Mohamed Thasleem – Founder & CEO at Exciting Maldives

From a bold vision in 2008 to becoming one of the Maldives’ most trusted B2B Destination Management Companies, Exciting Maldives has carved a remarkable path over the past 17 years. With deep-rooted partnerships across the hospitality industry and a growing international presence, the company remains at the forefront of driving inbound travel to the Maldives.

As Exciting Maldives celebrates this milestone, we spoke with its Founder and CEO, Mohamed Thasleem, to reflect on the journey so far, explore the company’s evolution, and look ahead at what’s next for the brand that continues to connect travellers with the best of the Maldives.

What inspired the decision to rebrand from Exciting Travel Holidays to Exciting Maldives, and what does this new identity represent for the company?

The rebranding from Exciting Travel Holidays to Exciting Maldives was a strategic decision rooted in our evolution and specialization. Over the years, our core focus has become the Maldives, and we’ve built a reputation as one of the most trusted and results-driven DMCs in the destination. The new identity better reflects who we are today and where we are heading.

“Exciting Maldives” communicates clarity, confidence, and a deep-rooted connection to the destination. It’s more than a name change, it’s a reaffirmation of our commitment to being a destination specialist that delivers excellence, innovation, and personalized service across every touchpoint. Our brand now directly aligns with our purpose and our promise: to represent the Maldives with pride, professionalism, and passion in every market we serve.

Since its founding in 2008, Exciting Maldives has evolved significantly. How would you describe the company’s journey and growth over the years?

The journey of Exciting Maldives has been a story of resilience, relationships, and results. We started in 2008 with a small but determined team and a big dream to bring the Maldives closer to global travelers through personalized, high-quality B2B services.

Over the years, we’ve grown organically, forming long-lasting partnerships with leading luxury resorts, expanding into key source markets, and building a diverse, multi-lingual, and multicultural team. Every step has been driven by our core values: transparency, responsiveness, and a passion for the Maldives.

From handling a few bookings in our early days to managing thousands of high-value reservations annually, we’ve come a long way. We’re proud of the trust we’ve earned from resorts and agents alike, and we’re even more excited about what lies ahead.

You’ve expanded operations globally with offices and representation in multiple key markets. How have these international connections shaped your business?

Our global presence has been one of the strongest pillars of our growth. By having representatives in countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, the UAE, CEE & China, we’ve been able to understand and respond to the specific needs of each market with agility and insight.

These connections have allowed us to offer a localized approach in every territory, build strong relationships with top-producing agents, and secure consistent, year-round business for our partner resorts. More importantly, it has helped us keep a close pulse on evolving travel trends and consumer behaviors ensuring we stay ahead of the curve and remain relevant in an ever-changing industry.

Our international team also plays a vital role in brand-building and destination marketing for the Maldives, participating in major travel fairs, hosting roadshows, and curating familiarization trips that turn interest into bookings.

Exciting Maldives has been recognised as a Top Producer for several luxury properties. What do you attribute this consistent success to?

Our success lies in the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our team, and our ability to deliver what we promise consistently. We believe in quality over quantity, which is why we focus on building deep, meaningful relationships with our resort partners and B2B clients.

We take time to understand our partners’ goals, align on strategies, and then actively promote and sell in a way that delivers real results. Our operations team ensures seamless service, our contracting team negotiates competitive offers, and our sales & marketing team drives visibility across all relevant markets.

We also invest in training our agents, sharing timely updates, and offering 24/7 support. In short, we combine experience with execution, which has resulted in our recognition as a top producer across several world-renowned luxury resorts in the Maldives.

With such strong industry partnerships, how does Exciting Maldives approach collaboration with resorts and travel partners differently from others?

What sets us apart is our personalized, proactive, and performance-driven approach. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Each resort is unique, and we tailor our strategy accordingly, whether it’s through focused sales campaigns, creative B2B marketing, or customized agent engagement plans.

We also act as a true extension of the resort’s sales team. Our market reps are deeply involved in selling specific properties, hosting destination trainings, attending key events, and ensuring the resort remains top-of-mind among our agent network.

For our B2B clients, we’re not just a supplier, we’re a partner who supports their sales, ensures swift responses, and maintains a transparent relationship. This dual commitment to both resorts and agents helps us foster trust and drive long-term growth for everyone involved.

What do you see as the biggest opportunities for destination management companies in the Maldives moving forward?

As global travel continues to evolve, the role of a DMC is becoming even more critical. One major opportunity is personalization at scale being able to offer tailor-made experiences that meet the diverse needs of different traveler segments.

There’s also tremendous potential in digital transformation. DMCs that leverage smart technology, automation, and data analytics will be better positioned to drive efficiencies and improve client servicing.

Additionally, there’s a growing demand from emerging markets such as CEE, Scandinavia, Latin America, and some of the Asian countries. Destination management companies that have a presence or expertise in these regions will be key players in expanding the Maldives’ global reach.

Sustainability is another area of opportunity. As more travelers seek eco-conscious travel options, DMCs can lead the way by promoting resorts with strong sustainability initiatives and curating experiences that are both luxurious and responsible.

As you look to the future, what areas of innovation or service enhancement is Exciting Maldives focusing on?

At Exciting Maldives, we are investing in multiple fronts to stay ahead: we are developing a smarter and more intuitive B2B booking engine to improve the efficiency and accuracy of our reservation process, benefiting both agents and resorts; incorporating deeper market analysis to predict demand patterns and tailor campaigns based on seasonality, buying behavior, and booking trends; launching a strategic digital marketing campaign to promote our partner resorts across key channels, ensuring their brand gets maximum exposure in our core markets; continuing to train, equip, and support our agent network with updated materials, offers, and tools to help them convert leads faster; and hiring experienced talent and expanding our representation to tap into new high-potential markets and strengthen our presence where we are already strong. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every interaction, whether with a resort partner, a travel agent, or a traveler, feels truly exciting, seamless, and value-driven. Unforgettable Journeys, Maldives Made!