One Month. One Team. One Unforgettable First: The Explorer Expo โ Sri Lanka
Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Venue: Havelock City Mall, Colombo
Occasion: The first-ever Hello Explorer App launch in Sri Lanka and the Explorer Expo โ Sri Lanka.
From Touchdown to Takeoff โ How It All Began
We landed in Colombo just a month agoโnew country, new city, no playbook. What we did have was our mantra: Take Action. Within days, coffees turned into meetings, meetings turned into partnerships, and ideas turned into a living, breathing launch plan. We walked the malls, rode tuk tuks, met creators and entrepreneurs, and introduced the Hello Explorer vision: Where to go. What to do. Who to connect.
We set our sights on Havelock City Mall as the home for our first Sri Lanka showcase. Floor plans were drawn. LED walls, sound, and stage specs were aligned. Vendor tables were measured and re-measured. WhatsApp groups formed. Canva files flew. Meta ad sets iterated. Every night ended later than the lastโbut the momentum was real.
Along the way we built community: Kareem (Country Manager) and local champions Reihan, Rikki, Abdurrahman, Akash and many more who opened doors and held them open for others. Brands signed on. Creators pitched in. Families sent us DMs to ask about the kidsโ corner.
Launch Day: Sunday, 9 November โ โShowtime, Colombo!โ
Havelock City Mall woke up buzzing. From the first booth banner to the last mic check, the energy never dipped.
What guests experienced:
- Travel, Lifestyle, Business, Experience, Innovation under one roof
- Exhibitor booths showcasing local brands, tours, tech, wellness, design, and more
- Hello Explorer App launch in Sri Lankaโour global guide now live here too
- Kids & Family highlights powered by our Blue Moon magic (painting fun, meet-and-smile moments)
- Live stage moments: welcomes, shout-outs, quick talks, and community spotlights
- Jeep Gladiator showcase (our official car partner) drawing crowds and cameras
Every aisle became a networking lane. Vendors told their stories. Visitors discovered new favorites. Content creators filmed, posted, and tagged. Little ones tugged parents from booth to booth. It felt less like a trade show and more like a city festival indoors.
โWe came curious and left inspired. See you at the next one!โ โ a visitor
โBest Sunday weโve had with our brandโgreat crowd and real conversations.โ โ an exhibitor
What Made This First So Special
- Speed with substance: From first meeting to full-scale expo in about 30 days.
- Community-first curation: We didnโt just fill boothsโwe built bridges between vendors, creators, families, and explorers.
- Sri Lanka, centered: Local stories, local businesses, local energyโamplified by a global platform
- The Hello Explorer way: Clear design, real utility, warm hostingโand a little party sparkle.
Vendor & Partner Love
We heard you loud and clear: โWeโre in for the next one.โ
The most consistent feedback from exhibitors was simple and powerfulโgreat footfall, meaningful conversations, and the right crowd. Many asked to pre-book their space for the next edition and explore year-round presence in the Hello Explorer app.
Thank you to:
- Havelock City Mall management & operations team for trust and support
- Our Country Manager Kareem and local partners Reihan, Rikki, Abdurrahman
- Every exhibitor who believed in a first-time event and made it feel like tradition
- Every visitor who showed up, smiled, tried, bought, danced, and posted
A One-Month Timeline at a Glance
- MidโOctober 2025: Team arrives in Colombo; first round of meetings and venue scouting
- Late October: Vendor outreach, floor plan, stage/LED/sound confirmations; WhatsApp groups & assets
- Early November: Final exhibitor placements, kidsโ activities, media content, after-party setup
- 9 November: Hello Explorer App Sri Lanka launch + Explorer Expo โ Sri Lanka at Havelock City Mall;
- 10 November and beyond: Thank-yous, highlights, feedback formsโand planning the next edition
Whatโs Next
This was Chapter One. From here, weโll:
- Expand categories and add more live content on stage
- Introduce HBE (Hello Business Explorer) sessions to deepen B2B connections
- Help every exhibitor convert expo buzz into year-round visibility in the app
If you joined us this timeโthank you. If you missed itโyouโre invited to the next.
Get Involved
- Brands & Exhibitors: Pre-book your stall for the next Explorer Expo โ Sri Lanka
- Partners & Sponsors: Letโs design a package that fits your goals
- Creators & Media: Collaborations openโpitch us your angle
- Families & Explorers: Download the Hello Explorer App and start discovering
Hello Explorer โ Where to go. What to do. Who to connect.
