Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2026 to examine resilience, talent and transformation
Hotelier Maldives has announced the theme for the 10th edition of its General Managers’ Forum, scheduled to take place on October 5, 2026.
This year’s forum will be held under the theme, ‘Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology and Transformation’, bringing together leaders from across the Maldivian tourism industry to examine how hospitality businesses can respond to periods of global uncertainty and change.
The theme reflects the operating environment facing the international tourism and hospitality sector, as geopolitical tensions, economic pressures, climate-related risks, technological disruption and changing workforce expectations influence business decisions.
Discussions at the forum will consider how general managers and senior executives can lead organisations through such conditions while maintaining operational continuity, supporting employees and protecting the guest experience.
A central focus will be the leadership skills required during periods of disruption. The forum will explore decision-making under pressure, communication, organisational adaptability and the role of leaders in creating confidence within their teams.
Talent and workplace culture will form another component of the programme. As resorts compete to recruit, develop and retain employees, the forum will examine how hospitality organisations can build a culture that supports professional growth, employee engagement and long-term career development.
The programme will also consider how leadership teams can prepare employees for changes resulting from automation, artificial intelligence and other technologies. Rather than viewing technology solely as an operational tool, the forum will explore how it can support employees, improve productivity and allow teams to focus on areas of hospitality that depend on human interaction.
Technology and business transformation will be examined in relation to resort operations, guest engagement, data, revenue management and organisational planning. Sessions will consider how hospitality companies can adopt new systems while retaining the personal service and destination identity that underpin the Maldives’ tourism industry.
The 2026 theme builds on the areas examined during the previous three editions of the GM Forum.
The 2025 forum was held under the theme ‘Digitalisation and Expanding Experiences’, focusing on the integration of technology into the guest journey and the use of digital systems to support operational efficiency and personalised hospitality.
In 2024, the forum explored ‘The Evolving Luxury Landscape’, examining changes in luxury travel, guest expectations and the positioning of the Maldives within the international tourism market
The 2023 edition centred on ‘Innovation and Technology for Sustainability’, addressing technological change, sustainable tourism practices and the expectations of environmentally conscious travellers.
Launched in 2016, the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum has become a platform for dialogue among leaders of the country’s tourism industry. Each edition brings together resort general managers, owners, developers, senior executives, government representatives and industry partners to exchange information and discuss issues affecting tourism and hospitality.
The forum’s 10th edition will mark a decade of discussions on the operational, commercial and strategic issues shaping the resort sector. Through presentations, panel discussions and networking sessions, GM Forum 2026 will provide participants with an opportunity to examine how resilience can be built into leadership, workforce development and business operations.
Further details about the venue, speakers, programme and event partners will be announced in the lead-up to the forum.
