Maldives Tourism Minister leads stellar speaker line-up at AHICE Maldives
by Ruth Hogan
Sep 19, 2025
Maldives Minister of State for Tourism and Environment Dr. Abdulla Niyaz will deliver an opening speech at the AHICE Maldives Hotel Investment Conference on Thursday September 25.
A distinguished professional with extensive expertise in hospitality, tourism management, governance, and compliance, spanning both local and international sectors, Minister Niyaz is focused on strengthening regulatory frameworks, ethical leadership, and new initiatives within tourism governance.
Having completed his postgraduate studies in New Zealand, his commitment to transparent governance and regulatory standards has extended to overseeing compliance frameworks in schools, and pre-opening hotel projects in New Zealand.
In the hospitality sector, he has led hotel operations and franchise quality assurance, ensuring adherence to global industry standards.
Crown Company Chairman, Hussain Afeef, one of the pioneers of tourism in the Maldives, will also take to the stage at in a one-on-one conversation with JLL CEO – Asia Pacific, Nihat Ercan.
One of the founders of Crown Company, Afeef is also a shareholder of KASA holdings and Champa Brothers, one of the largest operators in the Maldives operating in the tourism sector and other business areas.
He has interests in 10 resorts as well as other businesses throughout the Maldives and internationally.
Among his contributions to the Government and positions held include his service to the Economic Advisory Council to the President of Maldives as a member and is the Vice Chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI).
Several key figures in the Maldives tourism landscape will take to the stage includingMATI Secretary General, Ahmed Nazeer; Asad Ali,Deputy Secretary General,Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI); Aishath Alaa Abdul Hannan, Deputy Manager of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, Trans Maldivian Airways; Mohamed Mihad, Chief Commercial Officer, Maldives Airports Co (MAC); and Muaviyath Umar, Chief Operating Officer, Villa Resorts.
Also speaking at this year’s event is Nexia Maldives Director, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Mohamed Inaz, who will deliver a keynote presentation on environmental, social and governance (ESG) as a strategic tool for value creation in island hospitality industry.
Candela Regional CEO – Asia-Pacific, Björn Antonsson, will discuss sustainability and innovation, and S Hotels and Resorts Chief Executive Officer, Michael Marshall, will appear in a Hotelier Q&A.
Among the keynote presentations at this year’s conference is a Real Estate Market Outlook for Maldives for 2025 and beyond, presented by JLL Hotels’ Senior Vice President, Ling Wei Tan, and an introduction toSix and Six Private Islands by Director of Operations, Marc Gussing.
Hilton Vice President and Regional Head South-East Asia, Alex Murray, and La Vie Hotels Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Xu, will be interviewed by AHICE Group President in separate Hotelier Q&A sessions.
The Maldives Hoteliers’ Outlook will feature several of the Maldives’ leading executives and General Managers, including Mark Eletr, General Manager, Holiday Inn resort Kandooma Maldives, Morten Junior, General Manager, Kurumba Maldives, and TJ Joulak, General Manager, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.
The Maldives Hotel Development Outlook, hosted by Robert Williams, Head of Hotels & Hospitality Asia Pacific, Watson Farley and Williams, will feature several of the region’s leading development executives on the nation’s growth outlook including Maria Ariizumi, Vice President of Development – Southeast Asia, Hilton.
The Maldives Investment Outlook, hosted by Calvin Li, Executive Vice President, Head of Transaction Advisory Services, JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group, will see leading investors including Ghaly Murthala, Managing Director,Morteza Capital, take to the stage to look at the segments, destinations, and brands that are fuelling growth.
What’s hot in technology will also be up for discussion in a session moderated by Enzyme Consulting Founder and CEO, Andrew Cameron, and featuring Benjamin Krieg, Global Vice President Strategic Accounts, FutureLog, Shellia Chang, Sales Director, ANZ & Pacific – Hospitality, Infor, and Steven Hopkinson, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Shiji Group.
Having completed his postgraduate studies in New Zealand, his commitment to transparent governance and regulatory standards has extended to overseeing compliance frameworks in schools, and pre-opening hotel projects in New Zealand.
In the hospitality sector, he has led hotel operations and franchise quality assurance, ensuring adherence to global industry standards.
Crown Company Chairman, Hussain Afeef, one of the pioneers of tourism in the Maldives, will also take to the stage at in a one-on-one conversation with JLL CEO – Asia Pacific, Nihat Ercan.
One of the founders of Crown Company, Afeef is also a shareholder of KASA holdings and Champa Brothers, one of the largest operators in the Maldives operating in the tourism sector and other business areas.
He has interests in 10 resorts as well as other businesses throughout the Maldives and internationally.
Among his contributions to the Government and positions held include his service to the Economic Advisory Council to the President of Maldives as a member and is the Vice Chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI).
Several key figures in the Maldives tourism landscape will take to the stage includingMATI Secretary General, Ahmed Nazeer; Asad Ali,Deputy Secretary General,Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI); Aishath Alaa Abdul Hannan, Deputy Manager of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, Trans Maldivian Airways; Mohamed Mihad, Chief Commercial Officer, Maldives Airports Co (MAC); and Muaviyath Umar, Chief Operating Officer, Villa Resorts.
