MIB Guesthouse Awards 2026 Opens Applications to Celebrate Local Tourism Excellence

Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) has announced that applications for the MIB Guesthouse Awards 2026 will officially open on July 15. The initiative stands as the only awards program in the Maldives dedicated specifically to recognizing outstanding local tourism service providers, guesthouses, and islands within the nation's expanding guesthouse sector. To ensure a transparent and objective selection process, MIB has appointed Crowe Maldives Advisory to conduct independent evaluations. The program has also received official endorsement from the Guesthouse Association of Maldives (GAM). The awards are structured to provide a level playing field by dividing guesthouses into two tiers based on size. Tier 1 is reserved for establishments with up to 10 rooms, while Tier 2 includes those with 11 or more rooms. In total, the ceremony will feature eight awards for each tier, three individual awards for hospitality professionals, and one prestigious award for the most outstanding island. Eligibility requirements are stringent to maintain high industry standards. Guesthouses must be legally registered under the Companies Act of the Maldives and hold a valid operating license from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Furthermore, applicants must provide a Tax Clearance Certificate and demonstrate full compliance with the Pension Act and national employment laws. Operational criteria require guesthouses to have been active for at least 12 months prior to the application date. They must also maintain a visible presence on major international travel platforms such as Booking.com, Airbnb, Agoda, or TripAdvisor. For individual categories, applicants must be Maldivian citizens with no conflict of interest regarding MIB or Crowe Maldives Advisory. The 'Guesthouse Tourism Champion Island Award' will be granted to islands that show sustained commitment to tourism development, provided they possess at least 50 operational guesthouse rooms at the time of application. While the application window opens mid-July, MIB stated that the date for the final awards ceremony will be announced through its official media channels at a later stage.