Travel Trade Maldives (TTM), the largest travel fair in the Maldives, has officially concluded its second edition.
Held from April 30 to May 5, the second edition of TTM received tremendous support from industry professionals.
Spanning over a period of six days, this year’s TTM featured a brand new component, the Maldives Supplier Expo, which was targeted towards resort personnel from departments such as procurement, finance, accounts, F&B, and engineering. With 23 suppliers exhibiting during the first of its kind expo, major local and international supply chains participated, along with operational personnel from various tourism establishments including resorts and guesthouses.
Maldives Supplier Expo held during TTM 2018. PHOTO/ MALDIVES GETAWAYS
Local suppliers include Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), Al Shaali Marine Maldives, Allied Insurance, Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM), Ooredoo Maldives, Laniakea Tech, Linkserve, M7 Print and State Trading Organisation (STO). Alia Investments, Asia Group, Asters, Astrabon, City Investments, Copier Plus, EVO, Male’ Aerated Water Company (MAWC), Onestop, Rateria Fabrics, Scarlet Maldives, Sea Gear, The Hawks, and VAM & Company also exhibited at the two-day expo.
Maldives Supplier Expo held during TTM 2018. PHOTO/ MALDIVES GETAWAYS
TTM 2018 has been more successful than the first edition held last year, as this year’s show hosted over 400 industry professionals from leading resorts and hotels. More than 4,000 meetings were held at the main convention centre of Dharubaaruge in capital Male, where business contracts were negotiated amongst the exhibitors and travel agencies.
“TTM 2018 pre-scheduled meetings which was held from 1st-3rd May was an immensely successful component for all the exhibitors and the travel agents/tour operators from across the globe who participated in this three-day fair,” a statement issued by organiser Maldives Getaways read.
Pre-scheduled meetings of TTM 2018. PHOTO/ MALDIVES GETAWAYS
TTM 2018 kicked off on April 30 with a summit dedicated to tackle the most pressing issues in the world-renowned holiday destination.
While the pre-scheduled meetings took place from May 1-3 at Dharubaaruge, all participants of TTM 2018, including local and international exhibitors and visitors as well as partners, attended the TTM Gala Night hosted by Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi resort Wednesday evening.
Officials of Maldives Getaways pose for a photo with partners at the gala night of TTM 2018. PHOTO/ MALDIVES GETAWAYS
TTM, which was launched last year by local PR firm Maldives Getaways, aims to facilitate the tourism industry of Maldives to reach the ultimate target of two million tourists per year with over USD 3.5 billion in receipts by the end of 2020.
According to organisers, the third edition of TTM will take place from April 20-22, 2019.
Meanwhile, Maldives Getaways will partner with Sri Lankan authorities to host the first ever Travel Trade Sri Lanka from April 24-26, 2019 in capital Colombo.
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.
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.
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.
