Atoll Solar, Ocean Sun to present lagoon floating solar solutions at Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2026

Atoll Solar and Ocean Sun will deliver a joint presentation at the Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum 2026, introducing renewable energy solutions designed for island resorts and examining the potential of floating solar technology in Maldivian lagoons.

Titled “Introduction to Atoll Solar and Lagoon Floating Solar,” the presentation will be delivered by Bjorn Ove Aastsjo, Hospitality Relations at Atoll Solar, and Are Gloersen, Director of South East Asia at Ocean Sun.

The session will form part of the 10th edition of the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum, taking place on 5 October 2026 at CROSSROADS Maldives under the theme “Resilience and Reinvention: Talent, Technology & Transformation.”

The presentation will introduce Atoll Solar’s work in the Maldives before focusing on lagoon-based floating solar as an option for resorts seeking to increase renewable energy generation beyond the physical limitations of available rooftops and land.

Atoll Solar provides end-to-end solar power solutions for resorts, covering design, installation and maintenance. A subsidiary of hospitality systems integrator Octopus Systems, the company works with hybrid solar systems for resorts as well as off-grid installations for island environments.

Aastsjo and Gloersen will also introduce floating solar technology developed by Ocean Sun. The system uses a hydroelastic membrane that allows photovoltaic panels to sit directly on the water surface. According to Atoll Solar, the approach is intended to enable island resorts to expand solar generation into lagoon areas, while each floating solar ring can provide capacity of up to 660 kWp.

The technology is particularly relevant to island resorts where the amount of suitable roof or land area can constrain the scale of conventional solar installations. Floating systems offer another potential area for renewable generation as resorts explore ways to reduce diesel dependence and strengthen energy resilience.

Gloersen leads Ocean Sun’s operations and business development across South East Asia, including pilot installations, regional partnerships and supply-chain development. His background includes leadership roles in technology and engineering companies.

The presentation complements the wider GM Forum 2026 programme, which will examine energy, investment, talent, leadership, regulation and technology from different perspectives.

Shrikant Dash, Deputy Managing Director – Corporate at Atmosphere Core, will deliver the keynote address, “Emotional Ownership — Turning Talent into Your Strongest Asset,” exploring how hospitality organisations can create stronger employee connection, responsibility and ownership and make talent a long-term organisational strength.

Leadership and Human Capacity Consultant Nora Imeli will present “The Human Side of Hospitality: How Emotional Intelligence Shapes the Guest Experience,” examining how the way leaders manage themselves, particularly under pressure, influences their teams, the environments they create and ultimately the guest experience.

Ayotunde Osunkunle, Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will deliver “A Partner for Maldives: Financing the Energy Resilience.” His presentation will focus on financing models that can support the Maldives’ energy transition, including distributed generation, battery storage and approaches to mobilising private capital for scalable energy projects.

SHC Law & Tax will present “FX Conversion, MMA Approvals and Foreign Tour Operator TGST: Practical Compliance for Hospitality Sector.” The conversational session will feature Dhaanish Mohamed Ameen, Attorney-at-Law; Junaina Ahmed, Attorney-at-Law; and Tholhath Rasheed, Senior Tax Consultant.

Three panel discussions will also form part of the programme.

Panel 1, “Who Will Run the Resorts of Tomorrow? Talent, Retention and the Next Generation of Hospitality Leaders,” will be moderated by Aishath Ihuma. The panellists are Hassan Shamaam, Director of Human Resources at Jumeirah Olhahali Island; Suresh Dissanayake, Assistant Vice President, Sales & Marketing at Heritance Aarah and Adaaran Resorts; and Alexander Traeger, General Manager at CROSSROADS Maldives.

Panel 2, “Leading Through Uncertainty: Building Resilient Resort Organisations,” will be moderated by Ismail Maiz Mohamed. It will feature Mohamed Khaleel, Managing Director of Pulse Hotels & Resorts; Mark Eletre, General Manager of Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa; and Abdulla Yasir, Managing Director and CEO of Visit Maldives.

Panel 3, “AI, Data and Automation: Reinventing Resort Operations Without Losing the Human Touch,” will be moderated by Hudha Faheem. Panellists are Mohamed Musad, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Dhiraagu; Murad Hassan, Chief Commercial Officer at Pulse Hotels & Resorts; and Justin Swart, General Manager of The Standard, Maldives, by Hyatt. The discussion will consider practical applications of AI, data and automation while examining where human judgement, accountability and personal service must remain central to resort operations.

Established in 2016, the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum provides an annual platform for resort general managers, owners, senior executives, government representatives and businesses serving tourism to discuss operational and strategic issues affecting the hospitality sector. The 2026 gathering marks the forum’s 10th edition.

Atoll Solar is also supporting this year’s forum as a Silver Sponsor, alongside a range of companies representing different areas of the tourism ecosystem.

Dhiraagu is the Premier Sponsor, while STO Energy is the Platinum Sponsor. Bank of Maldives (BML) is the Banking Partner, Dhivehi Insurance is the Insurance Partner, and Male’ Aerated Water Company (MAWC) 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 Atoll Solar and Ocean Sun presentation, GM Forum 2026 will add a practical renewable-energy technology perspective to its wider discussions on how Maldivian resorts can strengthen resilience, manage operating requirements and prepare for future transformation.