MATI Insight 2026 explores creativity and AI-powered marketing
The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) hosted the 4th Edition of MATI Insight on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, at Barceló Nasandhura, Malé.
The event brought together two internationally recognised creative and marketing practitioners who led workshops on creative thinking and its practical application in business communication, marketing, and the use of AI models. The event drew 75 attendees, with the CEO and MD of Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) also gracing the occasion with his presence.
The first session, presented by Kevin Chesters, was titled “Creativity: A Life Skill, Not a Luxury–How to Get Anyone or Any Organisation to Think Differently.” The session was based on his book, The Creative Nudge, and examined the role of creativity in work and daily life, the societal and scientific barriers that limit its wider application, and practical methods for overcoming them.
The second session titled “Paradise Breeds Complacency: How the Maldives Wins the Battle for Attention—a live look at AI-powered brand building with Ad Legends” was a hands-on workshop led by Vince Cook on AdLegends.ai, described as the first fully functional AI- powered advertising agency, combining artificial intelligence with creative approaches drawn from leading advertising directors. The session included an orientation to the platform and a live demonstration of how it generates advertising concepts, trained on the minds behind iconic campaigns such as Mastercard’s “Priceless”.
