“Marhaba Maldives!” said Aadil Esack, GM: Product and Marketing for XL Travel, welcoming 200 delegates for the 2025 edition of its conference, which began on September 8 at Sun Siyam Olhuveli in the Maldives under the theme, ‘Beyond Boundaries’.
Speaking at the Barefoot BBQ on the opening night, Esack said: “Today we sit with over 150 quality members all over Southern Africa,” adding that this year, XL Travel celebrated its 21st birthday, which factored into their destination and theme choice for the conference. “We know that the Maldives often stays unchecked on people’s bucket lists. For me, this is the realisation of a very long-term dream. I think it’s very appropriate that we celebrate our 21st birthday in paradise!”
Chairman of the XL Travel Board, Brian Singer, added: “The format of this year’s conference is slightly different from prior years. As you’ll see from the programme, most of our panels are led by our suppliers. It’s an opportunity for us to hear from their perspective, the challenges they face, and for us to listen and absorb and hopefully work together positively going forward.”
Take a look at a few photos from the opening night below:
