalised butler service and romantic dining. These features make the resort a choice for couples and honeymooners.
Adaaran Club Rannalhi received Gold for Leading Dive Hotel / Resort. The resort is located at the tip of the South Malé Atoll. It offers access to diving, a house reef and a range of water-based experiences.
In India, Turyaa Chennai received Silver for Leading City Hotel (Above 40 Rooms).
Located along Chennai’s OMR corridor, the hotel offers contemporary accommodation, dining and recreation. It also provides facilities for both business and leisure travellers.
Recognition across three countries
The five awards reflect the different strengths of Aitken Spence Hotels’ portfolio across three countries. They also cover a range of hotel segments.
Stasshani Jayawadena, Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, said
“We are proud to see our hotels recognised across the region. Each award reflects the distinct character of our properties and, above all, the commitment of our people and the care and attention they extend to our guests.”
Similarly, Susith Jayawickrama, Managing Director of Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC, said
“These five recognitions at SATA 2026 are particularly meaningful as they reflect the diversity and individual strengths of our portfolio across three countries. From the Premium All-Inclusive experience at Heritance Aarah and the responsible, nature-led approach of Heritance Kandalama, to the romance and underwater experiences of our Adaaran resorts and the contemporary city hospitality of Turyaa Chennai, each award represents something distinctive. Most importantly, these achievements belong to our teams, whose passion, commitment and consistency continue to bring each of our brands and destinations to life for our guests.”
Together, the four Gold and one Silver awards add to Aitken Spence Hotels’ presence across South Asia and the Maldives.
The recognition covers a wide range of stays. These include nature-led hospitality in Sri Lanka, Premium All-Inclusive island experiences in the Maldives, romantic escapes, diving experiences and city accommodation in India.
Last modified: October 27, 2026
