News
Legend & Beyond and MHC Group bring MasterChef Sri Lanka to the Maldives
Legend &
Beyond, through its Maldivian entity Maldives Holiday Collections (MHC Group),
has successfully facilitated and delivered the Maldives production of
MasterChef Sri Lanka, bringing one of the world’s most recognised culinary
television formats to the Maldives for a special destination episode.
The production
brought an extensive MasterChef Sri Lanka contingent to the Maldives, including
the judges, host, contestants, production crew and technical teams, together
with the equipment and infrastructure required to recreate the MasterChef
experience in an outdoor island setting.
For Legend
& Beyond and MHC Group, the project represented much more than hosting a
television production. It was a major logistical and operational undertaking
that required teams across multiple functions to work together under demanding
timelines and unfamiliar production requirements.
From
coordinating international travel, accommodation and local transportation to
handling the importation and movement of cameras, technical equipment and
production materials, the MHC team managed the on-ground requirements necessary
to bring the production to life.
At the
destination, the team worked alongside the production crew to transform an
outdoor island environment into a functional MasterChef competition setting.
This included developing and setting up individual cooking stations and kitchen
decks for contestants, coordinating equipment and ingredients, supporting
production logistics and ensuring that the overall operation ran smoothly
throughout filming.
An exceptional operational effort
For Ahmed
Shaushaan Shafeeq, Managing Director of Maldives Holiday Collections, the
successful production was particularly significant because of the operational
complexity involved.
“What viewers eventually see on screen is only a small part
of what it takes to make a production of this scale happen. Behind it were
months of coordination, logistics, customs clearances, transportation,
accommodation, equipment movements, construction and constant problem-solving.”
He added:
“There were many requirements that were new to us, and
inevitably there were last-minute changes and challenges. What impressed me
most was how our team responded. People stepped outside their normal
responsibilities, supported one another and focused on getting the job done.
That is something I am extremely proud of.”
The production
required close coordination between multiple teams and stakeholders, with MHC
providing the local knowledge and operational infrastructure necessary to
execute the project within the unique geographical environment of the Maldives.
A platform for the Maldives and the region
For Hifnaz
Jiffrey, Group CEO of MHC Group, the project demonstrated not only the strength
of the organisation, but also the possibilities created when businesses and
talent across the region collaborate.
“When this opportunity came to us, we knew immediately that
it was something special — not only for our Group, but also for the Maldives.
We were entering unfamiliar territory and delivering a television production of
this scale involved many moving parts. But our team approached every challenge
with one mindset: find a solution and make it happen.”
He added:
“Food is one of the few truly global languages. Through
MasterChef, we had an opportunity to showcase another side of the Maldives —
our cuisine, our people, our hospitality and our ability to deliver world-class
experiences. I believe collaborations like this can open doors to much bigger
opportunities for the Maldives and for our region.”
Showcasing a different side of the Maldives
Beyond the
production itself, MasterChef Sri Lanka created an opportunity to showcase
Maldivian cuisine, ingredients, culture and hospitality through one of the
world's best-known culinary entertainment formats.
While the
Maldives is internationally recognised for its resorts, beaches and marine
environment, its culinary heritage remains a story with considerable potential
to reach a wider audience.
Ali Sujuaan,
Director – Sales & Marketing at MHC, believes productions of this nature
can help broaden the international narrative around the destination.
“People around the world already know the Maldives as an
extraordinary holiday destination. What opportunities like MasterChef allow us
to do is show that there is much more to discover — our food, our culture, our
people and the experiences that exist beyond the traditional image of the
Maldives.”
He added:
“From a destination perspective, international productions
create enormous possibilities. They introduce the Maldives to new audiences in
a completely different way and can create opportunities across tourism,
culinary experiences, events, entertainment and brand collaborations. We hope
this production becomes a starting point for many more.”
Collaboration across the Indian Ocean
The project
also reflects Legend & Beyond's broader belief in building stronger
connections and collaborations across the Indian Ocean region.
With operations
and business interests spanning the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, the
Group believes regional organisations can achieve significantly more by
combining their respective strengths, expertise and networks.
The MasterChef
Sri Lanka Maldives production became a practical example of that philosophy —
bringing together Sri Lankan production and culinary talent with Maldivian
destination knowledge, hospitality and operational capabilities.
Jiffrey said:
“We don't necessarily need to look at Sri Lanka and the
Maldives as two separate markets. There is enormous potential when we
collaborate as a region. When Sri Lankan creativity and talent come together
with Maldivian hospitality, destination expertise and natural beauty, we can
create something that neither country could create in quite the same way
alone.”
More than a television production
For Legend
& Beyond and MHC Group, successfully delivering the project also
demonstrates the capabilities available within the Maldives to support complex
international productions, events and destination experiences.
Producing
international content across islands presents unique logistical challenges —
from customs and transportation to infrastructure, accommodation, technical
requirements and coordination across multiple stakeholders.
Successfully
executing the MasterChef production demonstrated that these challenges can be
overcome through local expertise, strong partnerships and detailed operational
planning.
The Group
believes the experience can help open conversations around further
international television productions, destination events, culinary experiences,
corporate activations and creative collaborations in the Maldives.
“For us, this shouldn't be the end of one successful project.
It should demonstrate what is possible. Every international production or event
that comes here creates economic activity, develops local capability and gives
us another opportunity to tell the Maldives story to the world.” — Hifnaz Jiffrey
A proud moment for the team
Behind the
finished production were teams working across operations, logistics,
hospitality, transportation, finance, procurement, sales and production support
— often responding to unexpected requirements and solving challenges in real
time.
For the Group,
the achievement reinforced a fundamental belief: great outcomes happen when
people with different strengths come together around a common purpose.
“This achievement belongs to the entire team. There were
people working behind the scenes who may never appear on television or receive
public recognition, but without their commitment this production simply would
not have happened. That is what makes this such a proud moment for us.” — Ahmed Shaushaan Shafeeq
The successful
completion of MasterChef Sri Lanka in the Maldives marks another milestone for
Legend & Beyond and MHC Group as the organisation continues expanding its
capabilities across tourism, hospitality, marine experiences, events,
technology and destination services.
More importantly, it provided another
opportunity for the Maldives to tell its story to the world — this time,
through food.
About Legend and Beyond
Legend &
Beyond is a diversified regional group with operations and business interests
across the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and other markets. The Group operates
across tourism, hospitality, marine experiences, technology and related
sectors, with a focus on developing businesses and experiences that connect
destinations, people and opportunities across the region.
About Maldives Holiday Collections
Maldives
Holiday Collections (MHC) is the Group's Maldivian tourism and destination
services entity, providing extensive local expertise across destination
management, marine tourism, logistics, hospitality and experiential travel.
Through its tourism portfolio, including Maldives Legend, MHC continues to
develop and deliver distinctive experiences showcasing the Maldives to
international markets.