Following its inaugural edition in 2026, I Was There will return to the Maldives from 30–31 August 2027, bringing the global private luxury travel community together once again through meaningful conversations, shared experiences and authentic Maldivian experiential networking.
The 2027 edition will unfold across two full days, giving each of its three defining components: Inner Circle, Keyn: Networking Brunch and Sunset Soirée, its own place within the journey, alongside meetings and experiences designed to create connections beyond the expected.
At its core, I Was There remains built around authentic Maldivian experiential networking. Owners, directors and senior executives from the global private luxury travel community come together in a setting designed not simply for meetings, but for meaningful exchange.
Following a first edition that brought conversation, recognition and Maldivian cultural experiences into one journey, 2027 will build on that foundation with a programme that allows each part of the experience to unfold in its own rhythm.
The Journey Begins with Inner Circle
The first day will centre around Inner Circle, the closed-door exchange created for meaningful conversations, industry perspectives and open dialogue within the global private luxury travel community.
Following arrivals and a welcome lunch, attendees will come together for Inner Circle before the afternoon opens into a selection of experiences. Dinner and an evening gathering will bring the first day to a close, allowing conversations to continue beyond the session itself.
Keyn: Networking Through Shared Experience
The second day will place Keyn at the centre of the programme, bringing networking, culture, craft and art together through a more fluid approach to meetings.
Rather than separating appointments from the wider experience, meetings will take place alongside the Networking Brunch, creating different settings for conversation and allowing attendees to move naturally between meetings and shared experiences throughout the day.
The afternoon will continue with further opportunities for curated meetings and experiences before the global private luxury travel community comes together for the final evening.
Sunset Soirée: A Moment of Recognition
Sunset Soirée will bring the second day towards its defining evening, gathering the global private luxury travel community for recognition and celebration.
Circle of Luxury will once again form part of the evening, recognising the people, specialists and destinations shaping luxury lifestyle and travel, before the programme moves into the Gala Dinner and closing celebration.
Following Sunset Soirée, the I Was There journey will conclude the following morning with a farewell breakfast before departures.
Experiences Beyond the Programme
Across the programme, experiences will offer another way for attendees to shape their time at I Was There and connect beyond scheduled meetings.
Available experiences can be booked directly through Concierge, allowing attendees to choose how they spend their time around the wider programme. Participants will also be able to see who has joined an experience, creating opportunities to share experiences with members of the global private luxury travel community they would particularly like to connect with.
In this way, networking continues beyond scheduled appointments. A conversation may begin at Inner Circle, continue through a shared experience and return to the table at Keyn, allowing connections to develop naturally throughout the event.
I Was There returns to the Maldives from 30–31 August 2027, bringing the global private luxury travel community together once again through meaningful conversations, shared experiences and authentic Maldivian experiential networking.
