Maldives Travel Awards concludes, recognizing hospitality brands and leaders

Maldives Travel Awards 2019 concluded last Thursday evening by recognizing hospitality brands and leaders in the industry.

The winners include:

• Leading Airport Hotel: Airport Beach Hotel
• Leading Low-Cost Carrier: Air Asia
• Leading Local Carrier: Maldivian
• Leading International Carrier: Sri Lankan Airlines
• Leading Business Hotel: Hotel Jen Malé Maldives By Shangri-La
• Leading Local Hotel & Resort Brand: Villa Hotels
• Leading International Hotel & Resort Brand: Anantara Hotels & Resorts
• Leading Liveaboard: Ark Nobel
• Leading Surf Resort: Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives
• Leading Food And Beverage Outlet: Niyama Private Islands Maldives
• Leading Meeting and Conference Resort: Kurumba Maldives
• Leading Designer Resort: Cocoon Maldives and Kandima Maldives
• Leading Dive Resort: Bandos Maldives and Angaga Island Resort & Spa
• Leading Human Resource Management: Velaa Private Island the Maldives
• Leading CSR Programme: Crown & Champa Resorts
• Leading Liveaboard Brand: Carpe Diem Maldives
• Leading Eco Resort: Six Senses Laamu
• Leading All-Inclusive Resort: Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives
• Leading Food and Beverage Resort: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
• Leading Family Resort: One&Only Reethi Rah
• Leading Wellness And Spa Resort: Kihaa Maldives and The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives
• Leading Beach Resort: Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa
• Leading Luxury Resort: Cheval Blanc Randheli
• Most Romantic Resort: Huvafen Fushi Maldives

The celebrations began in the afternoon with a networking reception hosted at Café Del Mar for winners in the Guesthouse Edition. It was followed by the gala dinner where the winners of the Gala Edition and the People’s Edition were announced.

This year, the Gala edition featured 236 nominations in 28 categories representing more than 100 registered travel brands in the Maldives. The Guesthouse Edition, exclusive for local island tourism featured 196 nominations in 13 categories. Winners in both editions were selected based on reviews by travelers and popular vote collected via SMS and online voting portal. More than 110000, votes were registered this year in two editions combined.

In addition to this, as part of the People’s Edition, three travel professional’s contributions to the industry were recognized.

The individuals that received the ‘Tourism Personality of the Year’ award include:

• Raffaele Solferino: General Manager, Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives
• Ramsay Perera: General Manager, Embudu Village
• Ahmed Naseem (Kerafa Naseem)