Bench Events have recently announced the launch of the inaugural Maldives Hotel & Tourism Investment Briefing to be held on 30 November in Malé, following on from the Asia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC) which is taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 28-29 November. AHTIC is a top-level gathering of international investors, business leaders, government ministers and officials and it is anticipated that investors and delegates will travel from Colombo to Malé for a one-day briefing with project showcases and a networking reception followed by a day of FAM trips to various islands around the region to show potential investors and partners the projects available for collaborations. These will include a range of both public and private investment opportunities.

In 2016 the Maldives hospitality and tourism industry recorded an annual average tourist arrival growth rate of 4.2%. According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the global annual average tourist arrival growth rate for the year was 3.9% year-on-year, which is slightly lower than the rate for Maldives.

To cater for this increase in demand the country continues to invest in the supporting infrastructure and connectivity. The main airport is currently under expansion and is expected to be completed by 2018. Several new airlines have recently commenced flights to the Maldives including Saudi Airlines.

The Maldives is an attractive destination for the discerning investor and one of South Asias most attractive centers for Foreign Direct Investment. Lying in the heart of the Indian Ocean, at the strategic cross roads of the East and the West, the Maldives benefits from a stable and transparent legal system, relative political stability and stable economic growth. With a rate of growth that has averaged 7.5% over the past 15 years, the country continues to develop at a steady pace and remains economically resilient.

The Special Economic Zones framework provides economic incentives and introduces a flexible regulatory environment for foreign investments. With the right to incorporate businesses with 100% foreign ownership and no restrictions on repatriation of profits, the Maldives promotes a liberal trade environment and offers excellent ROI, which are among the highest globally (5 to 8 years on average).

The briefing is organised by Bench Events, in partnership with Luxury Collections and will be hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, under the patronage Mr Moosa Zameer, Tourism Minister of the Maldives.

Luxury Collections CEO & Founder, Adeel Ahmed, said: "We are thrilled to announce the Maldives Tourism and Hotel Investment Briefing. This event will attract some of the worlds premier investors and is co-directed by a leading international consultant who has organised multiple similar events around the globe. This event has incredible potential for tourism investment, and the Maldives is bursting with opportunities, with a tourism-based economy and a strong brand identity which has stood the test of time".

ENDS

About Bench Events

Global event organiser Bench Events has a long track record of delivering multiple premium hotel investment conferences and forums across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Market leading annual conferences include the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) in Dubai, now in its 14^th year, the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) the Asia Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC), The Summit in London and the Latin American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conferences (SAHIC).

Bench Events extensive portfolio also includes the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF) in Dubai and AviaDev, designed to promote the future air connectivity in Africa.

Bench Events mission is enabling prosperity by facilitating growth, networking, and thought leadership in the hospitality industry worldwide.

www.benchevents.com

About The Luxury Collection

Luxury Collections is one of the Indian Ocean regions foremost hospitality groups. With decades of experience between our team, you can rest assured you are in safe hands. Our staff have worked with some of the worlds premier luxury travel brands and we are well-respected within the industry for our professionalism and dedication.

Our areas of expertise include ultra-luxury tourism promotion and event management, for high end clients for whom money is no object and travel is lifestyle. We excel at luxury PR. Our clients include some of the most exclusive resorts and travel brands in the world. In addition, our stellar private event management skills are in high demand. We also provide a proactive luxury travel retail distribution service.

Contacts
For further information and high resolution images, please contact:

Sally Marwaha, Event Manager, Bench Events, Email: sally.marwaha@benchevents.com, Tel: +44 (0) 7815 081926.