The South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) is pleased to announce the official Jury Panel for its landmark 10th Edition in 2026, bringing together leading professionals from across the South Asian travel, hospitality, academia, and tourism sectors.
The distinguished jury includes:
- Ms. Mariyam Noordeen – Founder, Chefs Guild of Maldives
- Dr. Mohamed Shareef – Managing Engineer, INSA Pvt Ltd / Former Vice Chancellor, Maldives National University
- Dr. Sachin Bansal – Chief Revivalist, SOCH / Founder, India City Walks
- Mr. Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir – Former CEO, Bangladesh Tourism Board
- Ms. Dinushka Chandrasena – Editor Travel Talk Asia /Director PR Skal Aisa Board/ IPP Skal International Colombo/ Operations Director Sri Lanka Tourism
- Mr. Ishaan Koul – Head of Business Development, Align Hotels & Resorts / Director, Naaz Hotel Consultants Private Limited
- Mr. Tek Bahadur Mahat – Chief Executive Officer, Hotel Association Nepal
- Mr. Kuenzang Thinley – Vice Chairman, Hotels & Restaurants Association of Bhutan
As part of the evaluation process, the jury members will be travelling across six South Asian countries: Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, to assess nominees on-ground.
The final results will be determined through a combined scoring system, where 60% of the weightage will come from the Jury evaluation and 40% from online public voting, ensuring both expert assessment and public opinion are represented.
SATA 2026 continues its commitment to transparency, credibility, and regional representation as it celebrates excellence across South Asia’s tourism and hospitality industry.