Nominations open for Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 with 8 new team categories
Hotelier Maldives has opened nominations for the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026, presented by Bestbuy Maldives (BBM), inviting resorts across the country to submit entries over a one-month period from 2 January 2026 via an online nominations portal. The 2026 edition marks a significant expansion of the awards programme with the introduction of eight new team-based […]
Balancing tradition and innovation: Award-winning Chef Ahmed Jameel on leading Tapasake at One&Only Reethi Rah
By Maaish Mohamed and Mariyam Saliya Mohamed When asked about the origins of his culinary journey, Ahmed Jameel reflects not on a professional kitchen, but on his home. “My passion for cooking started at home. My mom was an amazing cook and her ability to bring her own unique flavours to every dish truly inspired […]
Shaping first impressions: Hussain Waheed on two decades of service at One&Only Reethi Rah
By Maaish Mohamed and Mariyam Saliya Mohamed When Hussain Waheed joined One&Only Reethi Rah in 2002, he could not have imagined that more than two decades later he would still be at the forefront of shaping the guest journey at one of the Maldives’ most recognised resorts. Today, as Airport Manager, he is one of […]
China leads as tourist arrivals in Maldives top 1.9 million
Visit Maldives Targets 2.4 Million Visitors for Next Year The Maldives has welcomed over 1.9 million tourists so far this year, according to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism. The figures highlight the continued strength of the country’s tourism sector—its main economic driver—despite global market fluctuations. As of this week, China has […]
Legacy in Laamu: Marteyne van Well on building culture of care, continuity, commitment
When Six Senses Laamu was named “CSR Programme of the Year” at the 2025 Hotelier Maldives Awards, it was more than just an industry accolade. For Regional General Manager Marteyne van Well, who has been at the helm since the resort’s opening week in 2011, the recognition affirmed over a decade of purpose-driven leadership grounded […]
Finding purpose through wellness: I Gusti Ayu Ariani at Cora Cora Maldives
When I Gusti Ayu Ariani arrived in the Maldives for the first time in 2009, she had little idea that the islands would become her second home. Sixteen years later, she manages MOKSHA® Spa & Wellbeing Centre at Cora Cora Maldives and has been recognised as Wellness Personality of the Year at the Hotelier Maldives […]
Why insurance matters more than ever: Dhivehi Insurance’s future-focused resilience at GM Forum 2025
At the 2025 Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum, the team from Dhivehi Insurance took the stage to highlight a topic often overshadowed by more glamorous aspects of hospitality — the vital role of insurance in safeguarding businesses against emerging risks. In their joint presentation titled “Insurance Solutions for Emerging Risks in a Maldivian Context,” […]
Leadership 5.0: Pulse Hotels’ Aalim Mohamed urges hoteliers to rethink, redefine, reboot at GM Forum 2025
At the Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum 2025, Aalim Mohamed, Group Director of Human Resources at Pulse Hotels & Resorts, invited a ballroom full of GMs to stand, take three deep breaths, and reset. It was a fitting prelude to a session that asked leaders to pause, rethink long-held assumptions, and embrace a model […]
Unlocking loyalty via digital guest journeys: TrustYou’s Radouane Namaoui at GM Forum 2025
At the 2025 Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum, Radouane Namaoui, Global Head of Key Accounts at TrustYou, delivered an insightful presentation on “Unlocking Loyalty Through Digital Guest Journeys”, exploring how data, artificial intelligence, and personalisation are reshaping the guest experience and strengthening hotel loyalty worldwide. Speaking with humour and warmth, Namaoui began by connecting […]
Future is digital: BML’s Afrah Ahmed explores financial innovation in tourism at GM Forum 2025
At the 2025 Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum, Afrah Ahmed, Director of Cards at Bank of Maldives (BML), delivered a compelling presentation on “Digital Transformation in Maldives Tourism,” highlighting how innovation and technology are redefining the nation’s tourism landscape. Addressing an audience of industry leaders, policymakers, and media representatives, Afrah began by acknowledging the […]
Beyon Cyber’s Abubakar Latif at GM Forum 2025: Building digital trust in Maldives’ hospitality future
At the 2025 Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum, Abubakar Latif, Chief Technology Officer at Beyon Cyber and Board Member of DTS Solutions UAE, delivered a compelling reminder that the future of hospitality depends not only on innovation and guest experience — but also on digital trust. In his presentation titled “A Stakeholder Analysis of […]
Hospitality meets humanity: Reimagining digital guest journey at GM Forum 2025
At the 2025 Hotelier Maldives General Managers (GM) Forum, industry leaders gathered to discuss one of the most transformative forces shaping hospitality today — the digital guest journey. Moderated by Mohamed Shafraz Hafiz, Director of Digital Technology & Marketing at Pulse Hotels & Resorts, the panel titled “Reimagining the Guest Journey: Digital Touchpoints from Booking […]
