From booking to post-stay: Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2025 panel to examine future of digital hospitality

Hotelier Maldives, the leading hospitality media group in Maldives, has announced an insightful panel discussion for the ninth edition of the General Managers (GM) Forum, scheduled to take place at Kurumba Maldives on 13 October 2025.

The newly revealed session, titled “Reimagining the Guest Journey: Digital Touchpoints from Booking to Post-Stay,” will explore how digitalisation is reshaping every phase of the hospitality experience—from the moment of booking to long after check-out. The session will be moderated by Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz, Director of Digital Technology & Marketing at Pulse Hotels & Resorts.

Joining him on the panel are Heidi Grimwood, Senior Vice President, ELE|NA; Justin Swart, General Manager, The Standard Maldives; and Morten Junior, General Manager, Kurumba Maldives.

Together, the panellists will examine how resorts across the Maldives are leveraging technology to redefine engagement, enhance personalisation, and build meaningful connections with guests. The discussion will address critical moments across the guest journey—pre-arrival, in-stay, and post-departure—focusing on how digital tools such as apps, chatbots, and AI-driven concierges can complement the human touch that remains central to Maldivian hospitality.

The conversation will also explore practical challenges faced by resorts, including cost, training, and guest adoption, while offering insights into emerging digital trends expected to transform the hospitality landscape over the next five years.

This announcement follows several previously revealed programme highlights for the upcoming Forum. Ru Yi, Assistant Vice President of International Markets, APAC at Trip.com Group, will deliver the keynote address on “Travel in the Age of Digital Transformation,” offering insights into evolving traveller behaviour and data-driven market opportunities in Asia Pacific.

The featured speaker session will be led by Will Howes, Vice President of Sales, APAC at TrustYou, on “Unlocking Loyalty Through Digital Guest Journeys.” His address will explore how hotels can harness guest feedback, reviews, and reputation analytics to drive long-term loyalty and revenue.

A special presentation by Abubakar Latif, Chief Technology Officer at Beyon Cyber and Board Member at DTS Solutions UAE, titled “A Stakeholder Analysis of Cyber Risks in the Hospitality Industry,” will shed light on cybersecurity vulnerabilities across resort operations, distribution systems, and guest data management. The session is sponsored by Dhiraagu, the Forum’s Platinum Partner.

Additionally, a panel discussion on “Destination Marketing in the Digital Era: Building Maldives’ Global Presence Beyond the Beach” will bring together leading voices from the tourism and marketing sectors. Moderated by Mathurot Chuladul, Field Marketing Director, Communications – Maldives, Marriott International, the panel will include Ru Yi, Will Howes, Abdulla Ghiyas, Chairman of Visit Maldives, and Murad Hassan, Tourism Marketing Specialist. The discussion will explore strategies to expand the Maldives’ brand narrative beyond its traditional “sun, sand, and sea” positioning.

An additional panel discussion will be announced this week, further enriching the Forum’s comprehensive line-up.

Now in its ninth edition, the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum continues to serve as the country’s premier platform for resort general managers, brand leaders, and industry stakeholders to engage in dialogue on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of hospitality. The 2025 Forum will be held under the theme “Digitalisation and Expanding Experiences,” reflecting the transformative intersection of technology and guest experience in the Maldivian tourism industry.

Partners and sponsors of GM Forum 2025 include:

• Dhiraagu – Platinum Partner
• Bank of Maldives – Banking Partner
• Dhivehi Insurance – Gold Sponsor
• Maldives Airports Company Limited – Silver Sponsor
• Villa Hakatha – Silver Sponsor
• Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) – Silver Sponsor
• Manta Air – Aviation Partner
• Male’ Aerated Water Company – Beverage Partner
• Atmosphere Wellness – Wellness Partner
• Alia Investments – Associate Sponsor
• Uniforms Unlimited – Associate Sponsor
• Hotels and Resorts Investment Maldives (HARIM) – Associate Sponsor
• Souvenir Marine – Transport Partner
• Storm Events – Organising Partner
• Lightsout – Associate Partner
• Maldives TV – Media Partner
• Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA) – Sustainability Partner
• Supporting Partners – Navean Maldives, Maldives Insider and Blue n White