Former TAAI President Jyoti Mayal honoured with Faces of South Asia award
The 9th edition of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025 brought together the region’s finest in travel, tourism, and hospitality for a grand celebration of excellence and innovation at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo, reaffirming South Asia’s position as one of the world’s most vibrant tourism regions.
Founded in 2016, SATA has evolved into South Asia’s most prestigious travel and hospitality recognition platform, honoring exceptional achievements across India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. The 2025 edition once again showcased the unity, resilience, and creativity that define South Asian tourism, with over 160 awards presented to outstanding hotels, resorts, travel brands, and professionals.
This year’s Grand Gala was attended by ministers, tourism authorities, industry leaders, and international partners, who joined in celebrating the shared vision of elevating South Asia as a global tourism powerhouse. The event featured dazzling performances reflecting the cultural richness and diversity of the region.
Celebrating the Spirit of South Asia
A major highlight of the evening was the presentation of the SATA – Faces of South Asia honors, recognizing visionary individuals whose lifetime contributions have shaped regional tourism. The 2025 honorees included:
• Ms. Jyoti Mayal, former President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
• Deshamanya D. Harry S. Jayawardena, Chairman Emeritus, Aitken Spence PLC, Sri Lanka
• Ms. Nandini Lahe-Thapa, former Senior Director, Nepal Tourism Board
• Mr. Mohamed Waheeduddeen, Chairman, Bandos Island Resort, Maldives
Their leadership and dedication stand as enduring symbols of collaboration and excellence across South Asia.
Regional Triumphs and Global Recognition
The awards spanned multiple categories -from adventure and wellness to heritage, aviation, and sustainable tourism-reflecting the region’s multifaceted appeal. The Visitors’ Choice Awards, based on global traveler feedback, highlighted:
• Leading Adventure Destination: Maldives
• Leading Heritage Destination: Bhutan
• Leading MICE Destination: Sri Lanka
• Leading Wellness Destination: Sri Lanka
Gold Awards went to some of South Asia’s most distinguished travel and hospitality brands, including The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Shangri-La Colombo, Heritance Ayurveda Sri Lanka, Hilton Kathmandu, Aitken Spence Travels (Leading Travel Agent – Inbound). Hayleys Travels (Pvt) Ltd (Leading Travel Agent – Outbound), Villa Travels Maldives, Inner Maldives, Voyages Maldives, and Zhiwaling Heritage Bhutan, SriLankan Airlines was named Leading International Airline in South Asia, while Trans Maldivian Airways retained its title as Leading Tourist Transport Provider (Air).
Mr. Ahmed Zahir, Angsana Velavaru Maldives; Mr. Digvijay Singh, Conrad Bengaluru India (South); Mr. Karthi VK, Holiday Inn Express Kathmandu Naxal; Mr. Khagendra Dahal, Hotel Tashi Yid – Wong Grand Bhutan; and Mr. Kamal Munasinghe, Cinnamon Grand Colombo Sri Lanka were honoured with South Asia’s Best GM awards.
The winners from India includes Taj West End Bengaluru, Taj Sawai Ranthambore, Hotel Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, Taj Palace, New Delhi, Sheraton Grand Bangalore at Brigade Gateway, , The Accord Metropolitan Chennai, Accord Chrome Chennai, Ace Aviation Services Maldives Pvt Ltd, Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Anand kashi by the Ganges, Rishikesh, Andaz Delhi, by Hyatt New Delhi, Blanket Days Resort and Spa, Thekkady, Conrad Bengaluru, Courtyard By Marriott Tiruchirappalli, Harvest Fresh Farms, Hayleys Travels (Pvt) Ltd, Kaldan Samudhra Mamallapuram, Boat Co Alleppey Pvt Ltd (The Boat Company), Serene Horizon Resort Thekkady, The Ananta Udaipur, and The Baagh Ananta Elite, Ranthambore
These recognitions underscored South Asia’s growing reputation for authentic experiences, sustainable practices, and hospitality excellence, reinforcing its global competitiveness in the post-pandemic tourism era.
A Platform for Unity and Growth
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ismail Hassan, President of SATA emphasized that the awards are not a contest among nations but a collective celebration of regional achievement, aimed at fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and sustainable growth.
The event was supported by leading partners, including Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) as the Destination Partner, Cinnamon Grand Colombo as Host Hotel, and Honda Marine Maldives, Velana International Airport, and Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives among others.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The SATA 2025 Grand Gala was more than a night of awards – it was a testament to South Asia’s shared identity as a land of warmth, resilience, and innovation. As the region continues to expand its tourism footprint globally, initiatives like SATA play a vital role in inspiring excellence, promoting regional cooperation, and celebrating the people and brands that define the essence of South Asian hospitality.
Tourism India is the Travel Media Partner of SATA and Mr. Ravisankar K.V, managing Editor has presented with a memento during the event.
