ALIA continues four-year partnership with Hotelier Maldives as GM Forum 2026 Associate Sponsor
Hotelier Maldives has announced ALIA as an Associate Sponsor of the Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum 2026, continuing a four-year partnership across the publication’s flagship industry events.
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 to discuss the operational and strategic issues shaping the future of tourism and hospitality in the Maldives.
ALIA’s participation in GM Forum 2026 follows its support for the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 earlier this year. The company has partnered with Hotelier Maldives for four consecutive years across its event platform, having supported GM Forum since 2023 and the Hotelier Maldives Awards since the awards were introduced in 2024. The continued partnership connects ALIA with two platforms focused respectively on industry leadership and dialogue, and recognition of the people working across the Maldivian hospitality sector.
Ahmed Saeed, General Manager of ALIA, said the company’s continued involvement reflects the importance it places on maintaining close relationships with the tourism industry and the professionals leading its development.
“For the past four years, our partnership with Hotelier Maldives has allowed ALIA to support platforms that both celebrate the people who drive our hospitality industry and bring its leaders together to shape its future. Tourism is central to the Maldives and to the customers we serve. Staying close to resort leaders helps us understand their changing operational needs and serve them better. We are pleased to continue this partnership as an Associate Sponsor of GM Forum 2026,” he said.
With a history spanning more than six decades, ALIA operates across sectors including marine, tourism and construction. Its portfolio includes international brands such as Yamaha, Total Tools and Kohler, while its longstanding relationship with Yamaha Motor Company of Japan has continued for more than 50 years.
The company’s products and services are used across areas relevant to resort operations, including marine transportation, equipment, engineering and infrastructure, placing ALIA among the businesses serving the operational requirements of the country’s geographically dispersed tourism industry.
Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said the four-year relationship demonstrates the value of partnerships that extend across the publication’s different industry platforms.
“ALIA has been with us consistently as both Hotelier Maldives Awards and GM Forum have developed, and we greatly value that continuity. The Awards recognise the people whose work drives the hospitality industry, while GM Forum creates a space for its senior leaders to examine the issues that will determine its future. ALIA’s support across both platforms over the past four years reflects a sustained commitment to the industry, and we are pleased to welcome them once again as an Associate Sponsor of GM Forum 2026.”
Earlier this year, ALIA supported the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 as an Associate Sponsor. The third edition of the awards was held at NIVA Kurumba Maldives on 26 April, recognising individuals, teams and programmes across resort operations, guest services, leadership, sustainability, training and commercial performance.
GM Forum serves a different but complementary role within Hotelier Maldives’ industry platform. Established in 2016, the forum provides general managers and senior hospitality stakeholders with an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the issues affecting resort operations and the broader tourism sector.
This year’s theme, “Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology & Transformation,” will place particular emphasis on how resort businesses are responding to changing workforce requirements, technology and automation, operational pressures and the need to strengthen organisational resilience.
A range of businesses supporting different areas of the tourism and hospitality industry have joined GM Forum 2026.
Dhiraagu is the Premier Sponsor, while STO Energy is the Platinum Sponsor. Bank of Maldives is the Banking Partner and Male’ Aerated Water Company is the Beverage Partner.
The Silver Sponsors are Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Villa Hakatha, Bestbuy Maldives (BBM), Dhivehi Insurance 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 continue to provide a platform for dialogue on the operational challenges, emerging opportunities and longer-term priorities shaping tourism in the Maldives.
