BBM marks fourth year as Silver Partner of Hotelier Maldives GM Forum
Hotelier Maldives has announced the continuation of its collaboration with Bestbuy Maldives (BBM), with the company returning as Silver Sponsor of the Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum 2026.
The renewed sponsorship marks the fourth consecutive year that BBM has supported the GM Forum, having been a partner of the annual industry gathering since 2023. The partnership forms part of a broader relationship between BBM and Hotelier Maldives across its flagship platforms for hospitality leadership and professional recognition.
GM Forum 2026, the 10th edition of the event, will be held on 5 October at CROSSROADS Maldives under the theme “Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology & Transformation.” The forum will bring together resort general managers, owners, senior executives, government representatives and industry partners to discuss the operational and strategic issues influencing the future of tourism and hospitality in the Maldives.
This year’s programme will examine how hospitality businesses can respond to global uncertainty and changing operating conditions while strengthening leadership, developing talent and adapting to technological transformation. Discussions will cover organisational resilience, workforce development, automation and artificial intelligence, guest experience, data, revenue management and the changing role of hospitality leaders.
Commenting on BBM’s continued involvement, A.V.S. Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of Bestbuy Maldives, said the company views its participation in the GM Forum as an extension of its long-standing relationship with the country’s resort industry.
“BBM has worked alongside the Maldives hospitality sector for many years, and that relationship goes beyond supplying products and solutions. We see ourselves as part of an industry that has to continuously adapt, learn and prepare for what comes next. The theme of resilience and reinvention is particularly relevant today, because both suppliers and resort operators are responding to new technologies, changing expectations and a more complex global business environment,” he said.
“The GM Forum creates an opportunity for the people leading the industry to share experiences, discuss challenges openly and identify where collaboration can make a difference. We are pleased to continue as Silver Sponsor for a fourth consecutive year and to support a platform that brings these conversations together.”
BBM is one of the Maldives’ established importers and distributors, serving the hospitality, HORECA and retail sectors through a portfolio of international brands and products. Its engagement with Hotelier Maldives has expanded across the publication’s two principal industry events. In addition to supporting the GM Forum since 2023, BBM has served as Title Partner of the Hotelier Maldives Awards since the awards were launched in 2024. The 2026 edition marked its third consecutive year in that role under a multi-year partnership.
The collaboration reflects BBM’s wider focus on supporting hospitality professionals and platforms that encourage professional development, recognition and dialogue. Its association with the Hotelier Maldives Awards centres on recognising the people working across resort operations, while its participation in the GM Forum connects the company with senior decision-makers responsible for shaping the direction of the sector.
Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said BBM’s continued participation demonstrates the value of partnerships that extend beyond individual events.
“Our relationship with BBM has developed into one of the most consistent partnerships across Hotelier Maldives’ industry platforms. Their support of the GM Forum for four consecutive years, together with their role as Title Partner of the Hotelier Maldives Awards, shows a long-term commitment to both the leadership of the industry and the people who make hospitality possible,” he said.
“As the GM Forum reaches its 10th edition, having partners that understand the industry and have remained engaged with the platform over several years is particularly important. BBM works closely with resorts across the Maldives and brings that industry perspective to the partnership. We are very pleased to continue working with them as Silver Sponsor of GM Forum 2026.”
Launched in 2016, the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum has developed into an annual meeting point for senior hospitality leaders, bringing together general managers and other stakeholders to exchange perspectives on issues affecting resort operations and the wider tourism sector. The 2026 edition marks a decade since the forum was established.
BBM’s continued Silver Sponsorship builds on its participation in the 2025 GM Forum, where it supported the event for a third consecutive year. At the time, the company highlighted the forum’s role in encouraging dialogue, exchange of ideas and collaboration among hospitality leaders.
Through the renewed partnership, Hotelier Maldives and BBM will continue their collaboration around platforms designed to connect hospitality professionals, recognise industry talent and facilitate discussion on the future direction of the Maldives’ tourism sector.
