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MAHRP successfully concludes Maldives first virtual learning and development conference

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Maldives Association of Human Resource Professionals (MAHRP) has successfully concluded the first ever virtual learning and development conference in Maldives.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and related challenges, MAHRP could not host the event as planned. The event was shifted to a virtual platform.

Hosted on July 11 and 12, the virtual learning and development conference was themed as, “Creating a Value-Driven Learning Culture”. It was attended by over 380 participants, and featured speakers from the Maldives, India, Trinidad and Tobago and Singapore.

Ron Kaufman was the keynote speaker and chief guest of the conference. He brought in so much value by explaining the opportunities ahead to elevate personal and professional life and drive it through a transformation.

Eddie Lee touched upon the topic of coaching and how organisational leaders can bring a cultural change through in-house coaches. He also highlighted the role coaches can play in creating a value-driven learning culture.

Ahmed Ibrahim delivered a keynote on the topic of agility and transformation, and the mindset organisational leaders need. He shared examples from the days of the Industrial Revolution to the current concepts of human capital development.

Aminath Irasha presented a case study on how Islanders Education Group brought a revolution in digital learning through their schools and learning institutions. She was joined by Mauroofa from Billabong High International School, and together they shared the knowledge and transformative experienced gained during the school closures in the wake of the pandemic.

Iyaz Waheed brought with him his favourite topic: growth mindset and how organisations can drive growth mindset. His belief on instilling growth mindset through schools and education institutions was well shared.

Mohamed Ashraf brought an excellent case study on how the nation’s leading bank, Bank of Maldives, created a learning culture, challenged the status quo, and brought a complete transformation to their organisational performance through a continuous learning process.

Aminath Adhala highlighted the importance of living a life driven by values. She gave a significant closing remark; that we should be asking every day, “How do we want others to remember us when we are gone?”

Ahmed Nasir shared a thought-provoking concept and approach. He invited all training providers and organisations to join TVET in transforming learning into practical certifications and skill-based experiences through apprenticeship programmes or set of work experience initiatives.

Mavis Mazhura joined the conference from South Africa, sharing her insights on building emotional resilience and critical elements that will help us to transform our lives.

Hawwa Leesha, Hawwa Shaheena and Dr Safeeya Mohammed conducted an important panel discussion on wellness, wellbeing, happiness and creating a culture of gratitude within an organisation. They shared relevant global and local best practices.

Kiruba Shanker shared his wisdom on building a professional brand image as speakers, learning and development professionals. He showed with practical examples the opportunities we have through social media platforms and how we can use them to our advantage.

Zakariya ‘Zaki’ Easa presented a world-class case study on how Crown & Champa Resorts handled the challenges stemming from the Covid-19 crisis and used learning and development functions to drive the strategy to keep their teams engaged.

Sara Ballinger shared a practical approach to identify, develop and grow talents within our community.

Ibrahim Inaz touched upon the culture of learning and the role of operational managers.

Hassan Shamman, a champion of good HR practices, shared his insights on how we can transform the traditional recruitment process to a value-driven one by challenging the status quo.

Ahmed Saeid presented a thoughtful approach to how cognitive apprenticeship can change organisational learning cultures.

Imelda Sutisna delivered an incredible closing speech on how mentoring can play a crucial role in growing and developing talents within any organisation.

“I should share a moment of gratitude to MAHRP exco and advisory team. Their guidance made this conference a success. Ali Adam, your thoughtful approach in creating our virtual studio, added so much value to our event,” MAHRP President Hussain Afeef, who also serves as the Regional Director of Training, Development and Quality Assurance at LUX* Resorts, said.

“I share this moment of gratitude to all speakers as a reminder that we must celebrate and always be grateful for every success and learning.”

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit our routine, MAHRP has conducted several virtual learning experiences covering topics ranging from HR challenges in force majeure, emotional intelligence, workplace wellness and mental wellbeing, post-pandemic HR leadership requirements, and techniques to follow and engage teams when working from home.

MAHRP is the first professional association registered in the Maldives, dedicated to human resources and people development.

The association’s mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing the most current and comprehensive resources, and to advance the profession by promoting HR’s essential values, setting professional standards and providing the know-how. It is committed to linking and connecting HR professionals and practitioners locally and oversees through signature events and membership activities.

As part of its aim to develop human resources, MAHRP regularly hosts knowledge share events.

The association has also organised exclusive training events in Maldives with world’s leading customer experience consultant Ron Kaufman and world-renowned motivational speaker Robin Banks, the first ever National HR Convention and Expo, and the first ever learning and development conference in Maldives.

MAHRP recently partnered with Southern Community Empowerment Association of Maldives (SCEAM) to host a leadership and growth summit in the southernmost Addu city in November.

MAHRP’s second National HR Convention and EXPO 2020 has also been delayed to November.

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Etienne Ng, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), to speak at Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024

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Hotelier Maldives has announced that Etienne Ng, Regional Director for Southeast Asia at Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), will be a featured speaker at the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024. The GM Forum, the largest gathering of hospitality professionals in Maldives, will take place on September 19 at CROSSROADS Maldives.

Etienne Ng leads Weixin Pay’s operations across Southeast Asia, where the platform has seen substantial growth. His session at the forum will primarily focus on Chinese travel trends and their spending behaviour. He will also highlight the role of digital payments in enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency within the hospitality industry.

Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, commented on the announcement: “Etienne Ng’s participation at the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024 will offer attendees valuable insights into the growing impact of digital payments in the tourism and hospitality sectors. His experience in managing Weixin Pay’s expansion in Southeast Asia makes him a key voice in discussions about the future of payment solutions in the industry.”

This year’s GM Forum, now in its eighth edition, will focus on ‘The Evolving Luxury Landscape’ in the Maldives. Industry leaders will discuss the future of luxury travel, including the new luxury traveller’s psyche, digital marketing, and sustainable practices. Topics will cover private islands, underwater experiences, and the opportunities and challenges faced by hoteliers in the country. The forum will feature diverse panels and interactive sessions, emphasising personalised guest experiences and local cultural integration. It aims to foster active participation and share innovative case studies from the luxury travel industry.

Sponsors and partners of GM Forum 2024 include:

  • Ooredoo Maldives: Digital Partner (Title Sponsor)
  • Bestbuy Maldives (BBM): Silver Sponsor
  • Dhivehi Insurance: Silver Sponsor
  • Fuel Supplies Maldives: Silver Sponsor
  • Manta Air: Aviation Partner
  • Male’ Aerated Water Company: Beverage Partner
  • Atmosphere Wellness: Wellness Partner
  • Souvenir Marine: Transport Partner
  • Printlab: Printing Partner
  • CROSSROADS Maldives: Venue Partner
  • Lights Out: Coverage Partner
  • Associate Sponsors: Alia Investments, Villa Hakatha, GAGE, Wyntronix, Uniforms Unlimited and Spa Ceylon Maldives

With Etienne Ng joining the lineup of speakers, the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024 will offer attendees insights into the latest developments in digital payment technologies and their applications in the Maldivian hospitality sector.

John Bevan, CEO of dnata Travel Group, will be the keynote speaker at the event. Hotelier Maldives will soon announce additional speakers, presenters, and panel discussions, further shaping the forum’s agenda.

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John Bevan, CEO of dnata Travel Group, announced as Keynote Speaker for Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024

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The Hotelier Maldives GM Forum 2024 is set to welcome John Bevan, CEO of dnata Travel Group, as the keynote speaker. The GM Forum, the largest gathering of hospitality professionals in Maldives, will take place on September 19 at CROSSROADS Maldives.

John oversees 30 travel brands in various sectors across 20+ countries. He joined dnata in November 2017 as CEO B2B Europe after serving as COO of Spafinder Wellness in Miami. In May 2018, his role at dnata expanded to include all B2B and B2C trading brands within the UK.

John, who has held several non-executive director posts in travel, as well as served on the board of both the UK’s Institute of Travel & Tourism and Association of British Travel Agents, will share his insights on the evolving landscape of global travel and its implications for the Maldives’ hospitality sector. His keynote address is highly anticipated, given his leadership role at dnata Travel Group, a global powerhouse in travel services.

“We are thrilled to have John Bevan as our keynote speaker this year. His vast experience and forward-thinking approach will provide invaluable perspectives to our attendees. The GM Forum is a platform for knowledge exchange and innovation, and having a leader of John’s caliber underscores our commitment to excellence,” Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said.

This year’s GM Forum, now in its eighth edition, will focus on ‘The Evolving Luxury Landscape’ in the Maldives. Industry leaders will discuss the future of luxury travel, including the new luxury traveller’s psyche, digital marketing, and sustainable practices. Topics will cover private islands, underwater experiences, and the opportunities and challenges faced by hoteliers in the country. The forum will feature diverse panels and interactive sessions, emphasising personalised guest experiences and local cultural integration. It aims to foster active participation and share innovative case studies from the luxury travel industry.

Sponsors and partners of GM Forum 2024 include:

  • Ooredoo Maldives: Digital Partner (Title Sponsor)
  • Bestbuy Maldives (BBM): Silver Sponsor
  • Dhivehi Insurance: Silver Sponsor
  • Fuel Supplies Maldives: Silver Sponsor
  • Manta Air: Aviation Partner
  • Male’ Aerated Water Company: Beverage Partner
  • Atmosphere Wellness: Wellness Partner
  • Souvenir Marine: Transport Partner
  • Printlab: Printing Partner
  • CROSSROADS Maldives: Venue Partner
  • Lights Out: Coverage Partner
  • Associate Sponsors: Alia Investments, Villa Hakatha, GAGE, Wyntronix, Uniforms Unlimited and Spa Ceylon Maldives
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Noku Maldives to rebrand under IHG’s Vignette Collection in December 2024

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IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a partnership with Roxy-Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd – a real estate and hospitality leader in Asia Pacific – to introduce its Vignette Collection brand to the Maldives.

The conversion deal will see Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection, a 50-key private villa resort on the idyllic island of Kudafunafaru, join IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, one of the world’s largest, in December 2024 after refurbishment under the Vignette Collection brand – a family of one-of-a-kind properties unique in their identities, yet united by the vision to offer a more authentic way to travel and backed by the reassurance of IHG’s trusted reputation and leading loyalty offer.

Chris Anklin, Senior Director, Development, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “We’re proud that our first collaboration with Roxy-Pacific brings the Vignette Collection brand to the Maldives in beautiful Noonu Atoll – a destination renowned for its abundant sea life and more than 30 outstanding dive spots. It will be a fantastic boutique resort, delivering unforgettable stays and offering the brand’s promise of weaving responsibility, community and locality together to make a positive impact on its surroundings.

“This adds to the record conversion activities IHG enjoyed in the first half of this year – representing 41% of openings and 55% of signings globally across most of our brand portfolio. Throughout this region, more than half of our signings are now conversions, which is a testament to the attractiveness of our brands, the strength of IHG’s enterprise platform and our ability to convert and rebrand in short time frames. As we gear up to our December launch, we look forward to welcoming guests to Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection – our fifth IHG property in the Maldives – as the Vignette Collection brand joins Six Senses, InterContinental and Holiday Inn in a broad portfolio of experiences with a stay for every guest and every occasion.”

Chris Teo, Deputy CEO & Executive Director, Roxy-Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd: “Maldives is a bucket list travel destination with enduring appeal, which is enjoying strong and consistent demand. It has set its sights on a two million arrival target this year – a 10% increase on 2023 – as it positions itself as a leading sustainable tourism location, and we’re providing an idyllic getaway from which travellers can explore its many wonders.”

“We know our guests seek meaningful and authentic stay experiences as they embed themselves in local cultures and connect with the communities around them. As part of a quickly growing brand family, Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection will retain its distinctive identity, supported by IHG’s scale and IHG One Rewards loyalty programme. Together with IHG, we look forward to providing guests with an elevated resort experience that will inspire them to stay longer and discover the natural wonders around them.”

Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection is a 45-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport or a 40-minute flight to Maafaru Domestic Airport, followed by a 15-minute speed boat ride to the island.

With a land area of almost 90,000 square metres, it features 30 overwater villas and 20 beachfront villas, most of which have a private pool. With the smallest villa at 175 square metres, the property boasts some of the largest villas in the Maldives – perfect for couples, friends and families to enjoy unforgettable stays.

Facilities include two restaurants and bars, outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, retail outlet and a diving and watersports centre offering access to a rich diversity of marine life, including grey reef sharks, stingrays and sea turtles.

IHG launched Vignette Collection in August 2021 to offer a different price point to the upscale conversion brand voco and complement its existing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio. The brand has grown globally to 18 open hotels, including Convent Square Lisbon, Vignette Collection in Portugal, The Halyard Liverpool, Vignette Collection in the UK, Sindhorn Midtown Hotel Bangkok, Vignette Collection and Dinso Resort & Villas Phuket, Vignette Collection in Thailand, Th8 Palm Dubai Beach Resort in UAE and Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude Valley in Australia.

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