World Travel Awards 2024: Maldives Triumphs Across Categories

The World Travel Awards 2024 celebrated outstanding achievements in the global travel and tourism industry. Among the notable winners, the Maldives stood out, taking home prestigious titles across multiple categories. The Maldives’ diverse luxury resorts, remarkable hospitality, and environmental commitment were recognized on the world stage. Here’s a look at the winners from the Maldives in the World Travel Awards 2024.

World Winners 2024

World’s Leading Destination 2024 – Maldives
World’s Leading Green Destination 2024 – Maldives
World’s Leading Luxury Honeymoon Resort 2024 – Vakkaru Maldives
World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2024 – The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
World’s Leading Seaplane Operator 2024 – Trans Maldivian Airways
World’s Leading Water Resort 2024 – Emerald Maldives Resort and Spa
World’s Leading Private Island Resort 2024 – Velaa Private Island Maldives
World’s Leading Airport Resort 2024 – Hulhule Island Hotel, Maldives
World’s Leading Boutique Airport Hotel 2024 – JEN Maldives Male’ by Shangri-La

Indian Ocean Winners 2024

Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2024 – Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2024 – Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2024 – Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport Hotel 2024 – Equator Village, Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2024 – Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Resort 2024 – COMO Cocoa Island, Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Resort 2024 – Bandos Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort 2024 – Vakkaru Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort 2024 – The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort 2024 – Kurumba Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Resort 2024 – Alila Kothaifaru Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2024 – JA Manafaru Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2024 – Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2024 – Velaa Private Residence @ Velaa Private Island
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2024 – Get Into Maldives Travels
Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator 2024 – Trans Maldivian Airways
Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency 2024 – Simply Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Villa Resort 2024 – OZEN Life Maadhoo
Indian Ocean’s Leading Water Villa Resort 2024 – Sun Siyam Vilu Reef Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort 2024 – Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives

Maldives Winners 2024

Maldives’ Leading Destination Management Company 2024 – Get Into Maldives Travels
Maldives’ Leading Resort 2024 – VARU by Atmosphere
Maldives’ Leading Luxury Resort 2024 – The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Maldives’ Leading Luxury Island Resort 2024 – Cheval Blanc Randheli
Maldives’ Leading Water Villa Resort 2024 – Baros Maldives
Maldives’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2024 – Lily Beach Resort & Spa
Maldives’ Leading Beach Resort 2024 – Diamonds Thudufushi
Maldives’ Leading Boutique Resort 2024 – Huvafen Fushi Maldives
Maldives’ Leading Family Resort 2024 – Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives
Maldives’ Leading Green Resort 2024 – Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu
Maldives’ Leading Honeymoon Resort 2024 – Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa
Maldives’ Leading Hotel Suite 2024 – The Vakkaru Over Water Residence @ Vakkaru Maldives
Maldives’ Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2024 – Royal RESERVE @ OZEN RESERVE Bolifushi
Maldives’ Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2024 – Get Into Maldives Travels
Maldives’ Leading Luxury Villa Resort 2024 – Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
Maldives’ Leading Tour Operator 2024 – Alpha Maldives
Maldives’ Leading Travel Agency 2024 – Travel Connection Maldives
Maldives’ Leading Villa Resort 2024 – Constance Halaveli

The Maldives Continuing Excellence

The Maldives once again proved its dominance in the global travel and tourism sector at the World Travel Awards 2024. With the country taking home top honors in multiple categories, it is clear that the Maldives continues to set the standard for luxury, sustainability, and unparalleled hospitality. From the stunning resorts to its dedication to green practices, the Maldives is not just a destination; it is a symbol of excellence in the world of travel.

JEN Maldives, Malé by Shangri-La has appointed Juan Carlos Diago as its new General Manager, effective March 23, 2025. With over four decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Diago brings an exceptional leadership background to the resort. He has led nine resorts and twelve city hotels across two continents, showcasing his diverse and extensive expertise. Consequently, his wealth of experience will play a vital role in the resort’s continued success.

A Passionate Leader with Proven Expertise

Diago is well-known for his passion, energy, and commitment to excellence. Throughout his career, he has consistently elevated service standards, enhanced guest experiences, and driven financial performance. Notably, he has achieved remarkable success in leadership roles with prestigious hospitality brands such as Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, and Universal Music Hotels & Resorts. As a result, his leadership has produced impressive outcomes across various operational areas.

Juan Carlos Diago shared his vision, expressing

“My vision is to see this hotel ranked among the very best—not just within our company, but across the entire city. I firmly believe that with our passionate team and commitment to excellence, we can absolutely achieve this.”

A Diverse Global Experience

With extensive leadership experience in cities such as Bangkok, Manila, Surabaya, Penang, Miami, Cartagena, Cancun, Rio de Janeiro, and Bogotá, Diago has honed his skills in overseeing pre-openings, large-scale renovations, and managing all-inclusive resorts. Furthermore, his multilingual fluency in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and various Asian languages enables him to connect across cultures, adding a valuable global perspective to his strategic approach. In addition, Diago has mastered sales and marketing, revenue management, and digital transformation. He has successfully pioneered the use of Artificial Intelligence to enhance operational efficiency. These capabilities make him the ideal leader to guide JEN Maldives into its next phase of growth and innovation.

Before his appointment, Diago served as Senior Hotel Consultant and Development Advisor for Universal Music Hotels & Resorts, where he supported their expansion across South America and the Caribbean. Additionally, his previous roles include General Manager at renowned properties such as Hotel Live Aqua Mexico City, Hotel Estelar Cartagena de Indias, and the iconic Hotel Westin Camino Real in Guatemala. At these properties, he achieved record-breaking guest satisfaction scores and impressive financial results. As a result, his leadership has consistently delivered outstanding outcomes.

In addition to his extensive experience, Diago is pursuing advanced certifications from the prestigious École Hôtelière de Lausanne. He is focusing on Hotel Asset Management and Hotel Development & Real Estate Investment, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. This dedication to personal development reinforces his leadership abilities and vision for the future.

As he steps into his role as General Manager of JEN Maldives, Diago is confident that his dynamic leadership will drive the hotel to new milestones, enhance its brand, and deliver exceptional experiences to guests, colleagues, and stakeholders. With his vision and expertise, JEN Maldives is poised for an exciting future under his leadership. Diago’s leadership will ensure that the resort continues to thrive in an increasingly competitive industry.

Maldives Triumphs Across Categories at World Travel Awards 2024

World Winners 2024

Indian Ocean Winners 2024

Maldives Winners 2024

The Maldives Continuing Excellence

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