Business
Maldives promoted as emerging MICE destination at MILT Congress
Maldives was promoted as an emerging MICE destination at MICE India and Luxury Travel Congress, (MILT Congress).
The event was held in Grand Hyatt Mumbai from 5th to 6th October 2021.
Over seven years, The MICE India & Luxury Travel Congress (MILT) has gained a reputation for bringing together carefully vetted Indian MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) buyers to meet international suppliers, capitalising on India’s massive outbound MICE & business travel market that is estimated to reach USD93 billion by 2030 and with its outbound tourism market worth USD 45 Billion.
The MILT Congress continues to be India’s premier, closed-door platform that provides an opportunity for world-class travel & hospitality partners to have face to face conversations with top corporations, most prominent associations, biggest film production houses, top travel agencies and premium destination wedding planners.
Maldives was exhibited at the MILT Congress in a uniquely designed swing chair (traditional joali) and table setting.
Through our participation in this event we aimed to maintain destination presence among highly active MICE agents and launched a global campaign to promote Maldives as an emerging MICE destination.

MILT Congress provides a platform for industry stakeholders to promote their properties and to inform potential customers of the MICE opportunities available at their establishments.
During the two day event, Visit Maldives provided the latest destination information and travel guidelines to attendees and held a Q&A session regarding MICE offerings for travel and trade stakeholders from India. We focused on promoting the naturally social-distanced geography and the stringent safety measures at our products (resorts, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboards), making Maldives a safe haven for travellers amidst the global pandemic.
On the frst day of the event, Thoyyib Mohamed, the Managing Director of Visit Maldives, addressed the audience at the panel discussion and discussed safety protocols and the reasons that make Maldives one of the safest destinations for travellers.
Furthermore, Visit Maldives also held a special luncheon to launch our global MICE campaign at MILT Congress.
Industry partners who joined Visit Maldives to promote the MICE opportunities in the destination include Baglioni Resort Maldives & Villa Hotels & Resorts. We connected with more than 100+ travel professionals during the two day event.
The Maldives received a lot of support and acclaim during the event, and the travel trade community expressed a deep interest and curiosity regarding the destination and MICE opportunities available in the Maldives.
Our participation in MILT Congress is in line with our new strategy to redefine the MICE sector, and showcase the multitude of opportunities available in the Maldives, for businesses, companies and travel trade stakeholders, to host their next MICE event and seamlessly merge business and leisure.
India is the top source market for Maldives. By 23rd September 2021, Maldives welcomed 843,552 tourists to the country, out of which 22.7% or 191,824 tourists were from India. The growing number of arrivals from India to Maldives in the past couple of years has enabled them to lead in the top 10 source market list for several years.
Business
Feydhoo Hall opens at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives as new event space
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has announced the opening of Feydhoo Hall, a landmark event venue at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives, redefining the possibilities for meetings, celebrations, and destination events in the Maldives.
Designed to bring scale, flexibility, and creativity to island gatherings, Feydhoo Hall represents a bold step forward in positioning the Maldives as a dynamic destination for conferences, weddings, and large-scale social occasions.
Feydhoo Hall offers a versatile event complex designed to accommodate a wide range of gatherings, from corporate meetings and conferences to weddings and social celebrations.

At its core is the 390 sqm Main Hall, capable of hosting:
- Up to 300 guests in theatre-style setup
- Up to 240 guests for dining and banquet-style events
- Up to 200 guests for cocktail-style receptions
- Up to 144 guests in cluster-round configuration
Enhancing the flexibility of the venue are additional dedicated spaces, including:
- A 110 sqm Veranda Terrace, ideal for welcome receptions, breakout sessions, and pre-event gatherings, accommodating up to 100 guests for cocktail-style events.
- A spacious 1,000 sqm Lawn Space, perfect for large-scale outdoor celebrations, destination weddings, and open-air events, accommodating up to 400 guests for cocktail receptions and up to 350 guests for dining setups.
- The 55 sqm Ekugai Meeting Room, designed for smaller meetings and executive sessions, accommodating up to 30 guests in theatre or dining setup and 24 guests in cluster-round format.
Together, these integrated spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor event experience, allowing planners to design dynamic and personalised event journeys.
True to the dusitD2 brand’s lifestyle-driven philosophy, Feydhoo Hall introduces a fresh approach to meetings and events — where productivity meets creativity in an inspiring island setting.
The venue offers flexible meeting formats designed to suit different event needs, including:
- Half-Day Meeting Package (4 hours) — ideal for focused sessions, executive meetings, and creative workshops.
- Full-Day Meeting Package (8 hours) — designed for immersive conferences, extended workshops, and large-scale corporate gatherings.
These thoughtfully structured packages provide planners with the flexibility to create impactful and seamless experiences, whether hosting intimate strategy sessions or dynamic full-day events.

Located just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives combines accessibility with vibrant lifestyle energy, offering event planners and guests a rare balance between convenience and tropical escape.
With the introduction of Feydhoo Hall, the resort strengthens its position as a versatile destination — not only for leisure travellers but also for international conferences, creative retreats, luxury weddings, and large-scale social celebrations seeking something refreshingly different in the Maldives.
Business
BBM expands retail presence with new Hulhumalé outlet
Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) opened a new wholesale store in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Monday.
The outlet is located on the ground floor of Lot 20286, Nirolhu Magu, and is intended to improve access to BBM’s imported goods for residents of Hulhumalé Phase 2 and for businesses operating in the area.
According to the company, the opening forms part of its plan to expand services closer to customers in line with population growth in Hulhumalé.
With the opening of the new store, BBM’s full range of imported and distributed products will be available at the Hulhumalé Phase 2 location. These include consumer goods from international brands such as Lifebuoy, Vaseline and Unilever.
The store will also stock wholesale food products from brands including Daily, Cavin’s and Redman.
BBM has supplied goods to resorts, hotels and retail outlets across the Maldives for several years.
Action
Ataraxis Grand & Spa hosts integrated work-and-dive corporate retreat in Fuvahmulah
Ataraxis Grand & Spa recently hosted a week-long, closed corporate offsite in Fuvahmulah for a US-based artificial intelligence company, highlighting the island’s growing suitability for integrated work-and-experience retreats. The retreat brought a group of 36 international professionals to the property, which was reserved exclusively for the programme.
Designed as a private company offsite, the stay combined structured daily work sessions with guided diving and beginner-friendly surf experiences, creating a balanced format that blended focused collaboration with physical reset.

A notable component of the programme was dive training and certification. During the retreat, 17 participants completed their Open Water certification, while a further six undertook the Advanced Open Water course, with training and dives scheduled alongside work sessions as part of the integrated itinerary.
Throughout the week, participants worked on-site using dedicated shared spaces supported by reliable high-speed internet, allowing meetings, informal collaboration and scheduled activities to take place within a single, uninterrupted environment. This setup enabled teams to move seamlessly between work periods and organised ocean activities without leaving the property.

Fuvahmulah’s natural and operational advantages formed a key part of the retreat’s appeal. As one of the Maldives’ largest inhabited islands, it offers immediate access to pelagic dive sites, internationally recognised shark diving and surf breaks suitable for instruction, alongside the infrastructure required to support extended group stays.

The offsite reflects a growing preference among technology and knowledge-sector teams for small-scale retreats that prioritise concentrated work environments and team cohesion over traditional conference formats. Such programmes typically involve longer stays and higher per-capita spend, aligning with sustainable, quality-driven tourism models.
The retreat also demonstrates how locally operated properties such as Ataraxis Grand & Spa are supporting this shift by delivering unified environments where accommodation, workspaces, connectivity and curated experiences operate as a single programme rather than separate services.

As organisations continue to explore alternative formats for strategy sessions, team resets and creative offsites, Ataraxis Grand & Spa’s experience positions Fuvahmulah as an increasingly viable destination for integrated corporate retreats.
Ataraxis Grand & Spa offers work-and-dive retreat programmes in Fuvahmulah that combine accommodation, dedicated workspaces, high-speed connectivity and organised diving and surfing.

Further information on retreat formats and dive-inclusive stays is available via the Ataraxis Grand & Spa website.
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