Across two days, I Was There 2026 brought together the global private luxury travel community through shared experiences, meaningful conversations and a setting designed for connection beyond the expected.
Held across 24–25 August 2026 at Finolhu, A Seaside Collection Resort and .Here – Baa Atoll Maldives, the Host Partners for this year’s edition, the invitation-only gathering brought travel designers, destination management companies, resort representatives and industry partners together in an environment shaped not simply around meetings, but around meaningful exchange.
At its core, I Was There is built around authentic Maldivian experiential networking.
Across three defining components: Inner Circle, Sunset Soirée and Keyn: Networking Brunch with Cultural Experiences, that philosophy took on different forms, moving from industry conversations and perspectives to recognition and celebration, before bringing meetings and Maldivian culture together through shared experiences.
Inner Circle: A Space for Conversation
I Was There 2026 opened with Inner Circle, a closed-door session bringing the private luxury travel community together for industry insights, open Q&As and conversations around the changing luxury travel landscape.
Perspectives from across the industry shaped the afternoon, touching on travel trends, the evolving expectations of luxury travellers, the guest journey, source markets and opportunities within the events space. Beyond the presentations, the room opened into discussion, allowing different sides of the industry to exchange ideas and experiences.
It was also here that the next evolution of the iwasthere.luxury portfolio was revealed, with the announcement of two new components: Real Estate and Happenings.
Real Estate will introduce a curated, privacy-first marketplace for private luxury homes: villas, estates and residences, connecting brokerages, agents and private-residence developers with high- and ultra-high-net-worth buyers.
Happenings will create a dedicated space for upcoming events from resorts, travel agents, DMCs and tour operators, with details added directly by partners through Concierge.
Sunset Soirée: A Moment of Recognition
As the day transitioned, I Was There moved towards its defining evening.
Against the sunset at Crab Shack at Finolhu, Sunset Soirée brought the community together over cocktails and canapés before introducing Circle of Luxury and recognising its inaugural members.
Created as an invitation-only guild recognising the absolute pinnacle of luxury lifestyle and travel craftsmanship, Circle of Luxury brings together individuals, specialists and destinations operating at the highest level of luxury lifestyle and travel.
For its inaugural year, 23 members were welcomed into the Circle, representing Bespoke Travel Designers, Destination Management Companies and Luxury Event Producers recognised for their expertise, execution and ability to create highly personalised luxury travel experiences.
The evening also marked the first reveal of the Circle of Luxury magazine, extending the recognition beyond the event through a publication dedicated to the people, destinations and specialists shaping luxury experiences.
With the formalities complete, Sunset Soirée moved naturally into dinner and entertainment. An after-party carried the celebration into the night, bringing the first day to a close through a distinctly Maldivian sense of occasion.
Keyn: Where Networking Became an Experience
The following day, the rhythm changed once again.
Keyn: Networking Brunch with Cultural Experiences brought meetings, conversation and Maldivian culture together within one fluid programme.
Breakfast and lunch created space for introductions and informal meetings, while dedicated pre-scheduled sessions allowed travel designers, DMCs, resorts and partners to continue more focused conversations.
Alongside them were 10 Maldivian cultural experiences, each experienced in small groups.
Rather than separating networking from the destination around it, Keyn placed the two side by side. Attendees moved between meetings and cultural experiences rooted in Maldivian traditions, sharing moments of artistry, craftsmanship, music and local practices along the way.
At the centre of the journey was the I Was There passport. Each participating travel designer and DMC carried a passport through Keyn, receiving an I Was There stamp as they met with resorts and partners and an individual stamp for every cultural experience completed.
As the pages filled, the passport became a record of more than appointments. Each stamp represented a conversation held, an experience shared and another connection made.
A meeting could begin over breakfast, continue through a cultural experience and return to the table later in the day. People who may otherwise have met across a scheduled appointment instead found themselves participating, learning and experiencing something together.
It was networking, but through a distinctly Maldivian lens.
Beyond the Expected
Across two days, each component of I Was There created its own reason for the global private luxury travel community to come together.
Inner Circle made space for conversation. Sunset Soirée created a moment for recognition and celebration. Keyn brought networking into the experience of the destination itself.
Together, they reflected what I Was There was created to be: not simply another gathering on the global private luxury travel calendar, but a more meaningful way to meet, exchange ideas and build relationships through shared experiences.
The next chapter will take that idea further.
I Was There returns from 30–31 August 2027, bringing the global private luxury travel community back together in the Maldives while expanding its reach to new destinations beyond the Maldives.
As the community grows, Concierge will continue to connect members throughout the year. Registration is open to private luxury hotels around the world, luxury travel designers, luxury real estate advisors, aviation services, event planners and luxury lifestyle brands, building a wider network around the people and businesses shaping global private luxury travel.
New destinations may become part of the journey, but the philosophy remains the same: meaningful connections, shared experiences and a more experiential way for the global private luxury travel community to come together.
And wherever the journey leads next, one sentiment remains:
I Was There.
