The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), in partnership with Booking.com, has held a workshop aimed at enhancing the digital visibility and operational sophistication of guesthouse businesses throughout the country, in a strategic effort to bolster its rapidly expanding guesthouse sector.
The workshop convened at the State Electric Company (STELCO) Auditorium. Organised following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties, the session focused on equipping proprietors and managers with marketing strategies, operational insight and digital tools to improve performance on Booking.com's platform and boost overall guesthouse bookings.
According to MMPRC, the programme featured interactive sessions led by experts from the global travel platform, offering participants tailored guidance on optimising their property listings for enhanced visibility and engagement. Attendees, the agency noted, were introduced to prevailing trends across the hospitality sector and explored a suite of technologies aimed at improving competitiveness and revenue generation. The emphasis on digital marketing, MMPRC added, aligned with a broader strategic objective to equip guesthouse operators for the evolving demands of online travel marketplaces.
That goal aligns with the terms of the MoU, signed on 26 February and effective from 1 March through January 2027. The multi-year agreement sets the framework for coordinated promotional efforts to elevate the Maldives' standing as a global destination, highlighting not only its natural beauty but also the cultural richness and diversity that distinguish its tourism offerings.
In reaffirming this commitment, MMPRC highlighted the importance of sustained engagement with key tourism stakeholders. Initiatives such as the workshop, it noted, represent a long-term strategy to foster growth across the guesthouse segment. The tourism promotion agency is also preparing to expand the scope of the partnership through targeted training in supply chain optimisation and further joint campaigns that reinforce the national tourism agenda.