HERITANCE
THE MARKET
Travellers are increasingly seeking journeys that feel immersive, meaningful and restorative. From culinary exploration and wellness focussed escapes, to off-peak travel and more responsible choices, travel is evolving into a form of personal enrichment and deeper connection with place.
Against this backdrop, destinations such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives continue to grow in relevance. Sri Lanka’s appeal lies in its remarkable diversity – for example, pristine coastlines, a rich cultural heritage, wildlife encounters, wellness traditions and hill country landscapes – attracting a wide spectrum of travellers from families and leisure seekers, to those who are motivated by wellness and experiential travel.
Complementing this, the Maldives remains a benchmark for island escapes, offering seclusion, natural beauty and increasingly, experience driven stays that go beyond the conventional beach holiday.
Strengthened connectivity, renewed market confidence and international recognition across leading travel platforms have reinforced both destinations within an increasingly competitive global tourism landscape.
Within this evolving environment, Heritance Hotels & Resorts is distinctly positioned through its strong sense of place, architectural legacy and experience led hospitality. Operating across Sri Lanka’s most culturally and geographically diverse regions, to the Maldives’ most biodiverse and picturesque locations, the brand presents a thoughtfully curated portfolio from beachfront resorts and premium all-inclusive island escapes, to a heritage hill country retreat, a pioneering eco-resort in the Cultural Triangle and a purpose driven Ayurvedic wellness sanctuary.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Heritance Hotels & Resorts is internationally recognised for translating its philosophy of sustainability, wellness, authentic hospitality and culinary excellence into award-winning experiences across its portfolio. This commitment is reflected in the consistent global recognition received by its properties – from world leading sustainability certifications and responsible tourism honours, to top rankings by prestigious travel authorities and culinary bodies worldwide.
This portfolio wide commitment is perhaps most powerfully exemplified by Heritance Aarah, Maldives which has garnered multiple global accolades recognising both its exceptional guest experience and operational excellence. The resort has been named the Best Beachfront All-Inclusive Family Resort by Forbes and was recognised as one of the Best Resorts in the World in the Indian Ocean category by the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.
Heritance Hotels & Resorts’ Sri Lankan portfolio reflects its commitment to sustainability through its landmark properties, which have set global benchmarks in sustainable architecture, responsible tourism, Ayurveda and culinary excellence, earning them international recognition.
Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka is recognised as the first LEED certified hotel outside the US and the first GreenGlobe 21 certified hotel in Asia. In 2025, the hotel was honoured with a Silver Global Responsible Tourism Award for Climate Adaptation and Resilience. It was also recognised by the MICHELIN Guide for its outstanding quality and character.
The Pekoe Trail, on which Heritance Tea Factory is beautifully positioned across the 21st and 22nd stages, was recognised by Time as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2025. It was also featured by National Geographic as one of the Best of the World destinations in 2024 and showcased on the BBC programme ‘The Hike for Everyone.’
Heritance Ayurveda was named the Best Ayurveda Resort – Sri Lanka at the 2024 FIT Health & Wellness Awards in Berlin, and has received Quality Certificates from Fit Reisen, consistently ranking among the top three Ayurveda hotels in Asia.
And Heritance Ahungalla was honoured as a TUI Environmental Champion in 2019. It also received the TUI Top Quality Award and has been awarded Travelife Gold Certification. Its culinary team was also named the Most Outstanding Culinary Team in Sri Lanka by the Chefs’ Guild of Sri Lanka. In addition, Negombo was recognised as a Must-Travel City by the New York Times in 2024, enhancing the destination appeal of Sentido Heritance Negombo.
HISTORY
Heritance Hotels & Resorts is the flagship brand of Aitken Spence Hotels, the hospitality arm of Aitken Spence, which is one of Sri Lanka’s leading blue-chip conglomerates. Managing a diverse portfolio of 18 hotels and resorts across Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India and Oman, Aitken Spence Hotels brings decades of operational depth, regional expertise and long-term stewardship to its brands.
Within this portfolio, Heritance Hotels & Resorts is defined by a distinct architectural and cultural ethos. The brand is the custodian of the largest portfolio of Sri Lankan hotels designed by legendary architect Geoffrey Bawa, whose pioneering philosophy of tropical modernism reshaped the relationship between built space and nature. This architectural legacy forms the foundation of the Heritance identity, rooted in a seamless integration of design, landscape and lived experience.
Several of the brand’s most iconic properties were conceived by Bawa himself – including Heritance Kandalama, Heritance Ayurveda and Heritance Ahungalla. Each property reflects his signature approach: structures that respond sensitively to their natural surroundings while offering understated, enduring elegance. Originally opened in 1981, Heritance Ahungalla remains a defining expression of Bawa’s design language.
Complementing this architectural lineage is Heritance Tea Factory. Located over 2,000 metres above sea level, the property was transformed from a 19th century tea factory into a refined hill country retreat, preserving its industrial heritage while reimagining it for contemporary hospitality.
Together, these properties embody Heritance’s enduring philosophy: honouring place, preserving legacy, and creating experiences shaped by design, context and history.
THE PRODUCT
Heritance Hotels & Resorts presents a portfolio of immersive hospitality experiences spanning the Maldives and Sri Lanka, inviting discerning travellers to connect deeply with local culture, time-honoured traditions and inspired regional cuisine.
In the Maldives, Heritance Aarah redefines premium all-inclusive island living through an experience that is both indulgent and deeply considered. Located in the pristine Raa Atoll, a scenic 40 minute seaplane journey from Malé, the resort offers one of the most comprehensive and sophisticated all-inclusive concepts in the region.
Its culinary offerings are among the most diverse in the Maldives, spanning seven restaurants and five bars, where fine dining takes centre stage from refined Mediterranean cuisine to elevated Asian and international flavours. The experience is further distinguished by an exceptional selection of organic wines, one of the largest rum collections in the Indian Ocean and meticulously crafted signature cocktails.
Beyond dining, guests enjoy curated island experiences including sunrise and sunset cruises, floating breakfasts, dolphin watching and immersive visits to a Maldivian village, all seamlessly included to create an unhurried, luxurious sense of island life.
From the crystalline waters of the Maldives, the Heritance story continues in Sri Lanka, unfolding across landscapes rich in culture, nature and tradition. Within the Cultural Triangle, Heritance Kandalama is set amidst the protected forest overlooking Kandalama Lake, offering an eco-sensitive design, immersive dining experiences and views extending to UNESCO World Heritage sites. In the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, Heritance Tea Factory reimagines a 19th century tea factory into a heritage retreat, where tea culture informs both the cuisine and guest experiences.
Along Sri Lanka’s southwest coast, Heritance Ayurveda offers a purpose driven wellness sanctuary centred on authentic Ayurvedic healing while Heritance Ahungalla delivers a classic coastal resort experience defined by ocean views and relaxed sophistication. Completing the portfolio, Sentido Heritance Negombo blends contemporary beachfront living with proximity to Colombo’s international gateway, anchored by vibrant dining and panoramic ocean vistas.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Heritance Hotels & Resorts continues to evolve in response to shifting travel preferences with an emphasis on sustainability, wellness and experience led hospitality. Recent initiatives reflect the brand’s commitment to embedding responsible practices into everyday operations, translating intent into meaningful action.
Across the portfolio, this includes the elimination of single use plastics, the introduction of on-site bottling plants, recycling initiatives and the conservation forest sanctuary at Heritance Kandalama, where design converges with the environment in which it exists, enhancing both the guest experience and ecological value.
PROMOTION
Heritance Hotels & Resorts drives growth through a strategic blend of global partnerships, digitalisation and market diversification. Long-standing alliances with leading tour operators, airlines and online travel platforms – including TUI and Aitken Spence Travels – play a central role in strengthening international visibility, and sustaining demand across both established and emerging markets.
Complementing these partnerships, the brand continues to expand its digital presence through performance led marketing, data driven insights and integrated customer journeys spanning pre-stay inspiration to post-stay engagement.
By leveraging analytics, global representation networks and deep destination expertise, Heritance Hotels & Resorts remains agile, accessible and relevant, resonating with today’s discerning travellers while supporting long-term brand growth.
BRAND VALUES
Heritance Hotels & Resorts is guided by a commitment to sustainability, authenticity, wellness and responsible tourism. These values shape how the brand operates through conscious design, community engagement, conservation initiatives and holistic wellness practices embedded across its portfolio.
At its core, the Heritance ethos is defined by warm Sri Lankan hospitality, a deep respect for nature, and a considered approach to preserving heritage, creating experiences that are meaningful, restorative and rooted in place.
