The hospitality industry which had been historically male-dominated, for the first time in the association’s history appointed Gitanjali Chakravarthy Haaland as the Vice President at its AGM coinciding with the 50th Golden Anniversary of Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association.
CHSGA, thus set an exemplary role and benchmark to promote equal opportunity and rights to women in the representative body of the hotel industry.
“Hospitality has always been my passion. Whichever role I played in the hotels I worked for, I have done so with enthusiasm and utmost dedication and I believe that is what has helped me come this far, saying yes to challenges and not allowing fear to get in the way of opportunity. It’s a people-oriented industry, you need to have the passion for taking care of your internal team and external customers to drive success.”
Gitanjali Chakravarthy Haaland, a product of Ceylon Hotel School & School of Tourism (Presently Known as Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management) possess over 30 plus years of local and foreign experience. Proven career driven attitude that’s imbedded in her genes brought her the opportunity to hold senior positions worldwide at renowned hospitality chains such as Mövenpick, Taj and Como Hotels and Resorts. She is also a Senior Lecturer and the head of housekeeping management department at SLITHM.
Gitanjali, created history in September 2019 in Sri Lanka tourism, when she took up the challenge to be the first Sri Lankan female to hold the position of General Manager for an international hotel brand, the newly ventured Hilton property in Yala, which is scheduled to open mid next year.
In 2020, Gitanjali was honored with the Pioneering Woman Leader award in Mumbai.
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