Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 record strong participation as nominations conclude
Nominations for the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 officially closed at 11:59pm on 9 February 2026, following a week-long extension granted in response to requests from resorts across the country.
The original deadline of 11:59pm on 2 February was extended by seven days to allow additional time for resorts to complete and submit their entries. At the close of nominations, the 2026 awards programme recorded more than 260 submissions from resorts across the Maldives’ 179 operational properties.
Entries were received from a broad cross-section of the industry, including local and international resort groups, ultra-luxury properties and resorts operating across all market segments. The response highlights continued engagement from the Maldivian hospitality sector and growing recognition of the awards programme.
Presented by Bestbuy Maldives (BBM), the Hotelier Maldives Awards recognise the contributions of hospitality professionals working across resort operations, covering both individual excellence and team performance. First launched in 2024, the awards remain the country’s only dedicated programme focused exclusively on recognising resort-based hospitality professionals.
The 2026 edition marks the most extensive awards cycle to date, following the introduction of new team-based categories alongside established individual awards. All nominations were submitted through the official online portal and supported by an endorsement letter from each resort’s General Manager or Human Resources department.
Hotelier Maldives has confirmed that the panel of judges for the 2026 awards will be announced shortly. Once appointed, the judging panel will review and shortlist eligible nominations, after which the shortlisted nominees will be opened for public voting in early March 2026.
The Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 gala ceremony is scheduled to take place in mid-April, bringing together hospitality professionals, industry leaders and stakeholders to celebrate excellence across the Maldivian resort sector.
Further updates on the judging panel, public voting and event details will be announced in the coming weeks through Hotelier Maldives’ official platforms. More information on the awards programme is available at hoteliermaldives.com/awards.
