Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) Maldives Travel Awards has wrapped up the first edition of the People's Edition at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, with awards conferred to 10 individuals who have contributed to the development of the tourism sector.
The winners of the first ever MATATO Maldives Travel Awards, People's Edition 2017, was announced at Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Gala Night at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi on Thursday night.
The first award of its kind, Maldives Travel Awards, People's Edition 2017 was held in order to recognize and acknowledge the steering force behind the huge success which is the Maldivian Tourism sector. Speaking at the awards ceremony President of MATATO Abdulla Ghiyas attributed the success of the Association for the invaluable service rendered by their partners. MATATO continues to work to recognize valuable stakeholders of the industry and increase human resource capacity of the tourism and hospitality sector through various training and other opportunities, Ghiyas added.
10 individuals who have dedicated themselves for the tourism and hospitality industry was conferred Tourism Personality of the Year award for their dedication and service to the industry. These winners were recognized as leading pioneers and long serving stakeholders who have contributed immensely for the development of the sector. The winners were announced by hosts of the evening, renowned presenter Moosa Waseem and Asra Naseem.
Tourism Personality of the Year award were conferred to Aminath Mamshooga who served the aviation sector for 24 years of service, Yousuf Riffath who served the tourism sector for over 35 years, Hussein Rasheed (Sendi) who has been serving in the diving industry for 3 decades, Rasa Sangheran who has served in the tourism accounting and finance sector for 15 years, Qaisar Naseem with long standing services for the tourism sector, Renato W. Chizzol who leads major resorts in the Maldives and has many years of experience under his belt, Ibrahim Didi (Don) who has been serving the tourism industry since 1979, Abdul Rasheed Ali (Absy) who has dedicated four decades in prompting local culture and music to tourists, Ali Rasheed who rendered to the tourism sector through Villa Hotels in 1995 and Zeenaz Hussain who has been educating tourism sector professionals since 1997 and now serves as the Dean of Faculty of Hospitality of Maldives National University (MNU).
Nominations for the People's Edition were open till June 30th and it was open for any individual with at least five years of experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.
The winner were selected by a panel of judges from sectors across the industry. MATATO is to hold two more awards during the year, including MTA Guest House Edition and Maldives Travel Awards Gala. The Association began conferring the Maldives Travel Awards in 2012 and expanded two more editions of the awards this year.