Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) will serve as the official seaplane partner for I Was There 2026.
Hosted at Finolhu, A Seaside Collection Resort and .Here – Baa Atoll Maldives across 24–25 August 2026, the invitation-only event brings together a private luxury travel community, where connections are formed through Maldivian culture driven experiences.
Owners, directors and senior executives from the global private luxury travel trade community come together in a setting designed not simply for meetings, but for meaningful exchange. At its core, I Was There is built around authentic Maldivian experiential networking.
To ensure productivity from the very first handshake, the event is supported by a pre-event familiarisation process, including exclusive digital webinars, detailed partner profiles hosted through Concierge, and experiences designed to lead directly to opportunities.
At the centre of the experience is the Inner Circle, an invitation-only session bringing together select leaders from the private luxury travel community for meaningful conversations. Designed as a closed-door exchange, it encourages open dialogue, shared perspectives and genuine connection through headline talks, curated panels and open Q&As.
As the day transitions, the experience moves towards the Sunset Soirée, where the industry gathers under the stars to celebrate shared achievement. It is here that the recipients of Circle of Luxury will be revealed, recognising a select guild of master travel designers and destinations verified as true masters in their craft.
Networking Breakfast & Luncheon sessions continue the following day, where Maldivian culture-driven experiences unfold naturally alongside conversation and introductions, allowing connections to form through shared participation and genuine engagement.
Across two days, I Was There unfolds not as a traditional industry gathering, but as a more immersive and meaningful way for the global private luxury travel community to connect.
Apply to attend: iwasthere.luxury/events/
