Hotelier Maldives
Awards 2026

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated excellence in delivering and managing wellness-focused experiences within a hotel or resort. Eligible nominees include leisure directors, recreation managers, spa and health club managers, as well as fitness instructors and spa therapists. Candidates should show leadership or expertise across health, fitness, spa and lifestyle initiatives, delivering structured, results-driven programmes and consistently high standards of guest care.

This category recognises outstanding front office professionals, including concierges, guest relations, guest services, reservations and front office staff. Nominees should demonstrate exceptional customer service, strong hotel and local knowledge, and the ability to resolve guest requests and challenges effectively. A proactive attitude, service excellence, upselling ability and consistent commitment to exceeding guest expectations are key attributes for this award.

This award honours a housekeeper who consistently delivers high standards of cleanliness, presentation and operational efficiency. Attention to detail, organisation and team leadership are essential qualities. Additional recognition will be given to nominees who have introduced process improvements, implemented new initiatives, improved productivity or contributed positively to team motivation and departmental performance.

This award recognises an IT professional who has demonstrated technical excellence and operational reliability within a hotel or resort environment. Nominees should show expertise in managing systems, infrastructure, hardware and software support, while effectively communicating with users. Evidence of innovation, system improvements, problem-solving ability and cost-saving or efficiency-driven initiatives will be key considerations.

This category celebrates an engineer who plays a vital role in maintaining safe, efficient and uninterrupted hotel operations. Open to professionals across technical disciplines, the award recognises reliability, technical competence and dedication to standards. Nominations should include evidence of energy efficiency, environmental awareness, preventative maintenance practices and successful cost-saving or sustainability initiatives.

This award recognises an individual responsible for the design, installation and maintenance of resort landscaping and garden areas. The nominee should demonstrate consistent care and creativity in preserving the visual appeal of the property throughout the year, adapting to seasonal and weather conditions while maintaining high aesthetic and environmental standards.

This award honours a security professional who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to ensuring the safety of guests, staff, contractors and visitors. Nominees should show vigilance, compliance with legal and operational standards, and the ability to identify and address security risks. Evidence of incident management, preventative initiatives, system improvements and strong teamwork will be highly regarded.

This award recognises an HR or training professional who delivers strong people management, workforce development and staff engagement outcomes. Nominees should demonstrate excellence in recruitment, employee relations, localisation initiatives and training programme development. Additional merit will be given for community engagement, collaboration with educational institutions, and leadership in developing talent aligned with organisational goals.

This award celebrates aviation professionals, including pilots, navigators and flight engineers, who support the tourism sector through safe and reliable air transport. Recognising dedication, professionalism and resilience, the award honours individuals who ensure guest connectivity and operational continuity regardless of weather conditions or operational challenges.

This award recognises a maritime professional who plays a critical role in sea transfers and marine operations supporting tourism. Nominees should demonstrate skill, reliability and dedication while navigating challenging conditions. The award acknowledges individuals whose work ensures guest safety, operational efficiency and continuity across marine transport services.

This award recognises a procurement professional who has delivered efficiency, value and ethical sourcing within hotel operations. Nominees should demonstrate strong supplier management, cost control and purchasing practices while maintaining brand standards. Evidence of waste reduction, environmentally responsible procurement and effective collaboration with operational departments will strengthen nominations.

This category honours a finance professional who demonstrates accuracy, integrity and strategic oversight in hotel financial operations. Nominees should show strong performance in budgeting, forecasting, compliance and audit support, supported by measurable financial outcomes. Clear communication and effective collaboration across departments are essential attributes for this award.

This award recognises a sales professional who has delivered strong revenue performance through strategic account management, lead generation and deal execution. Nominees should provide evidence of increased profitability, successful handling of key accounts and innovative sales approaches. Strong client relationships, teamwork and measurable results are central to this category.

This award honours a marketing professional who has demonstrated strategic thinking, creativity and impact in promoting a resort and the destination. Nominees should show excellence across branding, digital campaigns, storytelling and market engagement, with evidence of measurable outcomes. Contributions that enhance the Maldives’ global tourism profile will be particularly recognised.

This category recognises a communications professional who effectively manages brand positioning, media relations and public engagement. Nominees should demonstrate creativity, consistency and professionalism across PR campaigns, press engagement and digital platforms. Evidence of innovative communication strategies and internal advocacy for digital awareness will strengthen nominations.

This award recognises a chef who demonstrates culinary innovation, leadership and operational impact. Nominees should provide evidence of menu development, creativity and contribution to dining concepts, alongside strong team leadership and collaboration with the F&B department. Financial performance, cost efficiencies and staff development achievements will be key evaluation criteria.

This award recognises an individual within food and beverage operations who delivers innovative dining experiences and strong guest engagement. Nominees should demonstrate success in promotions, partnerships, service delivery and team management, while contributing to diner loyalty and overall F&B performance.

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated excellence in delivering safe, innovative and sustainable watersports experiences. Nominees should show leadership, technical skill and commitment to environmental responsibility while enhancing guest engagement and destination reputation.

This category honours a diving professional who demonstrates excellence in guiding, training and promoting responsible diving practices. Nominees should show expertise, leadership and commitment to marine conservation, contributing to the Maldives’ standing as a leading global diving destination.

This award recognises an airport representative who consistently delivers smooth, professional and guest-focused arrival and departure experiences. Nominees should demonstrate strong communication, coordination and problem-solving skills, contributing positively to first and last impressions of the destination.

This award recognises a hotelier aged 30 or below who has demonstrated exceptional professional growth and contribution to the industry. Nominees should show clear career progression, impact on team performance and the ability to introduce fresh perspectives. The focus is on development, initiative, leadership potential and positive influence on guest experience.

This prestigious award honours a General Manager who demonstrates outstanding leadership, operational oversight and strategic direction. Nominees should balance guest engagement with business performance, supported by measurable results in revenue growth, team development and competitive positioning. Evidence of hands-on leadership and stakeholder value creation is essential.

This award honours a resort manager who demonstrates operational excellence, team leadership and commitment to guest satisfaction. Nominees should show innovation in managing departments, maintaining standards and delivering consistent guest experiences aligned with luxury hospitality benchmarks.

This award recognises a hotel team that has collectively contributed to the success of their property. Represented by the executive committee, the nomination should highlight teamwork, collaboration and shared achievements that have delivered operational, financial or guest experience outcomes.

This award recognises a hotel or resort that has demonstrated excellence in staff training and development. Nominations should highlight structured, innovative programmes that enhance skills, performance and career progression across departments and organisational levels.

This award recognises a hotel or resort that has delivered meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives. Nominations should demonstrate positive social, environmental and economic contributions to local communities and stakeholders, supported by clear outcomes and long-term impact.

This award honours a hotel or resort that has demonstrated strong commitment to environmental sustainability. Recognised initiatives include resource efficiency, biodiversity protection, waste reduction and measurable actions that reduce environmental impact while supporting long-term conservation goals.

This award recognises a high-performing sales and marketing team that has demonstrated strong collaboration, strategic alignment and measurable commercial impact. The nominated team should provide evidence of revenue growth, occupancy support and effective brand positioning through coordinated sales, marketing and distribution efforts. Judges will look for integrated campaign execution, innovative market approaches, strong use of data and analytics, and the team’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions while supporting the broader destination brand.

This award celebrates an integrated rooms division team encompassing front office and housekeeping functions that consistently delivers operational excellence and guest satisfaction. Nominations should demonstrate efficient processes, strong interdepartmental coordination and high standards of service and presentation. Evidence of guest engagement, problem resolution, productivity improvements and the team’s role in maintaining brand standards and guest loyalty will be key evaluation criteria.

This award recognises a human resources and training team that has demonstrated excellence in workforce planning, recruitment, learning and development, and employee engagement. The nominated team should show how its initiatives have contributed to staff retention, capability building and organisational stability. Judges will consider evidence of structured training programmes, localisation efforts, leadership development and effective support of operational teams in achieving business objectives.

This award honours an engineering or maintenance team that ensures the safe, reliable and efficient operation of a resort or hotel. Nominations should highlight preventative maintenance practices, technical expertise, utilities management and rapid response to operational challenges. Additional merit will be given for demonstrated contributions to sustainability, energy efficiency, cost control and the implementation of systems that enhance long-term asset performance.

This category recognises a finance team that demonstrates accuracy, efficiency and strategic oversight across all financial functions. Nominations should include evidence of strong budgeting, forecasting, compliance, audit management and internal controls. Judges will also consider the team’s ability to support operational decision-making, maintain transparency and collaborate effectively with other departments to drive financial discipline and performance.

This award recognises an integrated food and beverage and culinary team that consistently delivers high-quality dining experiences across all outlets and concepts. Nominations should demonstrate strong coordination between kitchen and service teams, menu execution, operational efficiency and innovation. Evidence of guest satisfaction, brand alignment, cost control and the successful implementation of new dining concepts or promotions will strengthen submissions.

This award honours a spa and wellness team that delivers structured, results-focused programmes covering treatments, fitness and lifestyle experiences. The nominated team should demonstrate effective facility management, guest engagement and programme consistency. Judges will look for evidence of professional expertise, service quality, innovation in wellness offerings and the team’s contribution to overall guest wellbeing and satisfaction.

This category recognises essential operational teams, including IT, security, marine, recreation, logistics and other support functions, whose specialist contributions are critical to resort operations. Nominations should demonstrate reliability, technical competence and strong collaboration with operational departments. Evidence of problem-solving, efficiency improvements, safety standards and behind-the-scenes impact on guest experience and operational continuity will be key considerations.