The Fiji Development Bank (FDB) has secured naming rights to the country’s flagship tourism awards, signing a three-year sponsorship deal that will see the event rebranded as the “FDB Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards.” The sponsorship runs from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029, the bank said in a statement, marking its largest-ever sponsorship investment in the tourism sector.
FETA chairperson Debra Sadranu described the partnership as a significant milestone for the awards and the broader industry, saying the naming rights deal “ensures that our board of trustees can maintain its unwavering commitment to honouring the organisations, individuals and stakeholders who exemplify excellence in the tourism industry.” The move hands the awards’ title and visibility to a development institution with a direct financing role in the sector.
In formal remarks, FDB chief executive officer Filimone Waqabaca framed the sponsorship as a natural extension of the bank’s financing work. He said tourism is seen by FDB as a key driver of economic growth and noted that, as of December 2025, the bank was supporting the sector through more than 400 loan accounts with an aggregate value exceeding $64 million. Waqabaca said that lending has contributed to employment, local supply chains and community livelihoods across Fiji, and that the FETA partnership would complement financing by providing recognition and promotional opportunities for businesses.
Waqabaca also highlighted the non-financial benefits of the awards: recognition at FETA can enhance credibility, attract investment and strengthen brand visibility for tourism businesses. “These awards recognise businesses and individuals who continually raise the standard, inspire others, and showcase Fiji to the world,” he said, stressing that the bank’s role would be more than a cheque but a platform to help enterprises thrive.
The FDB takeover of naming rights represents a change in a long-running corporate sponsorship. ANZ Fiji had been the naming rights sponsor of the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards for more than a decade before the handover, underscoring a notable shift in private-sector branding of the awards to a government-owned development lender.
The sponsorship arrives at a time of active policy and private measures aimed at bolstering tourism investment. In July 2024 the government extended tax incentives under the Short Life Investment Package to encourage significant acquisitions and refurbishments of hotels and resorts, part of broader efforts to stimulate capital investment in the sector. FDB’s new public-facing role with FETA signals an additional strand of support from a lender already embedded in tourism financing.
The renamed FDB Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards will operate under the three-year agreement through March 2029. Organisers and the bank have positioned the partnership as a long-term commitment to recognising industry innovation and driving investment, with the awards continuing to serve as a central showcase for Fiji’s tourism businesses and professionals.
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