Hilton Named Sri Lanka’s Best Workplace for 2025, Driving Hospitality Growth and Youth Empowerment
Colombo, Sri Lanka – July 6, 2025 – Hilton has once again earned the prestigious title of Sri Lanka’s Best Workplace for 2025 by Great Place to Work®, marking the fourth consecutive year the global hospitality leader has received this honor. The recognition comes as Sri Lanka’s tourism sector experiences robust recovery, and demand for hospitality professionals reaches new highs. This award affirms Hilton’s long-standing commitment to creating a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable workplace for its team members across the island nation.
A Workplace Where People Thrive
Hilton’s success in Sri Lanka stems from its holistic, people-first philosophy, placing employee well-being, development, and inclusion at the heart of its operations. Rooted in its global motto, “careers that work for you,” Hilton promotes a workplace culture defined by trust, respect, and opportunity.
From Hilton Colombo to the eco-luxurious Hilton Yala Resort, the brand’s focus on empowering individuals through structured training, mentorship, and career progression continues to set the gold standard for Sri Lanka’s hospitality sector. Hilton offers programs like Thrive at Hilton, Care for All, and Lead@Hilton, supporting team members’ physical, mental, and financial well-being—ensuring employees are cared for both professionally and personally.
Championing Local Youth: The HAPPY Program
One of Hilton’s most impactful initiatives is the HAPPY (Hospitality Apprenticeship for Youth) Program, launched at Hilton Yala Resort in 2023. Designed to uplift local youth through hands-on hospitality training, the program graduated 33 apprentices in its inaugural year. Among them, five transitioned into full-time roles, showcasing the initiative’s tangible success.
A standout graduate, Vishmi Prabha, began her journey as an apprentice and now works full-time as a waitress at Hilton Yala. Her story has become a beacon of hope for young people in Sri Lanka’s rural communities who aspire to build meaningful careers in tourism and hospitality.
The HAPPY Program not only addresses skills gaps but also aligns with Sri Lanka’s National Tourism Workforce Strategy 2023–2027, which emphasizes youth engagement and vocational training as pillars of industry development.
Regional Leadership in Employee Satisfaction
Hilton’s recognition in Sri Lanka is part of a broader wave of regional accolades. In recent months, Hilton was named Vietnam’s Best Workplace and the top hospitality employer in the Philippines, reinforcing its influence as a leading hospitality employer in Southeast Asia. These awards reflect the company’s unwavering focus on diversity, inclusion, and leadership development across its expanding footprint.
As part of its regional strategy, Hilton continuously evaluates employee engagement metrics, investing in localized training and community integration programs to build stronger bonds between its properties and the communities they serve.
Sustainability and Responsible Growth
Beyond employee well-being, Hilton integrates sustainability and social responsibility into its core values. The company is actively aligning its practices with Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and broader global frameworks such as the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment, which Sri Lanka has expressed support for through regional collaborations.
Hilton properties across Asia have implemented programs to reduce water and energy consumption, source food responsibly, and minimize waste. These initiatives are part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose strategy, aiming to double its social impact and cut environmental footprint in half by 2030.
In Sri Lanka, this manifests in initiatives like waste management partnerships with local municipalities, sustainable sourcing of materials for construction, and ecotourism advocacy at properties like Hilton Yala, located adjacent to Yala National Park.
Driving the Future of Hospitality in Sri Lanka
Hilton’s continued recognition as Sri Lanka’s Best Workplace reaffirms its position as a trusted employer and industry leader. With a growing pipeline of properties across South and Southeast Asia, including several new hotel projects in Sri Lanka, Hilton is poised to create more than 500 new jobs in the region over the next two years.
By focusing on training, leadership, and sustainability, Hilton is helping reshape the Sri Lankan tourism landscape into one that is more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready. The company plans to expand programs like HAPPY nationwide, partnering with vocational institutions and tourism authorities to ensure talent development keeps pace with industry demand.
According to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), the country welcomed over 1.6 million visitors in 2024, and forecasts for 2025 predict a surge toward 2 million international arrivals. With this momentum, Hilton’s role in shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals becomes increasingly vital.
A Model Employer for the Nation
As Hilton celebrates four years of recognition by Great Place to Work® in Sri Lanka, the achievement serves as a testament to its unwavering dedication to human capital development, sustainability, and community empowerment. More than a workplace, Hilton continues to foster an ecosystem where careers flourish, communities benefit, and guests experience world-class service shaped by passionate local talent.
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