Business

Maldives Travel Awards celebrates best of guesthouse tourism

Published

9 years ago

October 31, 2017

Maafushi island on Monday hosted a spectacular celebration of the Maldives booming guesthouse industry as the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) held the first ever dedicated Guesthouse Edition of the Maldives Travel Awards at the birthplace of guesthouse tourism in the Maldives.

Over 250 invitees, including guesthouse owners, suppliers and service providers, attended the event, which was officially called Dhiraagu Presents Maldives Travel Awards Guesthouse Edition.

Awards were presented in 12 categories, for which 96 parties were nominated. The winners include:

Leading Guesthouse: Arena Beach Hotel

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

Situated on its own private beach, Arena Beach is a three-storey hotel, which features 50 stylish rooms. Each modern accommodation offers amenities to make your stay cosy and comfortable, while the private beach allows you to explore a variety of leisure activities like snorkelling and diving.

Leading Food and Beverage Guesthouse: Velana Beach

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

Located on the beachfront, Velana Beach offers posh and spacious suites that are fit for families and couples alike. Designed with your comfort in mind, all rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning as well as hot and cold water.

Leading Guesthouse/Diving and Water Sports: Active Dive

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

Winner of Leading Activity/Water Sports Centre title at the Maldives Travel Awards 2016, Active Maldives provides full range of water sports activities and equipment for a number of guesthouses.

Leading Green/Eco-Friendly Guesthouse: TME Retreats Dhigurah

Location: Dhigurah, South Ari Atoll

Winner of Leading Guesthouse title at Maldives Travel Awards 2014, TME Retreats Dhigurah is a three-star stylish beach hotel with all modern conveniences. Designed for maximum privacy, the hotel is located a little away from the village, yet close enough to walk and enjoy the island lifestyle.

Leading Business Guesthouse: Hotel UI Inn

Location: Hulhumale

A 10-minute drive from the main airport, Hotel UI Inn offers spacious rooms with modern facilities. Each floor has a wide balcony, while the top floor comes with a terrace that offers panoramic views of the ocean. Guests can also enjoy several activities, including water sports, diving and excursions.

Leading Heritage Guesthouse: Local Island Inn

Location: Hangnaameedhoo, South Ari Atoll

Offering a unique touch of true Maldivian culture, Local Island Inn offers superior rooms that are comfortable, roomy and elegant. All rooms are fitted with a seating area, while some units have a patio. Guests can also enjoy South African and barbecue cuisine at the in-house restaurant.

Leading Adventure Guesthouse: Reveries Diving Village

Location: Gan, Laamu Atoll

Crowned the Leading Guesthouse at the Maldives Travel Awards 2016, Reveries Diving Village offers the true Maldivian island life experience. In addition to modern rooms and a variety of excursions, the guesthouse offers three dining facilities, an indoor pool, a 24-hour gym and a spa.

Most Innovative Guesthouse Concept: Velana Beach

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

Leading Guesthouse Brand: Kaani Hotels

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

A beach getaway surrounded by coconut palm trees, Kaani Beach Hotel offers sea view rooms with private balcony. The hotel features a restaurant, which serves buffet breakfast and dinner, as well as a rooftop open air terrace with loungers. A floating bar is also available just two minutes away.

Leading Transport Service Provider: Nevi Speed

Location: Alif Alif Atoll

With its homebase in Alif Alif Atoll, Nevi provides ferry service between capital Male and several islands in the atoll, including Mathiveri, Folhudhoo, Ukulhas and Rasdhoo. Its services, provided using modern speedboats fitted with state-of-the-art technology, are used by several guesthouses.

Leading Guesthouse Island: Maafushi

Location: South Male Atoll

About 30 minutes from capital Male by speedboat, Maafushi is considered the ‘Birthplace of Guesthouse Tourism in the Maldives’. Frequented by a lot of backpackers, the island has a booming guesthouse industry with a variety of affordable hotels and restaurants offering guests a holiday experience with a local touch.

Leading Beach Island: Kelaa

Location: Haa Alif Atoll

A distinct island in the northernmost Maldives atoll of Haa Alif, Kelaa boats a long stretch of powder soft white sand beach, making it the perfect getaway that will make your dream holiday come true.

Nominees were evaluated and shortlisted to five contenders in each category based on their rating on TripAdvisor, which accounts for 40 percent of the total score. Shortlisted properties were then announced and featured for popular vote, which accounts for the remaining 60 percent of the final score.

Additionally, MATATO gave recognitions in three categories, including Leading Business Development Partner for the Guesthouse Industry, Newcomer of the Year and Most Supportive Guesthouse.

Leading Business Development Partner for the Guesthouse Industry: Dhiraagu

Dhiraagu is the leading and the largest provider of telecommunications and digital services in the Maldives, offering a comprehensive range of mobile, internet, data, fixed line and TV services throughout the archipelago. The company offers specialised internet and TV services for the guesthouse industry.

Newcomer of the Year: Veli Vilaa

Location: Dhiffushi, North Male Atoll

Set on its own grounds amidst a well laid out garden and with direct access to a private beach, the luxury bungalow offers four bedrooms featuring twin beds and en-suite bathrooms. The Vilaa comes with its own restaurant, cocktail area and sun deck. An in-house chef is also available.

Most Supportive Guesthouse:

Arena Beach

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

Kaani Beach Hotel

Location: Maafushi, South Male Atoll

Introduced this year, the Guesthouse Edition builds on the recognitions awarded to guesthouses by MATATO as part of the Maldives Travel Awards, and celebrates the outstanding performance of the guesthouse sector.

Maldives, known world over for its upmarket tourism industry, has resorts in the hundreds spread across the archipelago. The industry has in recent years expanded to introduce more affordable segments, including guesthouses and liveaboards. Some 330 guesthouses have started operations over the past five years as the number of travellers that choose to stay in guesthouses rise.

Initiated in 2012 by MATATO, Maldives Travel Awards celebrate and honour the best tourism and hospitality products in the Maldives, while fostering relationships with suppliers and local travel agents. From 20 categories in 2012, the awards have now expanded into three editions totalling 55 categories.

This year, MATATO has for the first time branched out the prestigious awards into three categories; the People’s Edition, which recognises successful pioneers and long serving individuals in the tourism industry, a Guesthouse Edition, which celebrates the outstanding performance of the up and coming guesthouse sector, and the Grand Gala, which is exclusive for winners in the categories for resorts, airlines and liveaboards.

As the first event held under the Maldives Travel Awards brand, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi hosted the People’s Edition on July 13, where 10 individuals were recognised for their immense contributions to the development of the Maldives tourism industry.

After the Guesthouse Edition, the Grand Gala will be held in Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi resort in November. Voting for the Grand Gala is now open.

The non-profit will also combine the Grand Gala with the travel conference happening a day before at Bandos Maldives resort, bringing an international audience of industry experts.

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Business

BBM’s ‘Studio of Culinary Excellence’ opens at MNU to bridge classroom, industry

Published

2 weeks ago

September 20, 2026

m@ldives

The best way to secure the future is to create it.

Creating that future through specific, purposeful initiatives is what drives people of purpose—and, in turn, moves us all closer to the future we desire.

The Maldives is a compelling case study of a tourism-driven economy. Look around and ask why an event is being staged, what someone is working on, or where a new initiative is leading, and the answer will often point to the hospitality sector. Securing the future, therefore, is inextricably linked to strengthening and advancing that sector.

Here, “strengthening” means making the sector’s contribution more sustainable; ensuring that a greater share of its growth benefits the community; continuing to offer a compelling value proposition to the discerning global traveller; and ensuring that visitor experiences continue to generate an unparalleled reputation and valuable referrals.

To achieve these outcomes in the future, it is essential that current and future generations of the local community engage actively with the industry. Making hospitality appealing and aspirational, enhancing the quality of delivery and service, and building a pipeline of skills and talent into the sector are areas in which initiatives, inspiration, infrastructure and investment should be concentrated.

It is firmly in this context that Mr Ismail Hilmy, Chairman and Managing Director of BBM, initiated the establishment of a modern, exceptionally well-equipped and thoughtfully designed model kitchen, aptly named the Studio of Culinary Excellence. By donating the Studio to MNU, under whose auspices it will serve the Maldivian culinary community, Mr Hilmy is responding directly to the need for deeper community engagement. At the heart of BBM’s framework for industry-outreach initiatives— “Because tomorrows start today”—is Mr Hilmy’s ethos of fostering engagement and vibrancy in the industry.

“For our students, the gap between the classroom and a working resort kitchen has always been the hardest one to close,” said Dr Shehenaaz Adam, Vice Chancellor of the Maldives National University. “The Studio of Culinary Excellence closes that gap. Students can now train on the same equipment and to the same standards they will encounter on their first day in the industry. We are grateful to BBM for a partnership that goes well beyond a donation, and we look forward to the Studio becoming a place where the university and the industry learn from one another.”

The Studio therefore creates an opportunity to develop a pipeline of skills and talent in service of the industry.

“Embedding purpose in our work has been an ongoing endeavour at BBM. It keeps us connected to our stakeholders and builds insight, understanding and trust. Being a meaningful partner to academia as we move into the future gives us a great sense of fulfilment and guides our initiatives under the banner, ‘Because tomorrows start today,’” said AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM.

But what is the value of physical infrastructure without the corresponding spark of aspiration and ambition?

As Ali Afrah Hassan, Executive Representative at Chairman’s Office – BBM, aptly observed: “The Studio offers students and members of the community hands-on experience with world-class equipment, together with knowledge-sharing masterclasses. Who knows—in the not-too-distant future, a Michelin-starred Maldivian chef may fondly credit some of their inspiration to time spent at the Studio!”

Now that is the mind and heart in sync—working towards a future that is aspirational, ambitious and entirely attainable.

Business

BBM Hulhumalé Phase 2 opening promotion winner receives Honda Airblade

Published

1 month ago

August 23, 2026

m@ldives

Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) has presented a brand-new Honda Airblade motorbike to the winner of a lucky draw held to mark the opening of its newest wholesale outlet in Hulhumalé Phase 2.

The outlet, located at Lot 20286 on Nirolhu Magu, opened on 16 February 2026 as part of BBM’s expansion of its wholesale operations.

To celebrate the opening and thank customers for their continued support, BBM introduced a special lucky draw exclusively for customers who made purchases from the new outlet on its opening day.

Customers who purchased products during the opening were eligible to enter the draw, with a Honda Airblade motorbike offered as the grand prize.

The lucky draw was conducted on 13 August 2026, with Ibrahim Shifaz of Vagthun Vaguthah outlet selected as the winner.

Shifaz was recently presented with the ceremonial key to the Honda Airblade by AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of Bestbuy Maldives.

The promotion formed part of BBM’s activities surrounding the opening of its Hulhumalé Phase 2 outlet, which provides customers with access to the company’s range of wholesale products from the growing residential and commercial area.

Bestbuy Maldives is a supplier and distributor serving businesses across the Maldives, including customers in the hospitality, food service and retail sectors.

Business

Football legends receive FIFA World Cup 2026 match balls signed by President Muizzu

Published

4 months ago

June 19, 2026

m@ldives

Male’ Aerated Water Company (MAWC), the authorised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company in the Maldives, on Thursday hosted the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Match Ball Handover Ceremony, presenting Football Legends of Maldives with official FIFA World Cup 2026™ match balls signed personally by Dr Mohamed Muizzu, President of Maldives.

Held in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness, the ceremony recognised former national footballers whose achievements, service and influence have helped shape football in the Maldives and inspired generations of players and supporters.

The Coca-Cola Company has been an official partner of FIFA since 1974, making it one of the longest-standing partnerships in the global sport. For MAWC, the handover brought that global partnership to life locally by connecting the FIFA World Cup with people who have contributed to Maldivian football history.

As the sole authorised Coca-Cola bottler in the Maldives for over 35 years, MAWC has supported local sport through partnerships, campaigns and community initiatives. The ceremony continued that commitment by recognising the legacy of players who represented the Maldives and contributed to the growth of football in the country.

“Maldives’ football legends have given generations of supporters moments of pride and have played an important role in shaping the country’s sporting history. At MAWC, we believe recognising their contribution is as important as supporting the next generation. Through our partnership with Coca-Cola and FIFA, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness, we are honoured to celebrate their legacy. These match balls are a token of our appreciation for what they have given to Maldivian football,” said Milind Derasari, Chief Operating Officer, MAWC.

Adding to the excitement of the football season, MAWC ran a nationwide FIFA World Cup 2026™ consumer promotion from 21 March to 24 May 2026. Eight winners received an all-expenses-paid experience for two to attend a FIFA World Cup 2026™ match. Hundreds more won Coca-Cola branded merchandise and other prizes during the campaign, bringing the excitement of the world’s largest football tournament to consumers across the Maldives.

MAWC remains committed to building partnerships that support the development of sports across the Maldives, working with the Government of Maldives and other partners.