Guesthouses Maldives Conference rebranded as Guesthouses Maldives Expo

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Guesthouses Maldives Conference, organised by local PR and marketing agency Maldives Getaways, has been rebranded as the Guesthouses Maldives Expo, taking a more trade-based concept. Guesthouses Maldives Expo 2018 is set to be held in May next year, according to the organiser.

Guesthouses Maldives Conference 2017 was held on September 23 at Paradise Island Resort, which saw experts sharing their insight on various topics that were critical to the guesthouse industry of the Maldives, says Maldives Getaways in a statement. Speaking as the Guest of Honour, Shoko Noda, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to the Maldives, highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism.

Presentations were made at the conference by Expedia.com, Allied Insurance, CTL Strategies, Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), National Carrier Maldivian, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), in addition to WEAM and the Guesthouses Association of Maldives. It also provided three hours of networking opportunities for the participants.

According to Maldives Getaways, a total of 170 guesthouse proprietors and managers took part in the conference, in addition to representatives of top online travel agents such as Expedia and Booking.com. Guesthouses Maldives 2017 magazine, the fourth edition of the magazine, was also released at the one-day conference.

Maldives Getaways also awarded Top Island Awards to Dhigurah Island of Alifu Dhaalu Atoll—the winner in 2016, and Fulidhoo Island of Vaavu Atoll—as the winner this year. According to the organiser, the winners were decided in 2016 and 2017 by a popular vote taken via a Facebook poll. The main aim of this event is to gather guesthouses and travel agents in one platform to enable engaging, networking and information sharing, says Maldives Getaways.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]