Business
MATATO, PATA reveal growth hacking techniques to industry professionals in Maldives
Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) together with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has organised the second PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives, with the theme ‘Growth Hacking: How to Scale Your Business Exponentially’.
In response to the success of the first PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives last year, the second event took place on November 22 at the Paradise Island Resort. The event, staged as part of the third edition of the Maldives Travel Conference, brought together 50 travel industry professionals in the Maldives.
Representing PATA were CEO Dr Mario Hardy and Director of Human Capital Development Parita Niemwongse.
The one-day intensive workshop provided participants with an interactive training programme that incorporated a series of classroom sessions conducted by leading travel industry experts coupled with practical activities, group assignments and networking opportunities. The programme content was based upon the successful PATAcademy-HCD at the association’s Engagement Hub in Bangkok.

PATA CEO Dr Mario Hardy said, |We are delighted to have the opportunity to once again partner with MATATO to stage the PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives. The theme of this year’s programme, ‘Growth Hacking’, is the perfect extension of our first programme held last year on ‘Exploring the Art of Storytelling’ as it challenges organisations to experiment and re-work traditional marketing and sales strategies to focus upon growth.”
Abdulla Ghiyaz, President of MATATO, said, “MATATO is very proud to partner with PATA for the second time in bringing the PATA Human Capital Development programme in the Maldives. The success and feedback from the first one last year has led the way for hopefully an annual event in the Maldives. The participation this year has been better than last year, and I hope this gives us the opportunity for even more PATA events in the Maldives”
Speakers at the two-day programme included Stu Lloyd, Chief Hothead – Hotheads Innovation, Hong Kong SAR and Vi Oparad, Country Manager – StoreHub, Thailand.
Vi Oparad said, “For my session, I’m hoping for participants to: understand current situation of digital video space, pick the right framework to hack message crafting, and scale their branding through digital video channels. And by the end of the session, participants should have: online video prototypes that can be used as a starting point for future development.”
Stu Lloyd added, “Growth Hacking is a mindset of optimisation. Can we tweak our business and get more engagement or revenue out of what we’re doing? It starts with an experimental attitude and restless dissatisfaction with the status quo, and an attitude that all our products, services, and solutions can be improved. We just don’t know how – so we need to do a lot of testing to see what’s going to work better than we are currently doing. This can be anything from the revenue model to the colour of a hyperlink button.”
The PATA Human Capacity Building Programme is the association’s in-house/outreach initiative for Human Capital Development (HCD) across the broad spectrum of travel and tourism. Leveraging PATA’s network of talented industry leaders worldwide, the programme designs and implements customised training workshops for government agencies, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and private sector businesses.
The training is delivered through innovative adult education learning techniques including case studies, group exercises, group discussions, instructor presentations and site visits.
The facilitators bring knowledge, experience and expertise from a wide range of business sectors and drawn from PATA’s extensive and established network in the tourism industry and beyond.
PATA designs and coordinates the workshop, providing experts who lead and moderate exchanges among participants and offer their own perspectives and experiences. The workshop content and agenda, including the ideal profile and the number of participants, are developed by PATA in close collaboration with the lead institution or organisation.
Launched in 2016 as part of the annual Maldives Travel Awards, the Maldives Travel Conference aims to create a platform in Maldives to lead international dialogue and debate on challenges and opportunities that the tourism industry unfolds.
In 2016, the conference focused on four main topics with the importance of promoting the Maldives overseas, changes to the nation’s luxury travel industry, the ongoing transformation of the archipelago’s tourism sector, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry.
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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