Classic Travel, the outbound travel arm of the Expolanka Leisure Cluster and a longstanding player in Sri Lanka’s corporate travel sector, has secured the title of Sri Lanka’s Leading Travel Company 2026 at the World Travel Awards.

Adding to the achievement, Classic Destinations, the group’s inbound travel business, was named Sri Lanka’s Leading Destination Management Company 2026, giving the Expolanka Leisure Cluster two major honours at this year’s awards.

The recognition marks another milestone for both businesses, which have built a strong presence across Sri Lanka’s outbound and inbound travel sectors. According to the World Travel Awards, Classic Travel has also retained its title as Sri Lanka’s Leading Travel Agency for the third consecutive year, following its wins in 2024 and 2025.

Recognition Across Outbound and Inbound Travel

The World Travel Awards are determined through a process involving nominations, industry evaluation and voting by travel professionals and consumers. The 2026 results recognise Classic Travel and Classic Destinations for their respective contributions to Sri Lanka’s travel and tourism industry.

For Classic Travel, the latest award reflects more than three decades of experience in serving corporate and business travellers. The company operates as the outbound travel arm of the Expolanka Leisure Cluster, providing travel-related services to businesses and individual clients.

Classic Destinations, meanwhile, has been recognised for its work in destination management and inbound tourism. The company has developed a portfolio focused on specialised travel experiences, including wildlife, adventure, experiential tourism and tailor-made journeys designed for international visitors.

The World Travel Awards’ official results show that Classic Destinations has retained the title of Sri Lanka’s Leading Destination Management Company for the second consecutive year, following its 2025 win.

Strengthening Sri Lanka’s Position in Global Tourism

The double recognition comes at a significant time for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry as the country continues to strengthen its international tourism profile and attract visitors from a wider range of global markets.

Industry recognition for both an outbound travel company and an inbound destination management company highlights the breadth of the Expolanka Leisure Cluster’s involvement in the travel sector.

The two businesses operate across different areas of the travel journey. Classic Travel focuses primarily on outbound and corporate travel, while Classic Destinations works with international visitors travelling to Sri Lanka, offering destination management services and curated experiences.

Together, the awards highlight the group’s presence across both sides of the travel ecosystem.

Focus on Experience and Customer Service

Classic Travel’s continued recognition comes as the travel industry undergoes significant changes, with customers increasingly seeking convenience, personalised services and experiences that provide greater value.

The company has focused on adapting its services to changing customer requirements while maintaining its position within Sri Lanka’s corporate travel sector.

Classic Destinations has similarly developed its offering around experiences that go beyond conventional sightseeing. Its focus on wildlife, adventure, experiential journeys and customised destination management has enabled it to cater to international travellers seeking more personalised ways to explore Sri Lanka.

The company’s latest recognition follows its previous World Travel Awards win in 2025.

Recognition of Teams and Industry Partners

Commenting on the achievement, Sabry Bahaudeen, Director of the Expolanka Leisure Cluster, said the two awards reflect the contribution of the teams working across the businesses as well as the partners supporting their operations.

He noted that winning both categories in the same year demonstrates consistency across the travel journey, from outbound travel services provided in Colombo to destination experiences delivered to international visitors in locations such as Yala and Galle.

Bahaudeen also acknowledged the contribution of airline partners, hotels, suppliers, clients and travel professionals who have supported the businesses and participated in the voting process.

Looking Ahead

The recognition provides further visibility for the Classic brand at a time when Sri Lanka is seeking to strengthen its position as an international tourism destination.

For Classic Travel, retaining its World Travel Awards title for a third consecutive year reinforces its established presence in Sri Lanka’s travel sector. For Classic Destinations, the second consecutive award reflects the company’s continued focus on destination management and specialised travel experiences.

The double achievement underscores the Expolanka Leisure Cluster’s presence across both outbound and inbound travel and highlights the importance of service quality, innovation, personalised experiences and strong industry partnerships in an evolving global travel market.