Industry Leaders Discuss Challenges at Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2021

The fifth edition of Hotelier Maldives GM Forum has come to a successful close. Over 90 delegates representing 50 hospitality brands attended the forum held at Paradise Island Resort, Maldives on 23rd  September 2021.

This year’s GM Forum discussed topics on the themes of airline connectivity, human resources, data-driven storytelling and destination marketing trends. The first keynote address was delivered by Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Maldives Minister of Tourism. He stressed the critical roles played by resort staff and regulatory agencies which were critical in reopening the country’s borders for tourists. The second keynote address was delivered by Emilio Fortini, General Manager, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa and Chairman, Marriott Business Council. The third and fourth keynotes were delivered  by Rajesh Mehta, Director Enterprise, Ooredoo Maldives.

This year’s GM Forum also saw three panel discussions that addressed pertinent issues in the hospitality industry. The first panel discussed ‘Connectivity in the New Normal’. Moderated by Ibrahim Saleem Bandhu, panelists included Mohamed Mihad, MD, Island Aviation Services Limited and Ahmed Maumoon, Deputy CEO, Manta Air.

The second panel discussed ‘Trends in Destination Marketing,’ featuring Thoyyib Waheed, MD, MMPRC / Visit Maldives and Abdulla Ghiyas, Chair, PATA Maldives. The panel was moderated by Shafraz Hafiz, Deputy Director, Digital Marketing and Social Media, Pulse Hotels & Resorts.

The third panel, looking at ‘Human Resource Challenges’ was moderated by Vaibhav Garg, Director for Talent and Culture, Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives and featured Zeenath Solih, Dean, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, The Maldives National University and Adam Haleem, Director of Programmes, Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT).

The Forum also featured two presentations: ‘Data-driven Storytelling,’ by IDeaS Revenue Solutions (Singapore), and Training Needs Analysis of the Tourism Sector, by representatives of the Ministry of Higher Education, Maldives.

Throughout the day’s proceedings, presentations were also made by sponsors of GM Forum 2021. Sponsors of GM Forum 2021 are: Title Sponsor; The Hawks Private Limited, Platinum Sponsors;  Euro Marketing Pvt Ltd, Villa and Ooredoo Maldives. Gold Sponsors; Asia Group Trading and MAWC (Coca-Cola), Silver Sponsors; Bestbuy Maldives Pvt Ltd and Maldives Petroleum Link Pvt Ltd. Wellness Partner; Tropical Fitness Pvt Ltd, Technology Partner; Octopus Systems, and Destination Partner, MMPRC/ Visit Maldives.

Participating  resorts and hotel management companies included Accor, Coco Collection, Dhigali Maldives, JOALI BEING, The Somerset Hotel, Villa Hotels & Resorts, JEN Male’ Maldives by Shangri-La, Kurumba Maldives, Kandooma Holding Pvt Ltd., Milaidhoo Maldives,  Madifushi Private Island Maldives, Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives, One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives, Planhotel Hospitality Group, Pulse Hotels & Resorts, Rahaa Resort (MO Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd), Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resorts & Spa, Summer Island Maldives (Kaimoo Resorts & Hotels) and Taj Exotica Resort & Spa.