Public voting has opened for the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026, marking the next stage of the national recognition programme dedicated to professionals working in the Maldives’ resort hospitality sector.
The voting period began on 15 March 2026 and will remain open for one month, allowing industry stakeholders, colleagues, guests and members of the public to participate in selecting winners across the awards’ categories.
The voting stage follows the completion of the nominations phase, which recorded more than 460 submissions from resorts across the Maldives’ 179 operational properties. Submissions were reviewed to confirm eligibility before shortlisted nominees were finalised.
Presented by Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as the Title Partner, the Hotelier Maldives Awards recognise the contributions of hospitality professionals working across resort operations in the Maldives. The programme highlights both individual achievements and team performance across various departments within the industry.
The awards programme was first launched in 2024 and remains the country’s only recognition platform dedicated exclusively to professionals working in resort operations.
Editor of Hotelier Maldives, Ali Naafiz, said the response to the 2026 edition had been strong across the industry, noting that the programme was created to recognise the individuals who contribute to the daily operations and guest experiences that define Maldivian hospitality.
Public voting will contribute to the final results alongside an independent judging process. The judging panel includes hospitality and tourism professionals representing different areas of expertise within the sector.
The Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 gala ceremony is scheduled to take place on 26 April 2026 at Kurumba Maldives, bringing together hospitality professionals, resort leaders and industry stakeholders to recognise achievements across the sector.
This year’s awards programme is supported by several industry partners. Bestbuy Maldives returns as the Title Partner, Dhiraagu participates as the Platinum Partner, Storm Events serves as the Organising Partner, and Kurumba Maldives will host the gala ceremony. Additional partners and sponsors are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
