News
GHM wades into Maldives with The Chedi Dhapparu
Maldives.net.mv – GHM dropped anchor in the Indian Ocean last week when the luxury hotel group inked a deal to operate its first resort in the Maldives, scheduled to open in 2016.
The agreement with the developers was signed six weeks after GHM announced it would launch three hotels in Taiwan, and less than five months after the company expanded its hospitality interests in the U.A.E.
Located on a 55-hectare, crescent-shaped atoll — one of the largest habitable island in the Maldives — and 20 minutes by speedboat from Hanimadhoo International Airport, The Chedi Dhapparu will include 90 hotel-managed residential villas and 40 hotel suites, half of which will hover over crystal-clear waters the republic is known for.
Every unit will offer unrestricted views of either a coral-reef lagoon or the open ocean and will feature lush, tropical landscaping.
“The setting is absolutely spectacular, and lends itself perfectly to our brand philosophy – that each GHM hotel should, in its own way, be a style to remember,” said GHM President Hans R. Jenni. “We couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.”
To ensure the area’s ecosystem remains in proper balance, GHM plans to institute a program for maintaining the ideal levels of coral in the lagoon, which is popular among dolphins and other marine species.
And to ensure the resort possesses characteristics consistent with all GHM properties, the group will work with Reda Amalou of AW2, the Paris-based architecture firm responsible for the design of the award-winning Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Twenty of the hotel suites – the 90-square-metre Chedi Club Suites – will have private pools. All 130 units will offer direct access to the beach.
“The concept will be contemporary living with an Asian touch,” said Jenni. “Instead of thatched, Maldivian roofs, we’ll have flat roofs, and interiors with clean lines and high ceilings.”
The Chedi Dhapparu is the first project in the Maldives with a license to sell real estate titles to villa buyers. The villas will have from one to four bedrooms, with the largest covering 565 square metres. Sales will begin early next year.
Other features of the master plan include a sea-facing, new-age spa with 10 double treatment rooms; a health club with a tai chi terrace; a club lounge catering to guests lodged in the over-water suites; and a beach club with a dive centre and chic bar.
Blueprints also call for a library, cigar lounge and four food-and-beverage outlets, including a dinner-only venue serving specialties from the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka, and a Japanese restaurant that takes advantage of the resort’s access to fresh seafood.
Established in 1992, GHM (General Hotel Management Ltd.) is known for conceptualising, developing and operating an exclusive group of hotels and resorts. With an expansive portfolio and more projects in the pipeline, GHM prides itself in providing guests with an unrivalled lifestyle experience.
Each GHM property is an original. A symbiotic relationship between the hotel and the local culture enables GHM to provide guests with a genuine, close-up experience of the best each destination has to offer. The signature GHM style melds contemporary interpretations of Asian designs and distinctive local touches to create inspired, memorable spaces.
Awards
The Standard, Maldives wins Best Beach Resort at TTM Awards 2026
The Standard, Maldives, by Hyatt has been awarded Best Beach Resort at the esteemed TTM Awards 2026, recognising the resort’s stunning natural shoreline and exceptional beachfront experiences, while continuing its outstanding guest satisfaction and excellence in hospitality.
Presented as part of the TTM Awards & Gala 2026 at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 August 2026, the annual awards recognise outstanding achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry.
Situated in the idyllic Raa Atoll, The Standard, Maldives offers a fresh perspective on lifestyle travel, seamlessly combining relaxation, adventure, and social connection. Fringed by pristine white-sand beaches, candy-blue waters, and surrounded by a thriving house reef, the resort invites guests to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Maldives while enjoying a dynamic and engaging island escape.
The recognition reflects the resort’s exceptional beach experience, defined by its expansive shoreline, thoughtfully designed accommodations, and diverse range of ocean-inspired activities. From discovering colourful marine life just offshore and participating in a variety of water sports to unwinding by the beach or pool, guests are encouraged to experience the destination at their own pace while embracing the spirited character of The Standard brand.
“Receiving the title of Best Beach Resort at the TTM Awards 2026 is an incredible honour for all of us at The Standard, Maldives,” said Justin Swart, General Manager of The Standard, Maldives. “Our beaches are at the heart of the guest experience, providing the perfect setting for relaxation, adventure, social connection, and discovery. This recognition reflects our commitment to delivering a vibrant and inclusive island escape that stays true to The Standard’s playful spirit, while offering something for every traveller, from couples and groups of friends to families seeking meaningful moments together.”

Complementing its stunning natural surroundings, The Standard, Maldives features an array of distinctive experiences, including destination dining by the beach and Baby Island, scenic sunset cruises, wellness journeys at The Standard Spa, the resort’s overwater wellness centre, and a vibrant calendar of entertainment and recreational programming. Families are equally well catered for with dedicated children’s activities and engaging programmes designed to inspire creativity, exploration, and meaningful family connections. This unique blend of leisure, wellbeing, social experiences, and family- friendly offerings has made the resort a sought-after choice for travellers seeking an island holiday that goes beyond the ordinary.
Presented annually as part of Travel Trade Maldives (TTM), the TTM Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the country’s tourism and hospitality sector. Being recognised as Best Beach Resort 2026 highlights The Standard, Maldives’ commitment to delivering exceptional beachfront experiences, innovative programming, and memorable stays that resonate with guests from around the world.
Since welcoming its first guests, The Standard, Maldives has earned international recognition for its distinctive approach to island hospitality, bringing together contemporary design, authentic local influences, and personalised service. This latest achievement further reinforces the resort’s reputation as one of the Maldives’ most exciting and desirable beach destinations, setting the benchmark for lifestyle-led resort experiences in the region.
Action
Royal Island takes Best Dive Resort honour at TTM Awards 2026
Royal Island has been named Best Dive Resort at the TTM Awards 2026, recognising an underwater experience shaped by one of the Maldives’ richest marine environments and a dive operation built around discovery, expertise and a genuine respect for the ocean.
Set within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Royal Island sits surrounded by coral gardens, channels and thilas alive with reef fish, turtles, rays and sharks. Its location places some of the atoll’s most rewarding dive sites within easy reach, while the island’s own house reef makes the underwater world feel less like an excursion and more like an extension of the resort itself.
At the centre of it all is diveOceanus, Villa Resorts’ specialist diving brand. At Royal Island, the operation is remarkably comprehensive. Complete beginners can take their first breaths underwater through Discover Scuba Diving, while certified divers can progress through PADI courses all the way to Divemaster. Dedicated programmes extend to children, advanced and Nitrox diving, refresher courses and freediving, with private instructors and private dive boats available for those wanting a more individual experience.
The facilities make it easy to build diving into the rhythm of a stay. House reef and training dives run throughout the day alongside scheduled two-tank and afternoon boat dives, with night diving available by arrangement. A full range of equipment is available, including dive computers and underwater cameras, while certified Nitrox divers receive complimentary Nitrox fills. Freedivers are equally well catered for, with dedicated courses, coaching, equipment and open-water sessions.
Beyond diving, Royal Island is exceptionally placed for some of the Maldives’ great marine encounters. Hanifaru Bay is approximately 25 minutes away, where seasonal plankton blooms bring extraordinary gatherings of manta rays and, at times, whale sharks. As the season changes, diveOceanus also operates manta snorkelling journeys into neighbouring Raa Atoll, extending opportunities for encounters across much of the year.
That access comes with responsibility. Marine conservation has long been part of diveOceanus across Villa Resorts, with coral restoration programmes established at Villa Nautica, Villa Park and Royal Island alongside reef monitoring, clean-ups and guest education. At Royal Island, the team maintains coral nurseries in the lagoon and house reef and involves guests directly in coral planting and restoration. It has also led wider reef-cleaning initiatives alongside the Baa Atoll Council and Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, extending that work beyond the island itself.
What sets Royal Island apart is the completeness of the experience. The house reef, the wider Baa Atoll, the expertise and facilities of diveOceanus, and the conservation work happening quietly alongside it all create something deeper than a collection of good dive sites. The Best Dive Resort title recognises an island where life below the surface has always been central to the experience.
Awards
Villa Nautica’s Araamu Spa wins Best Spa at TTM Awards 2026
Araamu Spa at Villa Nautica has been named Best Spa at the TTM Awards 2026, recognising a wellness experience shaped as much by its surroundings as by the treatments themselves.
Hidden within a quiet corner of the island, Araamu Spa feels like a world of its own. Dense tropical greenery surrounds winding pathways, flowers spill into shaded courtyards and the pace of Villa Nautica gradually falls away. It is lush, calm and deeply restorative, a space designed to shift the mood almost as soon as you enter.
Araamu is the dedicated spa and wellness brand of Villa Resorts, with its philosophy carried across the collection. Rooted in relaxation, rejuvenation and a more holistic approach to wellbeing, each Araamu Spa brings together experienced therapists, traditional healing practices and contemporary wellness in settings that remain closely connected to nature. The Villa Nautica spa menu describes the experience as a journey towards restoring balance through classic treatments, Ayurvedic therapies and beauty care.
At Villa Nautica, the experience is particularly immersive. A robust collection of body therapies, facials, Ayurvedic treatments and island-inspired rituals sits alongside flower and herbal bath ceremonies, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam facilities. The spaces themselves are part of the ritual, with private courtyards, tropical planting and moments of complete quiet creating an atmosphere that feels more like a hidden garden sanctuary than a conventional resort spa.
At the heart of the menu is Swept Away, Araamu’s signature experience inspired by the purifying energy of the ocean. The journey begins with warming ginger lemonade, a detoxifying foot ritual and deep breathing before moving through Himalayan salt therapy, scalp reflexology, cool salt-stone massage and a warm herbal vitality bath. It is deliberately transformative, moving through heat, scent, touch and stillness before ending with fresh papaya and time simply to be.
What makes Araamu Spa at Villa Nautica memorable is not one treatment or facility on its own. It is the way everything works together: the greenery, the flowers, the warmth, the stillness and the feeling of being completely removed from the outside world. The Best Spa recognition reflects an experience that does not need to be loud to leave an impression.
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