Business
Visit Maldives maintains destination presence in India
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC / Visit Maldives) is maintaining the destination momentum in the Maldives’ largest market for this year, the Indian market, through a variety of activities and participation in the most prominent fairs and exhibitions.
MMPRC has been conducting multiple exciting events, with more in the pipeline, to maintain the interest and momentum that the Maldives has reached with the Indian market, especially over the last few years with other prominent markets such as China still closed due to Covid-19.
India was the largest market in 2020 with an arrival figure of 62,960 and a market share of 11.3% and performed similarly in 2021 with over 278,740 travellers and a market share of 22.6%. As of June this year, the Maldives has welcomed 119,967 tourists to the country from India. During this period India ranked as the top source market in the country, contributing 14.8% of the total market share for 2022 so far.

To maintain destination momentum, MMPRC has conducted several activities targeting this market in addition to participating in prominent fairs such as OTM 2022, SATTE 2022 and TTF 2022.
With the feedback and interest displayed by the Indian market before, during and after these events, MMPRC planned and conducted several joint campaigns with business leaders in the travel and tourism trade. This includes an outdoor advertising campaign promoting the destination in 5 different prime locations in the Delhi and Greater Noida area, with a total reach of approximately 7 million due to the great locations selected. The promotion was carried out from 1st May to 3rd June 2022, coinciding with SATTE 2022, and the locations where the Maldives was promoted were at a great intersection en route to SATTE and for general commuters travelling around the city, with a large number of people visiting locally and from different cities, to encourage them to visit the Maldives.

MMPRC is currently conducting joint-marketing campaigns with Thomas Cook, PickYourTrail, and Vistara Inflight magazine, the last of which is conducted from May till October 2022.
Vistara is India’s only five-star rated airline, with an exclusive set of consumers and high recall value among travellers. The Vistara inflight magazine is designed for an elite and High Networth Individual (HNI) audience that wants to enhance their lifestyle, enrich their minds and widen their experiences through the lens of travel. The audience is young and includes celebrities and corporates who are keen to engage with content and media on different platforms.
Approximately 500,000 passengers travel through Vistara within a month, and this campaign will promote the Maldives as an ideal holiday destination and encourage the elite and HNI to consider our beautiful islands for their next holiday. The articles, advertisements, and advertorials placed in the magazine are expected to reach over 700,000 affluent readers, while the native story placed on the Vistara website is expected to have a minimum of 55,000 page views. Additionally, the Vistara newsletter reaching over 3 million subscribers will also carry advertisements to visit the Maldives.

A team of media professionals representing various high-prominent Indian media outlets also visited the Maldives on a tourism familiarisation trip, from 13th to 19th June 2022. The team stayed in Kuramathi Maldives, The Residence Maldives and Noku Maldives. Officials from MMPRC visited Kuramathi Maldives to meet with the media team and discussed broadening efforts to further promote Maldivian tourism in the Indian market.
MMPRC also promoted the Romantic Side of Life to the Indian audience through a partnership with Wedding Affair magazine. Wedding Affair is one of the largest selling International Indian wedding magazines, targeted at the luxury and niche audience and read by almost over 50,000 loyal readers. The Maldives’ cover and 8-page advertorial reached a readership of some 870,000, and the online portion of the campaign reached over 48,500, putting the total reach of the campaign at 1,033,385.
MMPRC also targeted potential travellers through the Radio medium, with a campaign with one of the most trusted agencies in India for radio campaign advertising, IAM Communications, for 2 weeks in July 2022. The campaign is executed in 8 key source markets: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Cochin, Trivandrum, Chennai, and Ahmedabad. The campaign comprises 180 spots in each of the 8 cities – 35,000 seconds of airtime during the campaign and 40 seconds of RJ mentions. The expected reach of this campaign is over 1 million.

MMPRC’s strategies for the Indian market were crafted with a focus on strengthening the Maldives brand in all major cities. The strategy identifies channels to access the luxury market segment, which includes high-end magazines, highly-advertised roadshows in locations that appeal to the luxury market segment, and promotion of affordable holiday options through roadshows in more accessible locations for that specific market segment.
There is also a focus on targeted advertising for honeymooners and family holidays, greater B2B contact to generate awareness of guesthouse and affordable resort options, and using social media for brand promotion during holiday periods.
MMPRC conducted several promotional activities for this market in 2021 as well, such as an e-learning campaign with 2HUB, Tri Campaign with Yatra & Go Air, and influencer and celebrity familiarisation trips, in addition to representing the Maldives in prominent fairs and exhibitions.
There are many more activities in the pipeline for this market for the remainder of the year, including TV promotions, radio campaigns, familiarisation trips and joint marketing campaigns with airlines, tour operators and travel agents.
Business
BBM renews as Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards under multi-year agreement
Hotelier Maldives has announced Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as the Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 under a multi-year agreement, reaffirming one of the longest-standing partnerships behind the publication’s flagship hospitality recognition platform.
The 2026 edition marks the third consecutive year that BBM has served as Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards, having supported the event in the same capacity since its launch in 2024. BBM has also backed Hotelier Maldives’ second flagship event, GM Forum, every year since 2023, with 2026 set to mark its fourth year as a Silver Partner of the forum.
The continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to recognising the people behind the Maldives’ tourism industry while supporting platforms that encourage industry dialogue, leadership and professional development.
Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 entered its public voting phase on 15 March 2026, with voting set to remain open for one month. Winners will be announced at the gala ceremony on 26 April 2026 at NIVA Kurumba Maldives.
Commenting on the partnership, Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said: “BBM has been a valued partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards since the very beginning, and we are pleased to formalise this continued support through a multi-year agreement. Their decision to return as Title Partner for a third consecutive year reflects not only the strength of our relationship, but also a shared belief in the importance of recognising the people who drive excellence across the Maldives’ hospitality industry.
“BBM has also consistently supported GM Forum over the years, making them one of the most committed partners across our event platforms. We are proud to continue working together as we strengthen both Hotelier Maldives Awards and GM Forum as annual fixtures for the industry.”
AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM, said: “At BBM, we have always believed that a strong hospitality industry is built by strong people, and Hotelier Maldives Awards provides an important national platform to recognise the professionals whose work often takes place behind the scenes. We are pleased to continue as Title Partner of the awards under this multi-year agreement, while also extending our support to GM Forum for a fourth consecutive year.
“As a company that has grown alongside the Maldives’ hospitality sector, we value opportunities that celebrate talent, encourage professional pride and contribute to the long-term development of the industry. Our continued partnership with Hotelier Maldives reflects that commitment.”
Bestbuy Maldives is one of the country’s leading importers and distributors, serving the hospitality, HORECA and retail sectors with a broad portfolio of international brands. The company positions itself as a partner to the Maldivian hospitality industry, supplying products from around the world across key business verticals including resorts, foodservice and retail.
Hotelier Maldives Awards continues to recognise the contributions of resort-based hospitality professionals across the Maldives, highlighting both individual excellence and team performance. The awards programme remains the country’s only dedicated recognition platform focused on professionals working in resort operations. The current public voting round allows industry stakeholders, colleagues, guests and the wider public to take part in selecting this year’s winners.
The growing list of confirmed partners for Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 includes Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as Title Partner, Dhiraagu as Platinum Partner, Storm Events as Organising Partner, NIVA, Kurumba Maldives as Host Partner, Souvenir Marine as Transport Partner, ALIA as Associate Sponsor, and Lightsout Studios as Associate Partner. More partners and sponsors will be announced soon.
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.
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