{"id":6211,"date":"2026-09-23T11:27:34","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/?p=6211"},"modified":"2026-09-23T11:27:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T11:27:34","slug":"rainforest-ecolodge-wins-silver-at-the-icrt-indian-subcontinent-awards-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/rainforest-ecolodge-wins-silver-at-the-icrt-indian-subcontinent-awards-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Rainforest Ecolodge Wins Silver at the ICRT Indian Subcontinent Awards 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Rainforest Ecolodge<\/a>, <\/span>Deniyaya<\/span>, has been named <\/span>the <\/span><\/span>Silver Winner in the <\/span>\u2018<\/span>Nature Positive<\/span>\u2019<\/span> category <\/span>of<\/span> the <\/span>International Centre for Responsible Tourism (<\/span>ICRT<\/span>)<\/span> Indian Subcontinent Awards 2026<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>recognising<\/span> its long-standing approach to responsible tourism, biodiversity <\/span>conservation<\/span> and community engagement.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Located within the <\/span>Enselwatte<\/span> Tea Estate <\/span>bordering <\/span>the UNESCO World Heritage<\/span> Site <\/span>–<\/span>the <\/span>Sinharaja<\/span> Forest Reserve, The Rainforest Ecolodge<\/a> was created around a simple principle: tourism should enable people to experience and understand nature without degrading the ecosystems on which that experience depends.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The property <\/span>was <\/span>established<\/span> as a pioneering private-sector ecotourism initiative supported by the USAID-led Tourism Cluster, bringing together <\/span>proven <\/span>expertise<\/span> from Sri Lanka\u2019s tourism industry, <\/span>academia<\/span>, <\/span>conservation<\/span> and development sectors. It was conceived as a model <\/span>demonstrating<\/span> that ecotourism could be both commercially <\/span>viable<\/span> and environmentally responsible.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The <\/span>eco<\/span>lodge is entirely developed within an existing tea <\/span>estate<\/span> and its accommodation incorporates repurposed shipping containers and reclaimed materials, while the property\u2019s physical footprint has <\/span>remained<\/span> unchanged since <\/span>its <\/span>opening in 2012.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Nature interpretation <\/span>remains<\/span> central to the guest experience. Trained naturalists lead small groups <\/span>of guests <\/span>on <\/span>rainforest trails, <\/span>birdwatching <\/span>tours<\/span>, waterfall <\/span>hikes<\/span> and nocturnal excursions, helping visitors understand <\/span>Sinharaja\u2019s<\/span> endemic species, <\/span>habitats<\/span> and ecological relationships. Wildlife observation is conducted without feeding, handling or intentionally altering natural <\/span>behaviour<\/span>, allowing encounters to remain respectful and non-intrusive.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The <\/span>eco<\/span>lodge\u2019s responsible tourism model also extends to <\/span>neighbouring<\/span> communities through local employment, <\/span>sourcing<\/span> and development initiatives. Under the USAID-supported SENCE <\/span>programme<\/span>, <\/span><\/span>35 residential units were <\/span>built for estate <\/span>worker<\/span> families<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, alongside initiatives <\/span>that supported <\/span>access to safe drinking water and clean energy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Rainforest Ecolodge<\/a> is <\/span>recognised<\/span> by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority as <\/span><\/span>Sri Lanka\u2019s first officially classified ecolodge<\/span><\/span><\/strong> and holds<\/span> a<\/span> <\/span>LEED Platinum certification<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, reflecting the environmental principles embedded into the property from its <\/span>design<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The ICRT<\/span>\u2019s<\/span> Nature Positive category <\/span>recognises<\/span> tourism businesses and <\/span>organisations<\/span> that act as guardians of biodiversity, create meaningful wildlife experiences without causing <\/span>harm, ensure communities <\/span>benefit<\/span> from nature-based tourism and use travel as a platform for environmental education.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

For The Rainforest Ecolodge<\/a>, the Silver Award reinforces a philosophy that has guided the property since its <\/span>inception<\/span>: responsible tourism works best when conservation, community benefit and visitor experience <\/span>operate<\/span> as part of the same system.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

At The Rainforest Ecolodge<\/a>, the forest is not simply the setting for the experience. Protecting and <\/span>understanding it<\/span> is the reason the experience exists.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

About Aitken Spence Hotels<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Heritance Hotels and Resorts<\/a> is the flagship brand of Aitken Spence Hotels<\/a>, a part of Aitken Spence PLC, a leading Sri Lankan blue-chip conglomerate. Aitken Spence Hotels<\/a> oversees a diverse collection of 16 hotels and resorts across Sri Lanka, Maldives, <\/span>Oman<\/span> and India through its diverse collection of brands Heritance Hotels and Resorts<\/a>, <\/span>Adaaran<\/span><\/a> Hotels & Resorts<\/a>, and <\/span>Turyaa<\/span><\/a>. Heritance Hotels <\/span>and<\/span> Resorts stands as the custodian of the largest portfolio of Bawa<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span><\/span> designed hotels in Sri Lanka, adding a touch of architectural distinction to its rich offerings.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Rainforest Ecolodge, Deniyaya, has been named the Silver Winner in the \u2018Nature Positive\u2019 category of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Indian Subcontinent Awards 2026, recognising its long-standing approach to responsible tourism, biodiversity conservation and community engagement. Located within the Enselwatte Tea Estate bordering the UNESCO World Heritage Site -the Sinharaja Forest Reserve,Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-corporate","category-rainforest"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6211"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6216,"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6211\/revisions\/6216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aitkenspencehotels.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}