2026 AHICE Maldives Program Overview
Please see the 2026 Asia Pacific Hotel Industry Conference & Exhibition (AHICE) Maldives Hotel Investment Conference program overview below. More details will be available shortly.
Tuesday 13 October 2026
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
| 5:30pm-6:30pm |
WELCOME DRINKS at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. |
| 6:30pm-9:00pm |
NETWORKING: Optional Networking dinner (additional cost / included on full board) |
| 9:00pm-onwards |
NETWORKING: AHICE ‘After Dark’ networking bar at Hard Rock Hotel (pay as you go) |
Note: Program is subject to change
Wednesday 14 October 2026
Crossroads ballroom, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
| 11:15am-onwards |
REGISTRATION at Crossroads. |
| 12:00pm-1:00pm | NETWORKING LUNCH at Crossroads. Presented by  |
| 1:00pm-1:10pm | WELCOME TO THE AHICE MALDIVES TOURISM INVESTMENT CONFERENCE by JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group Head of Investment Sales, Asia, JULIEN NAOURI, and AHICE Group President, Chair and Convenor, JAMES WILKINSON. |
| 1:10pm-1:25pm | INDUSTRY Q&A: MATI Secretary General, ASAD ALI, in conversation with AHICE Group President and Chair and Convenor, JAMES WILKINSON. |
| 1:25pm-1:35pm | KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: MALDIVES, BY THE NUMBERS by STR Sales, South & Southeast Asia, RACHEL CHEU. |
| 1:35pm-1:50pm |
KEYNOTE Q&A: S Hotels and Resorts Chief Executive Officer, MICHAEL MARSHALL, in conversation with Group President – AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines, JAMES WILKINSON. |
| 1:50pm-2:20pm | PANEL SESSION: THE MALDIVES DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK. What to expect in the Maldives for 2026 and beyond by leading executives. Hosted by: • CALVIN LI, Executive Vice President, Head of Transaction Advisory, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group Panelists: • GIANFRANCO BIANCHI, Chief Executive Officer, The One Atelier • KATE LOH, Head of Development, Pan Pacific Hotels Group • MARCO BONINI, Director of Branded Residences, Six and Six • RUWANI WEERASINGHE, Director Asset Management and Acquisition, La Vie Hotels and Resorts |
| 2:20pm-2:40pm | PANEL SESSION: THE ASIA-PACIFIC INDUSTRY OUTLOOK. What to expect in the Maldives for 2026 and beyond by leading executives. Hosted by: • JAMES WILKINSON, Group President – AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines Panelists: • NITESH PANDEY, Chief Operating Officer – Asia Pacific (APAC), The Lux Collective • RAMESH BAPPOO, Head of Operations, SSEA, La Vie Hotels and Resorts |
| 2:40pm-3:10pm |
PANEL SESSION: MALDIVES INVESTMENT OUTLOOK. What to expect in the Maldives for 2026 and beyond by leading executives. |
| 3:10pm-3:30pm | PANEL SESSION: HOT TECHNOLOGY. What to expect in the Maldives for 2026 and beyond by leading executives. Hosted by: • JAMES WILKINSON, Group President – AHICE Global Conferences and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines Panelists: • AMIT PESHAWARIA, VP of Sales, APAC, Duetto • DANIEL MOURAD, General Manager – APAC, Canary Technologies • SHELLIA CHANG, Sales Director, ANZ & Pacific – Hospitality, Infor |
| 3:30pm-3:50pm | NETWORKING: Afternoon tea and coffee. Presented by  |
| 3:50pm-4:05pm |
KEYNOTE Q&A: SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT. Candela Regional CEO – Asia-Pacific, BJÖRN ANTONSSON, in conversation with AHICE Group President, Chair and Convenor, JAMES WILKINSON. |
| 4:05pm-4:30pm |
PANEL SESSION: THE MALDIVES OPERATORS’ OUTLOOK. What to expect in the Maldives for 2026 and beyond by leading executives. |
| 4:30pm-4:45pm |
KEYNOTE Q&A: EXPANDING THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET TO THE MALDIVES. Maldivian General Manager, Commercial (International), MOHAMED SAFFAH and Luxury Escapes Chief Revenue Officer DANIEL MONK, in conversation with AHICE Global Conferences Group President and Editor-In-Chief, HM and Wayfarer magazines, JAMES WILKINSON. |
| 5:00pm-7:00pm |
NETWORKING drinks and bites at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. |
| 7:15pm-9:30pm |
NETWORKING dinner at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives (additional cost / included on full board) |
| 9:30pm-onwards |
NETWORKING: AHICE ‘After Dark’ networking bar at Hard Rock Hotel (pay as you go) |
Note: Program is subject to change
IMPORTANT: THE AHICE HOUSE RULES
A note from the organisers: Due to a number of unofficial invite-only events taking place during conferences in recent years, we would ask that businesses and individuals please do not host any events during the above times as a courtesy to other sponsors of AHICE Maldives.
We all know that without sponsors, events like this cannot happen and we ask that our request is respected. If unapproved events do take place during the official times, the organisers and representatives of those companies will not be able to attend any AHICE sessions and are at the risk of passes being revoked.
We are also requesting that supplier and adviser attendees that aren’t sponsors of the event do not canvas for business with sales materials and documents at AHICE Maldives events. Those that do will be at the risk of passes being revoked.
To find out how you can be involved in the program, please contact:
HOTEL OWNERS & CHAINS
James Wilkinson, AHICE Chair & Convenor: jwilkinson@intermedia.com.au
GET IN TOUCH
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
