Bandos Maldives was the biggest winner at the 5th Maldives Travel Awards on Sunday night, sweeping up accolades in four categories.
The gala event of the MATATO Maldives Travel Awards was held in Olhuveli Beach Resort.
The Maldives Travel Awards is the most prestigious and exclusively recognised label in the hospitality sector of Maldives.
Bandos, one of the oldest tourist resorts in the country, picked up awards in four categories; Best Family Resort, Best Meeting and Conference Resort, Leading Local Resort, and Leading Dive Resort.
Conrad Maldives Rangali won three categories; Leading Local Luxury Resort, Leading F&B Resort, and Leading Intentional Resort Brand. The awards for the Most Romantic Resort and the Leading Resource Management Resort went to Adaaran Prestige Vaadoo while Guraheli won the award for the Leading Liveaboard.
img:http://s1.psmnews.mv/images/660x400/14797073321986.jpg|MATATO Maldives Travel Awards function - Photo: PSM News
Every year, MATATO also acknowledges individuals who have contributed to the development of the tourism sector. This year’s MATATO Maldives Travel Awards’ Life Time Achievement Award was conferred to Sun Group’s Chairman, Ahmed Siyam.
Maafushi Island was named the Leading Guest House Island while Reveries Diving Village scooped up the award for the leading guest house.
Speaking at the gala event, President of MATATO Abdulla Ghiyas said that this year saw a record number of nominations, adding that the MATATO Travel Awards was becoming a locally and internationally recognised benchmark to measure industry excellence.
The event also saw the launching of Artistic Tales of Jewels, Light of life Project by SEN Imaadhudhin School. The project launched in association with MATATO aims to raise awareness and funds for various programmes conducted for the development of children with special needs.
The Maldives Travel Awards 2016 gala event was attended by Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer, officials from relevant government bodies, and executives from across the travel and tourism industry, sponsors, and partners.