Thanuj Goonawardena, the innovative CEO of 55TG Boutique Suites/Interiors & Director of Thilanka Hotels & Resorts, has been awarded the prestigious Visionary CEO of the Year 2022 award, and it is truly well-deserved. With a career spanning over 33 years in the hospitality industry, he has served in Sri Lanka, Gold Coast-Australia, Mandalay-Myanmar & Teheran-Iran, and has been a Director of Thilanka Hotels & Resorts (Corporate) for many years. In addition to his impressive professional background, he is also an artist who excels in visual art, sculpture, and jewellery design.
Thanuj’s greatest personal and career accomplishment is a testament to his selflessness and dedication. In 2012, when he learned that his mother had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, he decided to give up his illustrious career as Managing Director of both hotels, handed over methodically to the new MD, and relocated to Colombo to spend the last years of her life taking care of her. During this time, he reinvented her life by giving her purpose and making her extremely busy. In the process, she forgot her cancer and recuperated. In 2013, while she was recovering or really forgetting her cancer, he made her so busy remodelling 55TG’s, and together, they opened 55TG Boutique Suites. He also ventured into a new profession by creating 55TG Interiors and started 19 new projects in that same year, demonstrating his remarkable versatility and adaptability.
As a professional Hotelelier & an Interior designer, Thanuj has made many contributions to his field. With his 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, many wealthy but non-hoteliers have approached him to create new hotels and Ayurveda hospitals for themselves. Taking on those 20+ hotel and hospital projects as an interior designer, he has advised and convinced his clients to build hotels that are most relevant to the area while improving the nature, environment, and neighbourhood. He has given a new experience to the hospitality industry while creating employment opportunities for the community so their families can continue to live together.
As a leader, Thanuj motivates his workforce through his own example. He considers his team as leaders, and every team member is responsible and committed to creating unforgettable experiences for all their guests, consumers, clients, and even suppliers. He recognizes and rewards his team members for their efforts, which keeps them motivated and loyal.
Over the past few years, the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka has experienced significant challenges due to various external factors, including the 30-year war, the Easter Bombings in 2019, and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-22, which resulted in significant financial losses and caused many hotels and other hospitality institutions to shut down.
Despite these challenges, Thanuj remained determined to keep his business successful. Rather than succumbing to the difficulties faced by the industry, he and his team opted to take a different approach. They hired new staff, refurbished and renovated the property, and revamped their operation model. Moreover, they fully embraced the local community, methodologies, and materials to create an exceptional experience for their guests.
Through their efforts, Thanuj and his team managed to achieve some of the best financial years of operation as of 2022, proving that perseverance, innovation, and a commitment to the local community can indeed lead to success.
Thanuj’s success did not go unnoticed, and he has since become an inspiration to others in the hospitality industry. He has personally created other establishments and has influenced a whole community of hotels and other hospitality institutions to follow his model and thrive in these troubled times.
One of Thanuj’s most significant goals is to leave a mark in the business world by promoting the “greater good to humanity.” Thanuj’s vision is to create a sustainable, eco-friendly hotel that serves as a model for other hotels in Sri Lanka and beyond.
To achieve this goal, Thanuj has been researching and collaborating with experts in the field of sustainable building design and eco-friendly operations. He has also been working with local communities and suppliers to source sustainable materials and implement sustainable practices in his hotel operations. The net-zero hotel that Thanuj envisions will have a minimal carbon footprint, meaning it will generate its own energy through renewable sources such as solar panels and wind turbines, and will minimize waste by recycling, composting, and using water-saving techniques. The hotel will also feature green roofs, which will help to absorb rainwater and provide insulation, and the use of natural ventilation will reduce the need for air conditioning.
Thanuj’s goal is not just to create a sustainable hotel, but also to inspire other hotels and businesses to follow suit. He believes that if every hotel and business takes responsibility for their impact on the environment, it can create a significant positive impact on the planet. By promoting sustainability and responsible practices, Thanuj hopes to leave a positive legacy for future generations and to demonstrate that business success and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
In conclusion, Thanuj Goonawardena is an exceptional leader who has made significant contributions to the hospitality industry. His dedication to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices is inspiring, and his vision for a net-zero hotel in Sri Lanka is an excellent example of how businesses can prioritize environmental responsibility while achieving success. Thanuj’s selflessness and commitment to his community and team members have earned him the recognition he deserves as the Visionary CEO of the Year 2022. His success and influence serve as an inspiration to others in the industry, and his legacy of promoting sustainability and responsible practices will undoubtedly have a positive impact on future generations.