SATA Awards celebrates its 10th edition in Maldives; boosts regional tourism ties

The South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) concluded its 10th edition in Malé, Maldives, celebrating and bringing together tourism stakeholders from 6 countries to celebrate excellence across the region’s travel, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé, the edition marked a significant chapter in SATA’s journey, with support from the Maldives’ tourism industry and partners across hospitality, aviation, marine services, insurance and digital solutions. The event also reinforced the importance of regional cooperation in promoting South Asia as a diverse tourism destination.

Speaking about hosting the milestone edition in the Maldives, Ismail Hameed, President and Founder, SATA, said, “We are very happy to have hosted the 10th edition in the Maldives, the iconic tourism destination of the South Asian region, situated in the Indian Ocean. Six countries were part of the event, and the idea of bringing this milestone edition to the Maldives emerged from discussions with Maldives Tourism during our previous edition in Sri Lanka. We received strong support from the host destination, and we are delighted to have brought the industry together with our South Asian tourism colleagues in the Maldives.”

Highlighting SATA’s broader role in the travel industry, Hameed emphasised the platform’s evolution beyond recognising achievements to facilitating conversations among tourism leaders and encouraging collective action on industry issues.

“When we started, SATA did not have initiatives such as Connected Conversations. Today, we bring tourism leaders together to discuss how we can collectively address industry issues and empower people. I would still say that the unsung heroes of the industry are the people involved in delivering the experience,” he said. “We see a brand and a product, whether it is a tall luxury building, a smaller property or a superior resort. However, it is the service and the experience you receive that make a product truly exceptional,”Hameed addedHas South Asia’s geographical, climatic and cultural diversity gives the region a distinctive advantage in the global tourism market. From beaches and mountains to varied climates, cultural heritage and cuisine, the region offers a wide range of experiences for international travellers. “I think the world is in South Asia, and SATA plays a big role in bringing everyone together,” Hameed said.

The two-day event also featured panel discussions addressing pressing issues and emerging opportunities across the tourism industry, alongside enabling meaningful networking opportunities for regional stakeholders. The discussions covered topics including Beyond the Horizon: The Future of Tourism, Transport & Investment in the Maldives; Redefining Leadership, Luxury and the Guest Experience; and Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism. The programme brought industry leaders together to exchange perspectives on destination development, hospitality leadership, investment and the growing role of technology in reshaping tourism. 

Key speakers across the panel discussions included industry veterans such as Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council (THSC); Abdulla Yasir, MD and CEO of Visit Maldives Corporation; Amal Goonetilleke, hospitality marketing consultant for Sri Lanka and the Maldives; and Tek Mahat Bahadur, CEO of the Hotel Association of Nepal, among others.  

The second day culminated in a gala dinner and the SATA Awards ceremony, recognising achievements across an extensive range of categories spanning hotels, tour operators, airlines and other travel and hospitality businesses.
 

The 10th edition received support from a range of organisations representing the region’s tourism and hospitality ecosystem. Barceló Nasandhura Malé served as Host Partner, while Visit Maldives Corporation was the Destination Partner. Gulf Craft Maldives joined as Platinum Partner, with Hawks Pvt Ltd and Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives as Gold Partners, among others.

With its 10th edition concluded, SATA aims to continue positioning itself as a platform for recognising industry achievements while fostering dialogue, partnerships and collaborative destination promotion across South Asia.