From the breakneck pace of telecommunications to the emotionally charged world of hospitality, Manuri Jayasinghe, Head of Marketing and Communications at Hayleys Leisure, has carved a unique path through two distinct industries. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a refreshing blend of performance-driven strategy and human-centric storytelling to Sri Lanka’s evolving leisure and hospitality landscape.
Today, Hayleys Leisure’s flagship properties – The Kingsbury Colombo and Amaya Resorts & Spas – are not just surviving in a hyper-competitive market; they are thriving as trendsetters and beloved household names. But behind that success lies a story of transformation, tenacity, and a commitment to being purposefully different.
When Manuri transitioned into leisure and hospitality, she wasn’t merely changing companies; she was entering an entirely new realm. “Coming from telco, I was used to being on my toes – constantly launching, testing, evolving,” she recalls. “The product was tech, the pace was unforgiving, and the focus was always on being first to market.”
That experience hardwired a performance-first mindset into her marketing DNA. But hospitality, she soon realized, beats to a different rhythm. “In leisure, the product isn’t just a room or a service. It’s a curated emotion. A memory. An experience that stays with someone long after checkout.”
For many, this contrast could have been a barrier. For Manuri, it became an invitation to innovate. Drawing on her telco roots, she set out to bring a rigorously data-driven approach into a space traditionally dominated by aesthetic storytelling. The result? A marketing playbook that seamlessly merges creative intuition with commercial precision.
At the heart of her strategy is a disciplined yet agile method: test, track, iterate. Whether it’s a Meta campaign, a room package, or a limited-time dining experience, every initiative is grounded in data. “A/B testing is our constant,” she explains. “We don’t throw money across every channel. We invest where we see ROI, and we pivot fast when things don’t land.”
But numbers alone don’t move people—and that’s where Manuri’s true magic lies. Her campaigns don’t just sell products – they evoke feelings. They are built around what she calls “experience-driven storytelling”- a term that encapsulates both creativity and customer-centricity.
“Our content isn’t about being loud. It’s about being relevant,” she says. “What emotion are we tapping into? What do we want the guest to remember, feel, or share? That’s the filter for every piece of communication we create.”
This dual lens of emotional connection and measurable impact has helped Hayleys Leisure break through the noise in a market saturated with offerings. Whether it’s launching an exclusive F&B event, partnering with a lifestyle influencer, or rolling out a multi-platform brand campaign, her initiatives are engineered to both resonate and perform.
Great marketing is never a one-person job, and Manuri is the first to credit her team for the success they’ve achieved. Leading a vibrant group of Millennials and Gen Zs, she has empowered a culture that’s as inclusive as it is ambitious.
“I don’t believe in top-down management. Every team member, regardless of title, is encouraged to bring ideas to the table,” she shares. “Some of our most successful concepts have come from junior executives. When you give people ownership, they rise to the challenge.”
Her leadership philosophy is underpinned by collaboration, curiosity, and clarity. That mindset has led to transformative results—especially in the competitive food and beverage landscape, where The Kingsbury Colombo now enjoys market leader status. Behind that recognition is not just great marketing, but a commitment to consistency, creativity, and customer obsession. “You can’t just run a good campaign—you have to deliver a great experience,” Manuri says. “Every touchpoint matters. Every detail counts.”
The journey hasn’t been without pressure. Navigating tight deadlines, high expectations, and the volatile nature of consumer trends requires not just skill but resilience. For Manuri, that resilience was shaped, in large part, by her mentor and current boss, whom she describes as “a perfectionist with incredibly high standards.”
“There’s no room for error. At first, that was intimidating. But over time, I saw it for what it was: a blueprint for excellence,” she reflects. “Mistakes happen, but it’s how fast you learn, adapt, and recover that defines you.” This mindset has become the foundation of her team culture. Challenges aren’t feared – they’re expected. Change isn’t resisted – it’s embraced. And no idea is too big or too small if it aligns with the brand’s purpose.
It’s this growth-oriented, fail-forward philosophy that has helped Manuri navigate not just new industries, but new paradigms in consumer behavior, especially in a post-pandemic world where leisure preferences continue to evolve.
For someone who’s made a name by driving firsts and leading change, Manuri’s secret isn’t complexity – it’s curiosity. “Stay curious. That’s the one thing I always come back to,” she says. “Whether it’s testing a new platform, exploring AI in marketing, or learning from a frontline associate, curiosity keeps you agile. It keeps you hungry.” In an industry where trends shift fast and attention spans shrink faster, this mindset is not just refreshing, it’s essential.
As the leisure and hospitality sector braces for its next wave of reinvention – driven by digital transformation, sustainability, and experience personalization, leaders like Manuri are poised to shape its future. Her approach isn’t about chasing hype or riding trends. It’s about aligning brand, business, and human truth. And that’s what sets her apart – not just as a marketer, but as a leader who brings clarity, conviction, and care to everything she does.
For Hayleys Leisure, that means continued innovation, meaningful guest experiences, and a brand legacy built not just on visibility but on value. And for the industry? It means taking notes. Because if Manuri’s track record is any indication, she’s not just keeping up with the future – she’s helping to write it.