Business
Maldives Travel Awards Guesthouse Edition set for spectacular show in Maafushi island

Maafushi island is all set to host a spectacular celebration of the Maldives booming guesthouse industry as the first ever dedicated Guesthouse Edition of the Maldives Travel Awards will be held on Monday with 96 nominees and 250 invitees.
The event, titled Dhiraagu Presents Maldives Travel Awards Guesthouse Edition, will take place Monday evening in Maafushi, which is widely regarded as the birthplace of guesthouse tourism in the Maldives. The event will be attended by 250 invitees.
Awards will be presented in 12 categories, for which 96 parties have been nominated:
Leading Guesthouse
- Kaani
- Arena Beach
- Hotel UI Inn
- Serene sky Guesthouse
- Velana Beach
- Plumeria Sea View
- Crystal Sands Hotel
- TME Retreats Dhigura
Leading Food and Beverage Guesthouse
- Plumeria Sea View
- Crystal Sands Hotel
- Arena
- Velana Beach
- Kaani
- Season Paradise
- Hotel 78
- Castle Inn
Leading Guesthouse / Diving and Water Sports
- iTouch Blue and Venus Villa
- Maafushi Dive
- Active Maldives Private Limited
- Rasdhoo Dive Club
- Rasdhoo Dive Lodge
- Beach Stay Maldives
- Shamar Guesthouse and Dive
- Kalhu Muraka Guesthouse
Leading Eco-Friendly Guesthouse
- TME Retreats Dhigurah
- Beachwood Hotel and Spa
- Canopus Retreats
- Island Way Etos
- Season Paradise
- Coconut Tree Hulhuvilla Beach
- Salt Beach
- Serene Sky Guesthouse
Leading Business Guesthouse
- Lonuveli Hotel
- Airport Beach
- Hotel UI Inn
- Ocean Grand
- Clear Sky Inn Hulhumale
- Coconut Tree Hulhuvila Beach
- Eureka Airport Inn
- Azoush Tourist Guesthouse
Leading Heritage Guesthouse
- Ariston Dhangethi Inn
- Local Island Inn
- Vashafaru Inn
- Lagoon View Maldives
- Banyan Villa
- Hiyaa Ilaa
- Mirian Sky Hotel
- Jupiter Sunrise Lodge
Leading Adventure Guesthouse
- Manta Inn
- Asia Inn Villa Retreat
- Detour Beach View
- Reveries Diving Village
- Boutique Beach All-Inclusive Diving Hotel
- Batuta Maldives Surf View Guesthouse
- Stingray Beach Inn
- Rasdhoo Dive Club
Most Innovative Guesthouse Concept
- Velana Beach
- Season Paradise
- Shallow Lagoon
- Tropical Village
- Casa Mia Maldives
- Masaaree Boutique Hotel
- White Shell Island Hotel and Spa
- Airport Beach
Leading Guesthouse Brand
- Kaani
- Arena Beach
- Hotel UI Inn
- Plumeria Hotel and Resorts Private Limited
- WhiteShell Island Hotel and Spa
- Serene Sky Guest Maldives
- LVIS Blancura Hotel
Leading Transport Service Provider
- iCom
- Nasru Speed
- Nevi Speed
Leading Guesthouse Island
- Maafushi
- Thoddoo
- Rasdhoo
- Dhigurah
- Keyodhoo
- Felidhoo
- Hangnaameedhoo
- Bodufolhudhoo
Leading Beach Island
- Fulidhoo
- Dhigurah
- Thoddoo
- Vashafaru
- Dharavandho
- Thinadhoo
- Dhangethi
- Kelaa
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.
“More than 70,000 votes are registered for Maldives Travel Awards Guesthouse Edition 2017, when the final day of voting closed on 27th September 2017. 32000 votes were registered online and another fifty thousand people voted through SMS,” a statement issued by MATATO read.
Additionally, MATATO will give recognitions in three categories, including Leading Business Development Partner for the Guesthouse Industry, Newcomer of the Year and Most Supportive Guesthouse.
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.
Business
2 decades of culinary excellence: BBM’s founding legacy with Hotel Asia continues in 2025

Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge is referred to be the hospitality industry event in the Maldives. In this year’s Culinary Challenge (19 to 22 October 2025) comprising competitions over 20 categories, most will take place at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Maldives National University, and some at the Synthetic Track, Hulhumalé.

A Founding Partnership that Endures
Since the very first edition in 2001, Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) has played a central role in shaping the International Culinary Challenge into the Maldives’ most prestigious culinary platform. The event has become a cornerstone for professional development, bringing together chefs from across the Maldives to compete, learn, and showcase their craft.

BBM and their associated Principals sponsor an overwhelming majority of categories. “From the beginning, our goal has been to create opportunities for Maldivian chefs to rise to global standards. This partnership has grown with the industry itself,” said A.V.S. Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM.

Nurturing Local Talent
BBM’s contribution extends beyond sponsorship. The company has built a long-term system for recognizing and developing local culinary talent.
- BBM Chairman’s Trophy for the Best Maldivian Competitor.
- Most Promising Young Chef Award for emerging talent.
- Global exposure programs for Maldivian chefs through sponsored participation in international events.
- Pro-bono Masterclasses with world-renowned chefs to encourage learning and innovation.
Investing in the Future of Hospitality
Through initiatives such as Building Young Talent, BBM continues to mentor aspiring professionals and support the next generation of chefs. The company also promotes inclusivity by sponsoring opportunities for female and young chefs to gain international exposure.
BBM’s industry partnerships include its role as Title Sponsor of the Hotelier Maldives Awards, celebrating excellence across the Maldivian hospitality sector.

Proud Sponsors of Culinary Excellence
In 2025, BBM and its partner brands proudly sponsor 14 competition categories and 8 Main Awards, further strengthening their role in the development of culinary arts in the Maldives. Categories include Decorated Cake, Artistic Showpiece, Bread and Pastry Display, Three Desserts (Display), Desserts, Rice Dish, Asian Noodles, Team Challenge, Maldivian Dish, Creative Sandwich, Young Chef, Tea Challenge, tapas/finger food, and Iced Mocktail.
Business
Bestbuy Maldives, MNU forge partnership to advance hospitality education

The Maldives National University – Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (MNU-FHTS) and Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen industry-academic collaboration and advance hospitality education in the Maldives.
The MoU was signed by Dr Aishath Shehenaz Adam, Vice Chancellor of MNU, and Ismail Hilmy, Chairman and Managing Director of BBM, during a ceremony attended by the university’s Chancellor Dr Mahmood Shaugee, senior management, and representatives from both organisations.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in developing a state-of-the-art Food and Beverage Practical Demonstration Kitchen at MNU-FHTS. BBM will support the upgrading of the existing Garde Manger kitchen and classrooms, contributing financially and materially to create a modern, industry-standard learning environment for future hospitality professionals.
Beyond infrastructure, the collaboration will extend to academic and training support, research and innovation in culinary arts, community engagement, and professional networking opportunities, ensuring that students gain practical, real-world experience aligned with industry expectations.
Highlighting the broader purpose of this partnership, BBM stated that, “This is a significant step in the direction of BBM’s vision involving hospitality industry outreach in the Maldives — because tomorrows start today. Initially, we will set up a world-class model kitchen that will be suitable for masterclasses and hands-on training for students; and also for product demonstrations, masterclasses, and interaction with groups of customers.”
Speaking at the ceremony, representatives from both institutions emphasised their shared vision to promote excellence in education, innovation, and human capital development in the Maldivian hospitality sector. This partnership underscores BBM’s continued commitment to supporting education and industry growth, and MNU-FHTS’s mission to bridge the gap between academia and industry — nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders in the Maldives.
Business
SATA 2025 announces partnerships; confirms Hotelier Maldives, Maldives Insider as Media Partners

Hotelier Maldives and Maldives Insider have been confirmed as official Media Partners of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2025. The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held at Hulhulé Island Hotel, Maldives, where SATA unveiled its distinguished partners for the 9th edition of the annual awards.
Now in its ninth year, SATA has become a key platform for recognising excellence in South Asia’s tourism and hospitality sector. The partnership with Hotelier Maldives and Maldives Insider will strengthen the awards’ regional visibility and ensure extensive coverage of the event across Maldives and beyond.

This year’s awards ceremony will take place from 19th to 20th September 2025 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Sri Lanka, bringing together industry leaders, stakeholders, and innovators from across South Asia.
In addition to the media partnership, SATA 2025 also announced its corporate partners. Honda Marine has been named the Platinum Partner, while The Hawks, Velana International Airport, and Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives join as Gold Partners. Renaatus Realty has been confirmed as the Silver Partner, and Hulhulé Island Hotel continues as the official Hospitality Partner in the Maldives.

Speaking at the ceremony, SATA organisers noted that the strong lineup of partners reflects the growing importance of collaboration within the tourism and hospitality industry. With the support of its partners, SATA 2025 aims not only to celebrate outstanding achievements but also to foster long-term cooperation and sustainable growth in the region’s tourism sector.
The awards are endorsed by leading national tourism bodies and associations across South Asia, including the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, Nepal Tourism Board, Visit Maldives Corporation Limited, and several travel and hotel associations across the region.

This year’s evaluation process was conducted by a panel of nine jury members representing different countries, including tourism leaders from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Spain, and the Maldives.
Through partnerships with media outlets such as Hotelier Maldives and Maldives Insider, SATA 2025 will ensure broad engagement across key markets, strengthening its position as one of South Asia’s most prestigious hospitality and travel award platforms.
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