Villa Hakatha marks sixth year with Hotelier Maldives GM Forum as Silver Sponsor
Hotelier Maldives has announced Villa Hakatha as a Silver Sponsor of the Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum 2026, marking the sixth year the company has supported the annual gathering of the country’s hospitality leaders.
The 10th edition of the GM Forum 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 for discussions on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the Maldivian tourism industry.
Villa Hakatha’s return continues a partnership with the GM Forum that has spanned different sponsorship categories over the years. The company participated as a Platinum Sponsor in 2021, a Silver Sponsor in 2022, a Bronze Sponsor in 2023, an Associate Sponsor in 2024 and a Silver Sponsor in 2025. Last year’s participation was identified as the fifth year of its support for the forum.
Yamin Habyb, Vice President, Commercial at Villa Hakatha, said the continued partnership reflects the company’s longstanding relationship with the Maldivian tourism industry.
“The hospitality sector has always been an important part of Villa Hakatha’s business, and our continued support for the GM Forum reflects the value we place on maintaining close relationships with the people leading this industry. Over the past six years, the forum has given us an opportunity to engage directly with resort leaders, understand their changing operational requirements and exchange perspectives on the challenges facing the sector. We are pleased to once again join Hotelier Maldives as a Silver Sponsor for GM Forum 2026,” he said.
Villa Hakatha is involved in the distribution of fuel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other industrial materials in the Maldives. Its operations include LPG storage and refilling, fuel storage and distribution, cement storage and packing, warehousing and related logistics. The company operates a fuel farm at Thilafushi with 38,000 cubic metres of storage capacity and distributes fuel to resorts and islands using its fleet of tankers and barges.
Its energy distribution operations are particularly relevant to the resort sector, where properties across geographically dispersed islands depend on consistent supplies of fuel and LPG for power generation, kitchens, transportation and other essential services.
Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said Villa Hakatha’s six years of participation demonstrate the value of long-term industry partnerships around the GM Forum.
“Villa Hakatha has supported the GM Forum through several stages of its development, and we value the confidence they have continued to place in the platform over the past six years. Their operations are closely connected to the everyday requirements of resorts, particularly in energy supply and logistics. As we mark the 10th edition of the GM Forum, we are pleased to welcome Villa Hakatha back as a Silver Sponsor and continue a partnership that has grown alongside the forum,” he added.
The 2026 GM Forum will examine how the Maldivian hospitality industry can strengthen resilience while responding to changes in technology, workforce requirements and resort operations. Discussions will address leadership, talent development and retention, technology and automation, as well as the operational transformations affecting resorts.
Launched in 2016, the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum provides a dedicated platform for general managers and senior hospitality stakeholders to exchange perspectives, discuss industry challenges and engage with companies providing products, services and infrastructure to the tourism sector.
A broad group of businesses supporting different areas of resort operations have joined the 2026 edition.
Dhiraagu is the Premier Sponsor, while STO Energy is the Platinum Sponsor. Bank of Maldives is the Banking Partner, Dhivehi Insurance is the Insurance Partner and Male’ Aerated Water Company is the Beverage Partner.
The Silver Sponsors are Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Villa Hakatha, Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) and Atoll Solar.
ALIA, Uniforms Unlimited, Maldives Insider and Blue N White are supporting the forum as Associate Sponsors.
Souvenir Marine is the Transport Partner, Manta Air is the Aviation Partner, and Storm Events is the Organising Partner.
Through the participation of resort leaders and businesses serving the hospitality sector, GM Forum 2026 will provide a platform for discussions on the operational and strategic priorities facing the industry as it considers the next phase of tourism development in the Maldives.
