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Fairway Colombo: Blending Smart Luxury with Innovation to Celebrate World Tourism Day 2025
Daily FT
|September 26, 2025
Sri Lanka's first robotic hotel and its mission to revive Colombo Fort as a hub of tourism and culture
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World Tourism Day 2025 carries the global theme of 'Tourism and Peace', highlighting how travel fosters cultural understanding, strengthens communities, and drives sustainable development.
For Sri Lanka, a country where tourism contributes nearly 5% of GDP and supports over 400,000 direct jobs, the occasion is particularly significant. The island nation is targeting to welcome more than 3 million tourists this year, a figure that signals both resilience and opportunity. In this context, Colombo Fort has emerged as a focal point for urban tourism, and at the heart of its revival stands Fairway Colombo. The hotel is not only a place of stay but also a hub of innovation, culture, and community.
Fairway Colombo proudly holds the title of being Sri Lanka’s first hotel to introduce robotic technology into its daily operations. This bold step places the property alongside global leaders such as Yotel in Singapore and Henn-na Hotel in Japan, where robots have redefined the guest experience. At Fairway Colombo, guests encounter robots assisting with deliveries, providing directions, and enhancing convenience. This is more than a novelty; it represents a shift toward a smarter, more efficient model of hospitality.
The presence of robots allows staff to focus on personalized service—sharing local knowledge, anticipating guest needs, and creating memorable moments. For travelers, particularly millennials and Gen Z tourists, the novelty of robotic service becomes part of the storytelling experience. Social media posts of guests interacting with robots often go viral, effectively turning each guest into a brand ambassador. By blending futuristic technology with Sri Lanka’s legendary warmth, Fairway Colombo positions itself as a unique destination within South Asia.
This story is from the September 26, 2025 edition of Daily FT.
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