The 10th edition of SATA brought together South Asia’s tourism fraternity for industry discussions and a grand gala, recognising excellence across destinations, hospitality, travel businesses and aviation.
The South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) marked its 10th edition with Connect & Conversations on October 7, followed by the grand gala on October 8, 2026, at Barceló Nasandhura Malé, Maldives. TravelBiz Monitor, as an invited B2B travel trade media publication, was part of the industry gathering that celebrated regional achievements while highlighting conversations shaping tourism’s future.
Established in 2016, SATA has developed into a regional platform recognizing achievements across travel, tourism and hospitality. This year, 52 Gold and 98 Silver Awards were presented across categories spanning Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The milestone edition brought together tourism authorities, hospitality leaders, travel businesses and industry partners, reinforcing the importance of collaboration across South Asia’s diverse tourism markets.
Connect & Conversations: Beyond the awards
Held on October 7, the Connect & Conversations programme featured three panel discussions addressing tourism investment, hospitality leadership and digital transformation.
The opening session, Beyond the Horizon: The Future of Tourism, Transport & Investment in the Maldives, featured Mohammed Hussein Alshaali, Chairman and Co-Founder of Gulf Craft; Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, Chairperson of Visit Maldives Corporation; and Jasim Janah, Group CEO of Hotels & Resorts Investment Maldives. Moderated by Dinushka Chandrasena, Editor of Travel Talk Asia and Director of Skål International Asia, the discussion focused on themes central to tourism development in island destinations.
The second panel, Redefining Leadership, Luxury and the Guest Experience, brought together Ugyen Dorji of the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Bhutan; Enric Reina Canitrot of Barceló Nasandhura Malé; Nazoomi Azhar of Cinnamon Grand Colombo; and VK Karthi of Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan. The discussion highlighted the relevance of leadership and guest experience across diverse hospitality markets.
Digital transformation took centre stage in the third session, Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism. Panellists included Abdulla Yasir, Managing Director and CEO of Visit Maldives Corporation; hospitality marketing consultant Amal Goonetilleke; Tek Mahat Bahadhur, CEO of the Hotel Association of Nepal; and Jyoti Mayal, Chairperson of the Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council.
The programme also featured presentations by Suran De Silva, Chief Commercial Officer of Allied Insurance Company of the Maldives, and Captain C. R. Rejith, General Manager of Gulf Craft Maldives.
For the travel trade, the discussions addressed themes relevant to destination development, hospitality standards and technology adoption. The programme concluded with partner and media recognition, followed by networking.
Honouring regional excellence
The awards gala on October 8 recognized achievements across accommodation, travel management, aviation, wellness and destination experiences.
One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Face of South Asia Award to Mohamed Solih, Chairman of Damas Company, recognizing his contribution and leadership within the tourism and hospitality landscape.
Among the notable Gold Award recipients were:
Leading Travel Agent – Inbound: Aitken Spence Travels
Leading Travel Agent – Outbound: Classic Travel
Leading Airport Hotel: Taj Cochin International Airport, Kerala
Leading Designer Hotel/Resort: Nüwa at City of Dreams Sri Lanka
Leading Luxury Resort: Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort: Galle Face Hotel
South Asia’s Best New Hotel/Resort: Newburgh Ella – The Tea Factory
Leading Wellness & Spa Hotel/Resort: Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya
Leading Wedding Hotel/Resort: Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort Dhulikhel
Leading Hill Resort/Hotel: Amaya Hills, Kandy
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort: President, Mumbai – IHCL SeleQtions
Leading Wellness & Spa Brand: ELE|NA
The awards spanned luxury, heritage, wellness, weddings and other hospitality segments, reflecting the breadth of products available to travel professionals developing specialised itineraries across South Asia.
Destination appeal and aviation in focus
The Visitors’ Choice Awards recognized SriLankan Airlines as Leading International Airline, the Maldives as Leading Adventure Destination, Bhutan as Leading Heritage Destination and Sri Lanka as Leading Wellness Destination.
In other aviation and transport categories, Maldivian received the award for Leading Tourist Transport Provider (Airline), while Trans Maldivian Airways was recognized as Leading Tourist Transport Provider (Seaplane).
These recognitions highlight the interconnected nature of destination marketing, accommodation and transport in delivering visitor experiences. For travel advisors and tour operators, they also draw attention to the distinct offerings that can shape destination positioning and itinerary development.
Recognizing hospitality talent
SATA 2026 introduced two categories celebrating individual achievement and emerging talent. Gayani Punchihewa of Cinnamon Grand Colombo received the Gold Award for 
Outstanding Young Hotelier (Under 40 years), while Rohit Sangwan of The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, was recognized as Outstanding Chef.
The awards also recognized South Asia’s Best General Managers: Siraj Ali Waseem of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu; Alamgir Hossain of Platinum Grand by SHELTECH; Abhiram Menon of Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golflinks; and Nazoomi Azhar of Cinnamon Grand Colombo.
The recognition of hospitality professionals alongside businesses and destinations underscores the importance of leadership, expertise and service delivery in the tourism ecosystem.
Strengthening regional connections
Visit Maldives Corporation was the Destination Partner, with Barceló Nasandhura as Host Hotel and Gulf Craft Maldives as Platinum Partner. The event also received support from partners across hospitality, aviation, insurance, media and other industry segments.
The combination of Connect & Conversations and the awards gala gave SATA 2026 two complementary dimensions: industry dialogue and recognition of achievement. For South Asia’s travel trade, the platform brought attention to diverse tourism products, hospitality talent and the opportunities created by stronger regional engagement.
As SATA completes its first decade, its 2026 edition reinforces the value of bringing the region’s tourism fraternity together to celebrate excellence and exchange perspectives on the sector’s future.