EXCLUSIVE: Cinnamon Hotels Mulls Expansion Plan in India, Strengthens Regional Presence

Safari India Exclusive

In an exclusive interview with Safari India, Radhey S Tawar, Chief Commercial Officer of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, unveiled the group’s India-focused growth strategy and detailed new developments at the brand’s flagship Cinnamon Life City of Dreams, Sri Lanka. project.

A New Chapter in Cinnamon’s India Strategy

Having firmly established its presence in Sri Lanka, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is now charting a focused India strategy. With an eye on both metro and emerging Tier 2 cities, the group is making bold moves to capture the leisure and MICE segments.

“From a Sri Lankan hospitality and business point of view, India is a key market for us,” said Radhey.

“Metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi remain our largest sources of business, but our eyes are also set on destinations like Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Trichy. These Tier 2 cities are vital to our expansion plans, especially for the growing leisure travel segment.”

The brand’s India growth strategy also includes deeper collaboration with travel trade partners, including roadshows across key markets to amplify reach and visibility.

Cinnamon Life: Colombo’s Urban Resort Destination

Its flagship project, Cinnamon Life – City of Dreams in Colombo, is at the heart of Cinnamon's future. Touted as Sri Lanka’s largest mixed-use development, Cinnamon Life blends luxury, entertainment, and business under one brand ecosystem.

With 800 rooms—687 already operational and another 115 under the ‘Nuwa’ brand launching later this year—Cinnamon Life also features two residential towers, an office complex, a luxury shopping mall, and an integrated world-class casino in collaboration with Melco Entertainment. The project includes twelve restaurants, six of which are fine-dining concepts.

Since its phased launch in late 2024, Cinnamon Life has already recorded healthy occupancy and increasing traction among regional travellers.

Weddings & Conferences: MICE Takes Centre Stage

Cinnamon is doubling its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) vertical with a sprawling 1,60,000-square-foot event space.

“Colombo is emerging as a wedding and MICE destination, especially for Indian and South Asian travellers,” said Radhey.

“We estimate that MICE will contribute 15 to 25% of our overall business in the coming years.

Momentum and Recovery

The tourism sector in Sri Lanka is rebounding steadily, and Cinnamon Hotels expects to ride this wave. The country targets 2.5 to 3 million tourist arrivals in 2025, with a 15–20% year-on-year growth projection.

Cinnamon is also working closely with airline partners to boost connectivity from Indian metros and Tier 2 hubs, aiming to bridge travel gaps and make Colombo a short-haul luxury getaway.

 Gaming, Glamour and a Gateway to Asia

With Cinnamon Life’s soon-to-open casino and luxury retail mall, the brand is betting big on high-net-worth individuals across India and Asia. Positioned as a premium gaming and leisure alternative to Macau or Manila, Cinnamon Life offers Indian travellers a luxury destination that’s geographically closer and culturally resonant.