News

Starwood debuts the ultimate new travel app on iOS7

Published

13 years ago

September 20, 2013

Maldives.net.mv – Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), the award-winning loyalty program from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), today introduced an innovative and inspiring new app for iPad as well as an exciting new design to support iOS 7. The SPG App for iPad joins the SPG App for iPhone, extending SPG’s digital suite of products and gives today’s connected traveler a visually rich, personalized experience on every step of their journey from imaginative destination exploration to the details of their trip before, during and after a visit. Each new, native iOS 7 app builds on the operating system’s latest features and designs and provides guests with the beautiful, immersive travel experience Starwood is known to deliver.

“Travel is inherently mobile and the rapid advancements in technology enable us to extend the personalized experience guests receive in our hotels to their most personal devices,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President, Starwood Preferred Guest & Digital. “Following our success with the SPG App for iPhone, we built the SPG App for iPad using insights we have gained from our members. The relationships we’ve built with our guests put us in a unique position to lead and win with digital by delivering the experiences they seek.”

Today’s travelers are increasingly using mobile devices to search for and explore destinations, as well as book rooms and other travel services. Industry wide, 40% of travel searches occur on mobile devices up from 25% in 2012. Starwood’s mobile bookings are growing at an annual rate of 1000% –five times greater than the annual growth rate of the web channel 10 years ago. The new Starwood apps deliver both the convenience and speed mobile travelers desire while highlighting the SPG lifestyle.

SPG App for iPad:

The new SPG App for iPad app pushes the boundaries of current hospitality apps by uniting Starwood’s unique focus on design and photography, as well as both curated and real-time social content into one mobile experience. Alongside SPG’s iPhone and Android apps, the new SPG App for iPad provides a seamless guest experience, simplifying and enriching both business and leisure travel.

Starwood’s digital design team leveraged iPad’s capacity for high resolution, immersive photography to create an editorial-like experience akin to content one might expect from high-end travel or shelter magazines.

“When we developed our iPhone App, we were focused on ease and speed, envisioning travelers engaging with the App with ‘one eye and one thumb’ in transit,” said Clay Cowan, Vice President, Global Digital for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “We created our iPad App with a deeper, more leisurely experience in mind. We’re literally inviting people to ‘lean back’ and get lost in our destinations and hotels through fantastic photography showcasing great design, amazing locations and the unique experiences one can expect across our portfolio of nine lifestyle brands and 1,100 hotels in 100 countries.”

App Highlights:

Explore: The “explore” section inspires travelers to dream of more vacation time with a rich mix of curated content including the more than 100 Member Favorite Resorts awarded by fellow SPG members and dynamic content generated through social interactions
- Using our guest interactions through social media, the SPG app highlights the hottest venues, as reviewed by previous guests, around the hotel right on the map embedded in the app. So when you are far from home, you can eat, drink, and travel like a local.
SPG life: This section of the app is a hub for learning about Starwood Preferred Guest’s many benefits. Here, members can access up-to-date account information including point balance, upcoming stay information and elite benefits. Members can also take a peek at all the exclusive benefits SPG offers its members like a virtual backstage tour at one of SPG’s Hear the Music, See the World performances, soar with trapeze lessons with Cirque du Soleil or take a seat in the SPG Luxury Suite at the US Open. Users can bid on SPG Moments like these and see Instagram photos from events and live the #spglife within the app.
Fast and easy personalized booking: A secure area stores credit card information streamlining booking to just three taps. All of Starwood’s more than 1100 properties in 100 countries are represented with full detail with ratings and reviews from verified members who have stayed at the hotel. Perfect for researching your next escape.
Brand sections: Each of SPG’s nine brands have stunning visual content, designed to highlight each lifestyle brand’s unique attributes and social activities as well as give travelers a realistic representation of what each destination provides.

“We strive to offer our guests a great experience that is unique to them both inside our hotels and at every touch point,” said Holdren. “The experience we created with our iPad and iPhone apps combine the insights of our guests with the magic of our design-led brands. We build our apps on the newest tech in order to exceed the needs of our digitally connected guests.”

Starwood’s mobile team partnered with Bottle Rocket to design and develop the SPG apps—resulting in smart, intuitive navigation that seamlessly integrates SPG and hotel-specific branding into the iPad’s famously user-friendly interface. The SPG App for iPad will launch in both English and Chinese and will be updated with additional versions and multiple languages. The app, currently available for free from the App Store on iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad or at www.spg.com/mobileapps, is the latest development in SPG’s evolution into a hyper-personalized guest services platform.

Related Topics:SPG Starwood Preferred Guest Travel app

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Awards

The Nautilus Maldives recognised among Indian Ocean’s leading resorts by Condé Nast Traveller

Published

1 hour ago

October 8, 2026

m@ldives

The most memorable stays leave a feeling that endures beyond the journey home. At The Nautilus Maldives, it is the ease of being understood, the warmth of a familiar welcome and the freedom to spend each day entirely as you please. This personal connection has earned the island renewed recognition in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards, with the magazine’s readers placing The Nautilus sixth among the best resorts in the Indian Ocean.

Set within Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Nautilus is an intimate collection of 26 beach and ocean houses and residences. Its bohemian spirit finds expression in inviting spaces, thoughtful details and a philosophy that gives guests room to be themselves. A dedicated House Master comes to understand each guest’s preferences, allowing the experience to evolve naturally throughout their stay.

“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it comes from the people who have experienced The Nautilus for themselves,” says Philippe Cavory, General Manager of The Nautilus Maldives. “We want every guest to feel at home here, with the freedom to express their wishes and the confidence that we will listen. Being chosen by Condé Nast Traveller’s readers is a wonderful tribute to the relationships our team builds and the care they bring to island life each day.”

The accolade joins a significant year of recognition for The Nautilus, which was also awarded Two MICHELIN Keys and included in Condé Nast Traveler’s The Gold List 2026. Together, these honours celebrate the character of the island and the dedication of the people who make each stay personal.

The annual Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards recognise the destinations and travel experiences most cherished by the magazine’s readers. For The Nautilus, this latest honour carries a special significance: a place in the memories of those who have made the island their own.

To book your stay, visit the resort’s website.

Awards

JOALI Maldives named Indian Ocean’s best resort as Maldives claims 20 of top 25

Published

10 hours ago

October 7, 2026

m@ldives

The Maldives has secured 20 of the 25 places in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards ranking of the best resorts in the Indian Ocean, with JOALI Maldives taking the top position in the region.

Published on 6 October, the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards are based on votes from Condé Nast Traveller readers, with the scores representing the overall average level of satisfaction reported by respondents. JOALI Maldives was ranked the best resort in the Indian Ocean with a score of 99.83.

The Maldives accounted for 80 per cent of the 25 resorts included in the Indian Ocean category. Maldivian properties also occupied seven of the top eight positions and eight of the top 10, underlining the destination’s strong showing in this year’s awards.

Following JOALI Maldives in first place, COMO Cocoa Island was ranked third with a score of 99.35, while Soneva Secret placed fourth with 99.21. One&Only Reethi Rah took fifth place with 99.18, The Nautilus was sixth with 99.06, Soneva Fushi seventh with 99.01, and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru eighth with 98.89.

Constance Halaveli completed the Maldives representation in the top 10, ranking 10th with a score of 98.59. Madagascar’s Miavana by Time + Tide was the only property to separate the Maldives resorts at the top of the ranking, taking second place with 99.59, while Mauritius’ The St Regis Le Morne Resort placed ninth.

The Maldivian resorts featured in the 2026 Indian Ocean ranking are:

JOALI Maldives — 99.83
COMO Cocoa Island — 99.35
Soneva Secret — 99.21
One&Only Reethi Rah — 99.18
The Nautilus Maldives — 99.06
Soneva Fushi — 99.01
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru — 98.89
Constance Halaveli Maldives — 98.59
Dhigali Maldives — 98.48
Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island — 98.24
SO/ Maldives — 98.18
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands — 98.08
LUX* South Ari Atoll, Maldives — 97.84
Six Senses Kanuhura, Maldives — 97.33
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi — 96.50
Niyama Private Islands Maldives — 96.38
Gili Lankanfushi Maldives — 95.84
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands — 95.52
Amilla Maldives — 93.64
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island — 93.24

The other five places in the Indian Ocean category went to resorts in Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. The ranking included Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa and The Oberoi Beach Resort in Mauritius, Six Senses Zil Pasyon in Seychelles, The St Regis Le Morne Resort in Mauritius, and Miavana by Time + Tide in Madagascar.

The Readers’ Choice Awards recognise destinations, hotels, resorts, airlines and other travel experiences selected by Condé Nast Traveller readers. In its overall list of 2026 winners, the publication separately confirmed JOALI Maldives as the Indian Ocean resort category winner.

The results mark another strong international showing for the Maldives, with properties ranging from established private-island resorts to newer luxury developments represented across almost every level of the Indian Ocean top 25.

News

Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives plans Christmas and New Year celebrations under ‘Season of Light’

Published

19 hours ago

October 7, 2026

m@ldives

This festive season, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives invites guests to come together beneath the Maldivian sun and stars with Season of Light, a festive journey unfolding from 23 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.

Inspired by the warmth of the season and the natural beauty of light in the Maldives, the programme is centred around the moments that make this time of year meaningful: shared celebrations, unhurried time with loved ones, new experiences and memories made together. From Christmas traditions and festive dining to days spent on the ocean, family adventures and a sparkling welcome to the New Year, guests are invited to experience the season at their own pace.

Season of Light arrives at the close of a milestone year for Kuda Villingili, with the resort recognised in the MICHELIN Guide 2026 Hotel Selection. The recognition reflects the resort’s distinctive sense of place, thoughtful design, quality of service and connection to its Maldivian surroundings — qualities that continue through the festive season, where each experience is designed to bring guests closer to the island and to one another.

Gastronomy takes centre stage throughout Season of Light, following a year of international recognition for Kuda Villingili’s culinary offering. Named Best Gastronomic Retreat in the Maldives at the Global Destination Awards 2026, the resort also celebrates its third consecutive year of Wine Spectator recognition, with Mar-Umi receiving the 2026 Award of Excellence. Across the festive season, guests can experience this passion for food and wine through Nikkei Nights at Mar-Umi, barbecue evenings, Steak & Wine Night, the intimate WINE-DOWN Wednesday seafood dinner, and A Journey Through India & Arabia at Spice. From thoughtfully curated wine pairings to evenings shaped around live music and shared tables, the programme brings together the resort’s diverse culinary experiences and celebrated wine collection.

The celebrations begin on 23 December as the island comes aglow with the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festive Carols, setting the tone for the days ahead. Christmas Eve brings sunset cocktails at Raalhu Bar before an elegant Christmas Eve Gala Dinner at The Restaurant, with festive flavours and live entertainment carrying the celebrations into the evening. On Christmas morning, younger guests can look forward to a little island magic as Santa makes his much-awaited arrival on the beach.

Beyond the season’s main celebrations, island days are filled with opportunities to experience the Maldives from a different perspective. Guests can start the morning with Ocean Breeze Yoga over the water, head out in search of marine life on Echoes of the Reef and dolphin voyages, or discover the underwater world through snorkelling, scuba diving and wreck dives. Sunset brings its own rhythm, from Golden Hour Glide and secluded sandbank escapes to fishing beneath the stars, while Fun Ride Fest and the Water Scooter experience add a playful dose of adventure throughout the festive season.

Families have their own festive world to discover at Kuda Fiyo Kids Club, with a programme designed around creativity, play and shared discovery. Across the season, children can take part in festive arts and crafts, culinary workshops, treasure hunts, beach games, science activities, themed challenges and special Christmas and New Year moments. A team of children’s animators will also be on the island, bringing an additional programme of interactive games, creative sessions and entertainment for young guests and families throughout the festivities.

On 27 December, the celebrations spill poolside for the Season of Light Pool Party, bringing together music, tropical sunshine and a relaxed afternoon atmosphere around Kuda Villingili’s 150-metre pool.

The season reaches its crescendo on New Year’s Eve, beginning with cocktails and live music at Hawkers before the Season of Light: New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at The Restaurant. Guests are invited to dress in white for a radiant final evening of 2026, accompanied by live entertainment before gathering on The Restaurant Beach for the Countdown to 2027 beneath the Maldivian night sky.

As the first light of 2027 reaches the island, celebrations continue with First Light Breakfast at The Restaurant, where guests can welcome the year over a leisurely breakfast and sparkling wine. The festive journey then continues into January with more time for ocean adventures, wellness, dining and relaxed island days before Season of Light draws to a close on 7 January.

“Season of Light is ultimately about giving our guests time to be together and the freedom to celebrate in a way that feels meaningful to them,” says Deepa Manuel, General Manager of Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives. “Whether that is gathering around the table, discovering the ocean, watching children experience the magic of Christmas or simply slowing down with the people they love, we hope the season becomes part of the memories they take home from Kuda Villingili.”

Located in North Malé Atoll, just 30 minutes by luxury speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives is home to 75 spacious villas and residences, all with private pools, eight distinctive restaurants, an overwater spa, a 150-metre pool, Kuda Fiyo Kids Club and extensive sports, recreation, watersports and diving experiences. With space for couples, families, friends and multi-generational travellers to shape each day around what matters most to them, the five star luxury resort in Maldives continues to bring its philosophy of Time and Space Redefined to life.

Discover the Season of Light Festive Programme here. For more information about Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, please visit the official website.