Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) has appointed STO Energy as the official energy partner and Jalboot as the official transportation partner for the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean 2026, strengthening preparations for one of the international travel and tourism industry’s most prominent awards ceremonies to be hosted in the Maldives this September.
The partnerships bring together established Maldivian organisations and tourism industry stakeholders to support the operational requirements of the international event, which is scheduled to take place on 27 September 2026 at CROSSROADS Maldives. The ceremony will bring leading representatives of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries from Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean to the Maldives, providing the country with an important international platform to showcase its tourism excellence, hospitality standards and destination development.
The agreement appointing STO Energy as the official energy partner was signed by Ahmed Riffath, Manager of Sales and Marketing at STO Energy, and Aishath Shirany Nasir, Manager of Business Development at Visit Maldives Corporation. Under the partnership, STO Energy will contribute reliable energy resources and operational support required for the successful delivery of the ceremony. The participation of STO Energy brings established local expertise and resources into the organisation of the event and reflects the important role of Maldivian companies in supporting major international programmes hosted in the country.
Visit Maldives Corporation has also appointed Jalboot as the official transportation partner for the awards. The partnership agreement was signed by Sharon Austin, Director of Corporate Services at Jalboot, and Aishath Shirany Nasir, Manager of Business Development at Visit Maldives Corporation. Jalboot will provide transportation services for the event and its participants, drawing on its expertise in maritime transportation and related operational services to facilitate the efficient movement and coordination of delegates.
Maritime connectivity is particularly important to the Maldivian tourism industry, where transfers between the international airport, resorts and island destinations form an integral part of the visitor experience. Jalboot’s involvement is therefore expected to provide important logistical support as international tourism leaders, hospitality executives and other invited participants travel to the host venue. Together with STO Energy’s role in supporting the event’s energy requirements, the partnerships demonstrate coordinated participation by local businesses in delivering a major international tourism event.
The 2026 ceremony will be hosted at CROSSROADS Maldives, the country’s first multi-island integrated lifestyle destination. Located approximately 15 minutes by boat from Velana International Airport, the destination combines luxury accommodation, leisure, dining and entertainment facilities across four connected islands, offering international visitors convenient access while retaining the distinctive tropical island environment for which the Maldives is globally renowned.
CROSSROADS Maldives is home to three internationally branded resorts — SAii Lagoon Maldives, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives — each offering a different interpretation of the Maldivian resort experience. The combination of multiple hospitality brands within a single integrated destination provides guests with a broad range of accommodation, recreational and dining experiences while allowing convenient movement between the connected islands. The concept reflects the continuing diversification of the Maldives tourism product beyond the traditional single-island resort model.
The destination was developed with inspiration from the Maldives’ historical position along important maritime trading routes connecting Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its contemporary island-community concept brings together hospitality, leisure and visitor facilities in a setting designed to complement the country’s natural environment. Its proximity to Velana International Airport and the Greater Malé region also makes CROSSROADS particularly well positioned to host large-scale international gatherings requiring efficient transport, accommodation and event coordination.
Hosting the World Travel Awards at CROSSROADS Maldives will provide international tourism professionals with an opportunity to experience both the country’s established luxury hospitality standards and the newer generation of integrated tourism developments. The presence of three distinctive resorts within the destination further enables the Maldives to demonstrate the diversity of its hospitality sector to an influential international audience comprising tourism organisations, destination representatives and hospitality brands.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards recognises excellence across the international travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Its ceremonies bring together leading tourism destinations and businesses from around the world, and the return of the event to the Maldives offers an important opportunity for the country to reinforce its international tourism profile. The ceremony on 27 September will also coincide with World Tourism Day, adding further significance to the Maldives’ role as host.
The Maldives previously hosted a World Travel Awards regional ceremony in 2017 and has continued to receive strong international recognition for its tourism sector in subsequent years. Bringing the awards back to the country in 2026 reflects the Maldives’ continued prominence within international tourism and provides an additional platform for showcasing the quality, innovation and global competitiveness of its resort industry.
The Government has continued to place tourism promotion, destination diversification and stronger international engagement among the priorities supporting the country’s economic development. International events of this scale complement those efforts by bringing decision-makers and tourism professionals directly to the Maldives, allowing them to experience the destination while strengthening relationships with the country’s tourism and hospitality industry.
Visit Maldives Corporation’s coordination with STO Energy, Jalboot and other local and international partners further demonstrates the collaborative approach being taken to prepare for the awards. The participation of Maldivian businesses in key operational areas also ensures that local capabilities are prominently represented alongside the country’s internationally recognised hospitality sector.
As preparations advance towards September, the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean 2026 is expected to provide significant international exposure for the Maldives and its tourism industry. With CROSSROADS Maldives providing a sophisticated multi-island setting and local partners supporting essential operational requirements, the event will offer the country another opportunity to present its hospitality, tourism infrastructure and distinctive island experiences to global tourism leaders while supporting the Government’s broader efforts to maintain the Maldives among the world’s most recognised and competitive travel destinations.
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