Trade-only · 2026 contracts
Maldives net rates for travel agents.
Direct-contracted wholesale pricing across 180+ Maldives resorts. Real net rates from a Malé-based DMC since 2006 — no broker layer, no double markup, no "from $X" pricing. FIT, group and charter tiers across the full inventory.
This page explains the model. Actual net rate numbers are confidential under resort contracts and visible only on the B2B portal to registered, approved trade partners. Application takes ~3 minutes; approval typically within 48 hours.
How net rates work
Six things to know about Maldives net rate contracting.
Most agencies have only worked with broker DMCs or wholesalers — where the "net" rate already has a broker's margin baked in. Direct contracting works differently. Here is the actual model under Resortlife's 2026 partnership terms.
Resort-direct contracts
Resortlife holds direct net-rate contracts with 180+ Maldives resorts. The contracted net rate is what we pay the resort; agents apply their own markup on top to set retail. We do not hold rates from a wholesaler intermediary — the contracts are first-party.
FIT vs Group vs Charter
We handle FIT (free independent traveler) bookings, group bookings, and full charter operations — including whole-island and whole-resort buyouts — all against the same direct-contract base. Charter and group arrangements are quoted per booking for approved trade partners.
Confidentiality
Resort contracts mandate confidentiality on net rates. We share net pricing only with registered, approved trade partners under signed NDA terms. We do not publish actual net rate numbers publicly — the page you are reading explains the model, not the numbers.
Inclusions vs separates
What's in the net rate, what's separate.
| Cost line | In the net? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resort villa rate (per night, per villa) | Yes | Per the contracted rack-to-net formula |
| Maldives GST (17%) | Yes | Built into net invoice |
| Service charge (typically 10%) | Yes | Resort-level, varies |
| Green tax (USD 12/adult/night) | Pass-through | Resorts USD 12, guesthouses USD 6; charged at checkout |
| Meal plan (BB / HB / FB / AI) | Per agreement | Upgraded plans carry a premium over the base villa rate |
| Velana airport transfer | Separate | Seaplane or speedboat, quoted per resort and arrival window |
| Honeymoon / anniversary package | Often included | Resortlife stacks comp inclusions on top of net |
| Spa, excursions, à la carte dining | Separate | Pass-through at resort, marked up by agent |
Why a Malé-based DMC
Direct contracts beat broker chains on every booking.
Many "Maldives DMCs" advertised globally are actually wholesale brokers based in Dubai, London or Singapore — they buy net rates from Maldives-based first-party DMCs and resell with a markup before passing to agents. A broker's margin compounded against your own markup pushes your retail well above what an agent booking direct can offer — competing against direct-booking agents will cost you the booking.
Malé licensing
Resortlife is licensed by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism (MoT registration on file). Contract holders directly with each resort.
20 years of contracts
Operating since 2006. Many of our resort contracts predate the resort's current ownership — our rates reflect partnership history, not transactional buying.
24/7 ground operations
Real on-island operations team handles seaplane rerouting, weather disruptions, resort overbookings, in-stay issues. The single biggest gap broker DMCs cannot fill.
Apply for trade access
How to get net-rate access at Resortlife.
- 1.
Apply at /agents
Three-minute form. We need company name, IATA/ARC/TIDS where applicable, your website or LinkedIn, primary contact, and one trade reference.
- 2.
Personal review · 48h typical
Real human reads your application — no AI gating, no automated rejection. We approve agencies with a real travel business and decline arbitrage shells.
- 3.
B2B portal access
Approved partners get login credentials, can search live availability + net rates across 180+ contracted resorts and guesthouses, generate trade quotes, and submit booking requests.
- 4.
Account management
Single named contact for booking + after-sales. WhatsApp + email + phone in your timezone where possible (we cover GMT-5 through GMT+10 across two offices).
Frequently asked
Maldives net rates — agent questions answered.
What are Maldives net rates?
Net rate is the wholesale price a Maldives DMC pays the resort directly under a contracted partnership. It is the price travel agents see; agents add their own retail markup on top to set the customer-facing price. Net rates sit well below resort rack rates, vary by resort tier and meal plan, and are confidential under NDA terms in the contract.
How do I become a registered Maldives travel agent with Resortlife?
Apply via /agents — the registration form takes ~3 minutes and our team reviews each application personally, typically within 48 hours. We require: a registered travel business (sole-proprietor or company), IATA/ARC/TIDS number where applicable (not strictly required for non-IATA agents in most markets), a website or LinkedIn presence, and one prior trade reference. Approved partners receive net-rate access on the B2B portal plus dedicated account management.
Are Maldives net rates the same as wholesale rates?
In Maldives DMC contracting, "net rates" and "wholesale rates" are used interchangeably to describe the agent-facing price. Some agents use "wholesale" to imply group/series rates specifically, while "net" is the FIT (independent traveler) version — but the underlying contracts are the same. Resortlife uses both terms; either works in conversation. The distinction we draw is FIT (1-7 rooms) vs Group (8+ rooms) net rates, both of which exist as separate contract layers.
What commission do I earn on Maldives bookings?
Resortlife operates a net-rate model, which means there is no fixed commission — your earnings are the difference between the net rate we charge you and the retail price you charge your customer. Agents set their own markup depending on trip type and client mix. We also offer a commission-based model for agencies who prefer fixed commissions; full details are shared with approved partners on the B2B portal.
How are net rate quotes formatted?
Every Resortlife trade quote is a single-page PDF in USD with: villa rate × nights, meal plan delta, transfer (separately quoted with seaplane window), Maldives GST + service charge breakout, green tax disclosure, included resort inclusions (honeymoon package, free-night offers, upgrades), and the line-item total. We do not quote "from $X" or hide costs; the quote is what the customer would invoice from us, which is what you mark up. Most agents share these PDFs internally as the basis for their own retail proposal.
Do you publish net rates publicly?
No. Resort contracts mandate confidentiality on net rates — publishing them publicly would breach our contracts and immediately end them. The B2B portal shows live net rates to registered, approved trade partners under our NDA terms. The page you are reading explains the model, the calculation method, the inclusion/exclusion logic, and the registration path — but not the actual rate numbers. Apply for trade access to see them.
Are there minimum bookings to access net rates?
No annual minimum required to maintain access — Resortlife does not deactivate trade accounts for low volume the way some wholesalers do. We do offer volume incentives at threshold tiers: partners who build consistent Maldives volume with us unlock improved rates, dedicated account management and sub-agent permissions. Your first booking is at the base trade rate, no volume requirement.
Which resorts are included in your net-rate inventory?
All 180+ resorts we have direct contracts with — including ultra-luxury (Soneva, Cheval Blanc, Velaa, JOALI, One&Only Reethi Rah), premium 5★ (Anantara Kihavah, Six Senses Laamu, Niyama, Conrad Rangali), mid-luxury 4★ all-inclusive (Lily Beach, Sun Siyam, Atmosphere, OBLU, Centara), and budget guesthouses on local islands (Maafushi, Dhigurah, Ukulhas). The B2B portal lists every contracted property with live availability at the time of search.
How is payment structured for trade bookings?
Standard trade-partner terms: a deposit at booking confirmation (held by Resortlife in client trust) with the balance due ahead of arrival. Approved high-volume partners can request post-pay terms. We accept USD bank transfer, USD-denominated credit cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex), and approved partner credit lines. Exact payment terms are agreed per partnership at registration.
How do net rates compare to Booking.com Genius / Expedia Premier rates?
OTA-side trade programs (Booking.com Genius, Expedia Partner Central) operate on commission models — a set percentage off the public retail price. Resortlife net rates go materially deeper because they bypass the OTA layer entirely. Net rates are also more flexible on inclusions (we can stack honeymoon packages, free-night offers, upgrades that OTAs don't access), and payment terms are negotiable rather than fixed at OTA standard. The trade-off: you book direct with us via portal/email, not via the OTA's API. For agencies doing Maldives volume, the math heavily favors a DMC relationship over OTA partner programs.
Related · trade resources
More for travel agents and OTAs.
Maldives DMC Operations
How Resortlife operates as a Maldives DMC — seaplane partnerships, weather contingency, group MICE handling, ground operations team.
Travel Agent Portal — Apply
Three-minute trade application. Direct net-rate access to 180+ contracted resorts and guesthouses, B2B portal, dedicated account management.