Heritance Tea Factory Wins Silver Winner for Championing Cultural Diversity at ICRT Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards 2026

Heritance Tea Factory has been recognised as a Silver Winner in the Championing Cultural Diversity category at the ICRT (International Centre for Responsible Tourism) Indian Subcontinent Responsible Tourism Awards 2026, celebrating the property’s commitment to preserving and sharing the living heritage of Sri Lanka’s tea country through responsible tourism.

Set within a restored 19th-century tea factory in Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya, Heritance Tea Factory has built its guest experience around a landscape shaped by generations of tea cultivation, knowledge, labour and community life. Rather than presenting tea country simply as a scenic destination, the hotel seeks to create a deeper understanding of the industry, people, traditions and history behind one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised exports.

This approach is reflected throughout the property. Original factory machinery, structural features and tea-production spaces have been preserved as part of the guest journey, while immersive experiences such as tea plucking, tea tasting, estate interpretation, nature walks and tea-inspired dining allow visitors to engage directly with the traditions of the region.

A central part of this experience is the hotel’s team. Around 70% of employees come from communities within a 20-kilometre radius, bringing with them lived knowledge of the surrounding tea-growing landscape. Through daily interactions with guests, team members are able to share local perspectives, customs and tea traditions in a natural and respectful manner, strengthening both cultural understanding and pride in their own heritage.

The property’s role in Sri Lanka’s wider tea heritage conversation was further reinforced in 2025 when Heritance Tea Factory hosted the official dinner of the International Tea Culture and Tourism Conference, which brought together stakeholders exploring the preservation and interpretation of tea-related cultural landscapes.

The ICRT recognition also reflects an approach in which cultural preservation is embedded into the hotel’s daily operations rather than treated as a standalone activity. Heritage conservation, local employment, staff development and guest engagement work together to ensure that the cultural identity of the destination remains relevant and visible.

For Heritance Tea Factory, championing cultural diversity means ensuring that the story of tea is told not only through the building and the landscape, but through the people who continue to bring that heritage to life every day.

About Aitken Spence Hotels

Heritance Hotels and Resorts is the flagship brand of Aitken Spence Hotels, a part of Aitken Spence PLC, a leading Sri Lankan blue-chip conglomerate. Aitken Spence Hotels oversees a diverse collection of 16 hotels and resorts across Sri Lanka, Maldives, Oman and India through its diverse collection of brands Heritance Hotels and Resorts, Adaaran Hotels & Resorts, and Turyaa. Heritance Hotels & Resorts stands as the custodian of the largest portfolio of Bawa designed hotels in Sri Lanka, adding a touch of architectural distinction to its rich offerings.