CLASSIC TRAVEL CROWNED SRI LANKA’S LEADING TRAVEL COMPANY AS CLASSIC TRAVEL AND CLASSIC DESTINATIONS WIN DOUBLE HONOURS AT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2026
Classic Travel, a longstanding leader in Sri Lanka’s corporate travel sector and the outbound travel arm of the Expolanka Leisure Cluster, has further strengthened its industry standing by securing one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades at the World Travel Awards 2026. With more than three decades of experience serving the evolving travel needs of businesses across the country, Classic Travel was named Sri Lanka’s Leading Travel Company 2026, following a rigorous evaluation process and global voting by travel professionals and consumers worldwide. Adding to the achievement, the cluster’s inbound travel arm, Classic Destinations, was recognized as Sri Lanka’s Leading Destination Management Company 2026, securing a second prestigious accolade for the Expolanka Leisure Cluster.
Widely regarded as the highest benchmark of excellence in the global travel, tourism, and hospitality industry, the World Travel Awards are awarded only after a stringent evaluation process and extensive voting by tourism professionals and the travelling public. As such, these awards represent a direct endorsement from the industry and customers alike, reflecting the trust, confidence, and reputation built by both companies.
The achievement is particularly significant as Sri Lanka continues its tourism resurgence and expands its presence across international source markets. Securing both the country’s leading outbound travel and destination management awards in the same year is a rare accomplishment and demonstrates leadership across two distinct segments of the travel industry.
Notably, this marks the third consecutive year that Classic Travel has been recognized as Sri Lanka’s Leading Travel Company. Such sustained recognition reflects the company’s ability to remain agile in a rapidly evolving travel landscape, continuously innovate, differentiate its service offerings, and create meaningful value for its clients. Winning an award of this calibre for three consecutive years speaks volumes about Classic Travel’s unwavering commitment to customer centricity, service excellence, and delivering exceptional travel experiences. The achievement reinforces the belief that long-term success is achieved by consistently creating value and memorable experiences for customers rather than simply transacting travel services.
Equally impressive is the achievement of Classic Destinations, which has now been recognized as Sri Lanka’s Leading Destination Management Company for the second consecutive year. The company has carved a unique position in the market through its focus on niche travel experiences, wildlife tourism, adventure travel, experiential journeys, and bespoke destination management solutions. This differentiation has enabled Classic Destinations to attract discerning global travelers seeking authentic and immersive Sri Lankan experiences while maintaining exceptionally high service standards.
Commenting on the achievement, Sabry Bahaudeen, Director of the Expolanka Leisure Cluster, said:
“These two awards belong to our teams, and to the partners who work alongside them. Winning both the travel company and the destination management categories in a single year tells us something important: that the strength of the Classic brand is consistent across the entire journey, from the moment a ticket is issued in Colombo to the moment a guest arrives at a hotel in Yala or Galle. I want to thank our airline partners, our hotel and supplier network, and above all the clients and travel professionals who voted for us. Recognition of this calibre also reflects well on Sri Lanka as a destination, and that is a responsibility we take seriously.”
The recognition extends beyond the achievements of the two companies. As Sri Lanka embarks on a new phase of tourism growth, awards of this nature help strengthen the country’s international standing, enhance destination credibility, and provide valuable global visibility. Recognition from respected international platforms such as the World Travel Awards reinforces confidence among travellers, tour operators, and industry stakeholders, helping position Sri Lanka among the world’s most desirable tourism destinations.
Together, these achievements underscore the strength of the Classic brand across both outbound and inbound travel operations. They affirm that customer-centricity, innovation, agility, differentiation, and value creation remain at the core of the organization’s success. More importantly, they demonstrate how a relentless focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences can create sustainable competitive advantage and earn recognition from the global travel community year after year
