Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) has officially opened applications for the MIB Guesthouse Awards 2026, inviting guesthouses, tourism professionals, and island councils from across the Maldives to participate in a national awards programme that celebrates excellence in the country's growing guesthouse tourism sector.
The MIB Guesthouse Awards 2026 aims to recognise those who are setting new standards in hospitality through exceptional service, authentic Maldivian experiences, sustainability, innovation, community engagement, and destination development. The awards seek to honour individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to strengthening the Maldives as a leading guesthouse destination.
The awards feature 12 categories across three divisions. Eight awards recognise excellence among guesthouses, covering Service Excellence & Hospitality, Authentic Maldivian Experience, Island Excursions & Experiences, Culinary Experience, Eco-friendly, Community Impact, Digital Presence, and Iconic Marine & Dive Experience.
Three individual awards recognise outstanding professionals whose dedication and commitment have positively contributed to the guesthouse tourism industry. In addition, the Guesthouse Tourism Champion Island Award celebrates islands that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in developing and sustaining guesthouse tourism through community collaboration, infrastructure readiness, destination stewardship, and island enhancement.
To ensure fair and equitable competition, guesthouses will be evaluated under a two-tier classification system based on accommodation capacity. Tier 1 comprises guesthouses with 3–10 rooms, while Tier 2 comprises guesthouses with 11 rooms or more, ensuring each property is assessed alongside others of a comparable size.
Each category has clearly defined judging criteria and evidence requirements, enabling applicants to demonstrate their achievements through supporting documentation such as guest reviews, photographs, videos, certifications, sustainability initiatives, cultural experiences, digital presence, and community engagement activities.
Applications are submitted online through the dedicated MIB Guesthouse Awards 2026 portal, where applicants can register, review category criteria, upload supporting evidence, and monitor the progress of their submissions.
Guesthouse operators, tourism professionals, and eligible island councils are encouraged to submit their applications and showcase the achievements that continue to strengthen the Maldives' guesthouse tourism industry.
For more information on the award categories, eligibility criteria, judging process, and to submit an application, visit https://mib.com.mv/guesthouseaward.
