Business
Visit Maldives concludes three marketing campaigns
Visit Maldives has concluded three marketing campaigns, conducted to maintain destination presence and promote Maldives as a haven for travellers.
The campaigns include a global initiative with Skyscanner, a combined campaign with Travelata, Sletat Russia and Squizz, and the e-learning platform Profi+Travel.
The marketing campaign with the Russian online travel agency, Travelata, Sletat Russia and Squizz concluded with outstanding success as the initiative updated over 300 travel agents with the latest destination news regarding the Maldives over a course of three webinars.
Travelata created a special landing page with information regarding the Maldives and sent newsletters to over 412,329 users. The campaign’s success is evident from 6,133 packages sold through the platform from September and November 2020.
Squizz Online Test was the last component of the combined marketing campaign for agents organised by Travelata and Sletat.Ru. The platform tested questions on new safety rules, destination overview, experiences, and activities in the Maldives.
The testing questions were compiled under the themes of the webinars for Sletat Russia. A total of 500 questionnaires were received for the final stage of the quiz, the total number of agents taking part in all activities during the campaign exceeded 2500.
The campaign was a great success, and the unique initiative of training travel agents on destination presence will yield significant results in the upcoming future.
Visit Maldives also concluded a marketing campaign with Profi+Travel’s e-learning platform for tour operators in Russia and CIS countries this January.
Profi+Travel is a Russian company with over 20 years’ experience in conducting similar B2B campaigns. The company creates unique content that helps travel companies increase sales, provide expert analysis of market trends, and organise online fairs and workshops with complex education training on various destinations.
The objective of this platform was to encourage tour operators in Russia and CIS Region to increase bookings to the Maldives.
This platform was tailored to explain all details about the Maldives and assist tour operators to choose the best travel option for their customers. Over 9800 travel agents took part in the e-learning, which provided information about the Maldives tourism products, showcase tourist attractions, historical sites, culture and more for the tour operators.
At the end of the course, participants who successfully proved their knowledge on the destination were awarded a certificate.
The agents who completed the training with the highest number of bookings were awarded holidays sponsored by Furaveri Maldives, Paradise Island Resort and Grand Park Kodhipparu.
The winning agents are from LLC, Kazan, London-Paris, Rostov-on-Don, PLANETA TRAVEL, Perm.
A total of 218 bookings were generated as a result of this campaign.
Lastly, Visit Maldives concluded a campaign with leading global travel marketplace Skyscanner in January.
The three-month campaign targeted Italy, UK, and Russian markets; three key markets prior to the closing and reopening of Maldives’ borders on July 15, 2020.
The campaign reached an estimated amount of 9.6 million people in Italy, UK, and Russia markets, which will in turn increase brand awareness and visibility. During the campaign period, Skyscanner observed a huge increase in searches, highlighting underlying demand to travel to Maldives.
Under this campaign, a page was dedicated to Visit Maldives on Skyscanner platforms, targeting the three markets in their own languages. Through this page, content was created to showcase different experiences for tourists and show them that Maldives is unique in its own ways compared to the rest of the world.
Destination promotion ads were displayed in various placements throughout Skyscanner’s platforms to capitalise on travel intent to the Maldives and maximise the reach of content. This included Skyscanner’s homepage and the most prominent positions on flight search results views.
The ads also displayed messaging in Italian, British English, and Russian languages for easy accessibility.
Due to the challenges brought on by the global pandemic, Visit Maldives had to re-strategise destination promotion campaigns accordingly. These marketing activities were shifted to online and digital platforms to showcase the beauty of Maldives and highlight how the naturally distanced islands make it the safest destination for tourists, increasing tourists’ trust in the country.
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.
-
Culture1 week agoSun Siyam Iru Fushi marks Eid with cultural celebrations and community spirit
-
News7 days agoTIME recognises Six Senses Laamu among World’s Greatest Places for 2026
-
Action7 days agoBanyan Tree Vabbinfaru marks first Hawksbill turtle hatchling event since 2015
-
Culture1 week agoFushifaru Maldives showcases Maldivian culture through Eid celebrations
-
Family1 week agoW Maldives launches Easter celebration with kayak races and beach feast
-
Family1 week agoMadifushi Private Island opens Kokko Learning Studio for young guests
-
Culture1 week agoSun Siyam Olhuveli celebrates Eid with beach fiesta and cultural performances
-
News7 days agoA new approach to family travel at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa


