Thema Collection’s Amba Yaalu Kandalama Wins Global Gender Equality Award at ITB Berlin 📈

Thema Collection’s Amba Yaalu Kandalama has been recognized as the "Gender Equality Champion of the Year 2026 – Accommodation" at the ITB Berlin international travel trade show, marking a significant milestone for Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector. • Core Achievement: The award recognizes the property’s commitment to female leadership and workforce participation in a sector where women remain underrepresented despite making up over 50% of the national population. • Operational Model: • Established as a fully women-led hotel, demonstrating female-driven operational feasibility across managerial, technical, and service functions. • Currently employs nearly 100 women, supported by structured mentorship and career progression pathways. • Integrates rural women entrepreneurs into the supply chain, boosting local economic participation. • Sector Context: The initiative by Thema Collection (which operates 16 properties) aims to move beyond symbolic representation toward a commercially sustainable, inclusive business model within the tourism industry. • Sustainability & ESG: • The property utilizes renewable energy (rooftop solar), responsible water management, and low-impact architectural design. • Focuses on social inclusion and cultural preservation as part of its broader environmental and social governance framework. This international recognition underscores the viability of gender-responsive strategies in strengthening Sri Lanka's tourism & leisure value chain.