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The Maldives Wins ‘World's Leading Destination 2020’

Traditional Dress of the World's leading destination
The Maldives has achieved a historical milestone by winning the prestigious ‘World’s Leading Destination Award 2020’ title.

The Maldives has achieved a historical milestone by winning the prestigious ‘World’s Leading Destination Award’ title at the World Travel Awards 2020. This is the first time the Maldives was crowned in the most distinguished travel award category in the World.

The Maldives takes the award after fierce competition with world-class destinations such as; Dubai, Spain, Greece, India, and the United States of America and also other countries. 6 properties in the Maldives also won prestige in the world-class categories. Additionally, the world’s biggest airline, Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) was also crowned as the world’s leading seaplane operator. Likewise, TMA has secured this title since 2019.

Maldives winning World’s Leading Destination award is a strong endorsement of the popularity of Maldives amongst international tourists. This superb win reflects the strong determination and sound policies of HEP Solih and his administration, strive and strides of travel and tourism industry partners and employees; targeted #VisitMaldives promotion by industry partners and MMPRC and of course the warm smile of Maldivians. Congratulations!

A statement by Tourism Minister of the Maldives, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom.

In addition to the world’s leading destination 2020 award, Maldives has also claimed the title of Indian Ocean’s leading dive destination constructively for the past 5 years. Furthermore, the island nation is on a winning streak, grabbing the Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination title without a drop since 2013.

The Maldives won regional titles at the World Travel Awards including:

1. Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020: Maldives
2. Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination: 2020: Maldives
3. Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2020: Maldives
4. Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020: Maldives

The titles properties in the Maldives won globally include:

1. World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
2. World’s Leading Luxury Island Villas 2020: Baros Maldives
3. World’s Leading Water Villa Resort 2020: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
4. World’s Leading New Resort 2020: Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
5. World’s Leading Airport Resort 2020: Hulhule Island Hotel
6. World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2020: JA Manafaru
7. World’s Leading Underwater Hotel Restaurant 2020: 5.8 Undersea Restaurant @ Hurawalhi Island Resort, Maldives
8. World’s Leading Luxury Honeymoon Resort 2020: Vakkaru Maldives

Aerial view of The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Aerial view of St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Also read: Choosing a Villa in the Maldives: Beach, Overwater or Underwater?

World Travel Awards™ is globally recognized as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. Likewise, this year, the World Travel Awards had an extended voting period; to enable all organizations nominated in the 2020 program a longer timeframe so they can generate votes.

Feature image by Kurumba Maldives
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Marriott International Celebrates Second Wave of Graduates in Maldives Apprenticeship Program

Marriott International Celebrates Second Wave of Graduates in Maldives Apprenticeship Program

On April 19, 2025, Marriott International celebrated the success of 31 apprentices who graduated from the second batch of its Maldives Apprenticeship Program. The special ceremony took place at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa and featured key dignitaries, including Hon. Ibrahim Waheed, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts, along with other officials from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and the Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT). Additionally, Mark Fletcher, Marriott’s Area Director of Human Resources for Singapore and the Maldives, also attended to acknowledge the graduates’ achievements.

Hon. Ibrahim Waheed highlighted the program’s role in empowering the youth of the Maldives, commenting, “Today, we celebrate 31 apprenticeship graduates. These are 31 futures redefined—each a testament to what happens when opportunity meets action. To our apprentices, you step forward as ambassadors of possibility. And to Marriott International, thank you for not just supporting this program, but for championing it—your commitment to mentorship and local capacity building is truly admirable.”

A Collaborative Effort in Hospitality Training

The Marriott Apprenticeship Program is a collaborative effort between Marriott International, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, and MIT. This 10-month program provides participants with a well-rounded education that includes theoretical lessons at MIT and hands-on experience at various Marriott resorts across the Maldives. Specifically, the apprentices received training in several key hospitality sectors, including front office operations, culinary arts, food and beverage service, and housekeeping.

By partnering with the Maldivian government, Marriott became the first international hospitality brand to support such an apprenticeship initiative in the country, reinforcing its dedication to developing local talent. In this way, the program supports Marriott’s broader mission to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the fast-growing Maldivian tourism industry.

Practical Experience Across Marriott’s Maldives Resorts

The apprentices completed their theoretical training at MIT before gaining practical experience at Marriott’s luxurious properties in the Maldives, such as The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands; The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort; JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa; W Maldives; Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa; Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa; and The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort.

True to the company’s guiding principle of “We Put People First,” Marriott focuses on helping young professionals grow and succeed. As a result of their hard work, all the graduates received Level-3 certification, officially recognized by the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA). This certification acknowledges their successful completion of both the academic and practical components of the program, preparing them for careers in the hospitality industry.

Looking Ahead to a Bright Future

Mark Fletcher reflected on the program’s origins, noting, “When we launched this program in 2023, it was envisioned as a pilot, a leap of faith, grounded in belief. A belief in crafting talents of Maldivian youth, belief in the strength and collaboration, and belief in Marriott’s commitment to “take care” – not just our people but the communities where we serve. What began as an initiative is now a movement, and Marriott International is proud to be the first international hospitality brand to officially launch such apprenticeship program in the Maldives”

Ultimately, this graduation marks a key milestone in Marriott’s efforts to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the Maldives’ tourism industry by fostering a talented and skilled local workforce. Marriott looks forward to watching its graduates embark on successful careers and continue playing an essential role in the growth of the country’s hospitality sector.

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