Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, a leading hospitality name in the Sri Lankan hospitality industry that is committed to excellence, is proud to announce the appointment of Palak Shah as the Vice President of Sales for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. Palak brings 24 years of unparalleled hospitality experience, especially in India and Southwest Asia. In his new role at Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Palak will lead its strategic sales initiatives, particularly focusing on accelerating growth in key source markets and India. He will also oversee the Global Sales Office initiatives and efforts set up in these markets.

As the former Regional Director Sales – Southwest Asia at Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) – Global Sales Office in Mumbai, Palak is a recognised dynamic sales and marketing professional, having been honoured as the GSO Person of The Year in 2023 and awarded the Salesperson of The Year at the AMEA award in 2013. His leadership, astute market insights and execution of sales strategies that transcend conventional boundaries saw him achieve unprecedented milestones, surpassing revenue targets and elevating IHG’s stature in the fiercely competitive Indian market.

Commenting on this appointment, the Chief Commercial Officer of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Radhey Tawar, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Palak to the Cinnamon family. His appointment underscores our commitment to enhancing our sales culture and driving strategic growth within the organisation. Palak will be key in aligning our efforts towards driving commercial success for Sri Lanka’s first and South Asia’s largest integrated resort – Cinnamon Life, set top open later this year. His focus on accelerating business growth in our key source markets, particularly India will further strengthen our position as a hospitality leader. Additionally, Palak will lead and oversee our Global Sales Offices across India, China and the United Kingdom.”

Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts strategically established Global Sales offices in India in 2022 to strengthen the brand’s market presence. The dedicated team currently based in Mumbai and Delhi includes experienced Indian hospitality professionals who facilitate engagement from the trade and consumer segments and expand Cinnamon’s strategic partnerships with existing and new Indian carriers.

Palak Shah commented on his new role as Vice President of Sales for Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, “I am honoured to join Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, an iconic brand in Sri Lanka. India presents immense opportunities for growth and expansion and I am committed to leveraging our collective strengths to drive strategic initiatives, foster long-term partnerships and deliver exceptional experiences to our guests of all segments. I am truly excited to collaborate closely with the Cinnamon Life team and in playing a key role in reshaping the tourism industry of the country.”