RIU Hotels & Resorts has appointed Janitha Madawala as Assistant General Manager – East Africa, strengthening its leadership team as the company continues to expand its presence and operational capabilities across the region.
With more than two decades of international hospitality experience, Janitha brings extensive expertise in hotel operations, strategic leadership, pre-opening projects, commercial performance, and guest experience management across multiple global markets.
Over 20 Years of Global Hospitality Leadership
Throughout his distinguished career, Janitha Madawala has held senior leadership positions with several internationally recognised hospitality brands, including RIU Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Carnival Cruise Line, Emirates Leisure Retail | Premier Inn, Southern Sun Hotels & Resorts, Emaar Hospitality Group, Sunrise Resorts & Cruises, and Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts.
His experience spans luxury resorts, city hotels, cruise operations, integrated entertainment destinations, convention facilities, and large-scale hospitality developments across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and the South Pacific.
Expertise in Operations, Growth and Transformation
Janitha has built a reputation for leading complex hospitality operations, driving operational transformation, managing pre-opening projects, and delivering sustainable business growth.
Over the years, he has successfully overseen hotel openings, large-scale renovations, brand repositioning initiatives, operational turnarounds, and multi-property hospitality portfolios. His expertise also includes commercial strategy, guest experience enhancement, team development, and financial performance management.
Known for building high-performing multicultural teams, he has led workforces representing more than 48 nationalities while managing large-scale hospitality operations in competitive markets.
Leading RIU’s Growth in East Africa
In his new role as Assistant General Manager – East Africa, Janitha Madawala will support hotel operations across the region, focusing on operational excellence, guest satisfaction, strategic project execution, commercial optimisation, and talent development.
He will also contribute to hotel upgrade programmes, pre-opening activities, new developments, and operational enhancement initiatives that support RIU Hotels & Resorts’ long-term growth strategy in East Africa.
Leadership Perspective
Commenting on his appointment, Janitha Madawala said:
“I am honoured to join RIU Hotels & Resorts as Assistant General Manager and contribute to the continued growth of one of the world’s most respected hospitality brands. East Africa presents tremendous opportunities for tourism and hospitality development, and I look forward to working alongside our talented teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences, strengthen operational excellence, and create lasting value for our guests, colleagues, and stakeholders.”
His appointment reflects RIU Hotels & Resorts’ continued investment in experienced leadership as it strengthens its operations and development pipeline across Africa.
