This festive season, Sirru Fen Fushi –Private Lagoon Resort unveils A Constellation of Moments, a thoughtfully curated programme of immersive celebrations, wellness, gastronomy and unforgettable island experiences from 23 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, where every sunset, gathering and shared experience becomes part of an unforgettable island story.

Inspired by the natural rhythm of the Maldives, the programme celebrates the unique duality of Sirru Fen Fushi – Ocean by Day, Stars by Night. From golden sunsets over one of the Maldives’ largest private lagoons to evenings beneath some of the country’s darkest and most spectacular skies, the festive journey has been designed as a collection of meaningful moments.

Throughout the festive season, guests will gather for immersive sunset experiences accompanied by live music, before the celebrations continue with elegant after-dinner entertainment on the beach. Featuring an international ensemble of musicians, dancers and performers, each evening unfolds with captivating live performances, fire shows and vibrant entertainment, creating unforgettable moments under the Maldivian night sky.

The festive calendar reaches its peak with a series of signature celebrations, beginning with the Opening Night and Tree Lighting Ceremony on 23 December, followed by Christmas Eve and Christmas Day festivities, a spectacular Pirates of Sirru family celebration, an unforgettable New Year’s Eve gala and Orthodox Christmas celebrations, before concluding with a memorable Closing Night on 7 January.

Music remains at the heart of the programme through a resident ensemble of internationally acclaimed musicians, dancers, acrobats and fire performers, creating a seamless atmosphere across sunset gatherings, dining experiences and evening celebrations. Guests can also engage with the artists through the exclusive Constellation Academy, offering private and small-group masterclasses in music, dance and performance throughout the festive season.

Wellbeing also takes centre stage with the return of internationally renowned holistic wellness practitioner Dr Doshi, whose exclusive residency offers personalised consultations, holistic healing therapies and mindfulness experiences at Arufen Spa. Designed to restore balance during the festive season, the residency provides guests with an opportunity to reconnect with themselves and embrace a more mindful festive escape in one of the Maldives’ most tranquil settings.

Beyond the celebrations, guests are invited to immerse themselves in the island’s natural beauty through a curated collection of experiences. Marine adventures include Turtle Research excursions, guided Coralarium discovery experiences, sunset dolphin cruises, handline fishing and snorkelling across the resort’s spectacular 9-kilometre house reef, while creative workshops, sustainability initiatives and family-friendly activities provide meaningful experiences for guests of all ages.

For those seeking the ultimate festive escape, the resort’s private Azimut Yacht offers a collection of bespoke experiences, from romantic champagne sunset cruises and half- day lagoon adventures to full-day voyages exploring pristine sandbanks and vibrant coral reefs, each thoughtfully tailored to showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Indian Ocean while creating unforgettable moments at sea.

Exceptional gastronomy forms an integral part of the festive journey. Throughout the season, Raha Market hosts lavish festive buffets and gala dinners, Kata offers refined Japanese dining accompanied by live acoustic performances, while Azure presents Mediterranean-inspired seafood in a spectacular overwater setting. Elevating the culinary programme further, Michelin-starred Chef Tristan Brandt returns to Sirru Fen Fushi to host two exclusive dinners, showcasing his signature contemporary cuisine through thoughtfully curated menus celebrating exceptional ingredients, creativity and refined craftsmanship.

“At Sirru Fen Fushi, we believe the most memorable holidays are shaped by the moments we share,” said Rudrojit Deb, General Manager of Sirru Fen Fushi. “This festive season, we have created a journey that celebrates connection – to loved ones, to nature and to oneself. Whether watching the sun set over our lagoon, enjoying music beneath the stars, discovering the underwater world or embracing a moment of wellbeing, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to become part of our guests’ own constellation of memories.”

Surrounded by one of the Maldives’ largest private lagoons, Sirru Fen Fushi offers 120 spacious beach, jungle and overwater villas, exceptional dining experiences, the iconic Coralarium – the Maldives’ first underwater art installation and coral regeneration project – and a wealth of experiences that celebrate the island’s extraordinary natural beauty. This festive season, guests are invited to celebrate in a destination where every moment shines a little brighter.

To discover more or to reserve your festive escape, please visit the resort’s website or contact reservations@sirrufenfushi.com.

Centara Hotels & Resorts Maldives has announced the recognition of two of its newest resorts at the TTM Awards & Gala 2026, the highlight of the 10th edition of Travel Trade Maldives. Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives was named Best Emerging Resort, while Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives received the award for Best Family Resort, highlighting the distinct positioning and experiences offered across the two properties.

Located within The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts in the North Malé Atoll, Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives opened its doors in April 2025, offering an elegant expression of contemporary Maldivian island living defined by privacy, seclusion and refined comfort. The resort reimagines overwater and beachfront living through an exclusive collection of villas and spacious two- and three-bedroom residences, offering a heightened sense of space and privacy for discerning travellers. Its culinary venues take guests on a journey across the globe, with a diverse collection of dining experiences thoughtfully curated to complement the island setting. At the heart of the wellness offering, Spa Cenvaree Retreat provides a holistic approach to wellbeing, bringing together restorative treatments and experiences within a serene island environment. The experience extends beyond the shore, with opportunities for marine exploration, snorkelling, watersports and curated excursions offering a deeper connection with the surrounding environment. Together, its expansive residences, distinctive culinary journey, holistic wellness and marine experiences establish a refined island proposition centred on privacy, space and discovery.

Set within the same island setting, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives opened its doors in November 2024, introducing a distinctive family-focused resort concept shaped around discovery, connection and shared experiences. The underwater-themed resort has redefined the family holiday experience in the Maldives through an extensive collection of thoughtfully designed facilities, accommodation and experiences created with families at the heart of the offering. Family-focused accommodation includes spacious options featuring bunk beds, while the resort is home to a dedicated waterpark and the Maldives’ first resort lazy river, providing engaging experiences for younger guests and families alike. Wellness is designed for every generation, with Spa Cenvaree offering considered treatments and experiences for adults, complemented by the dedicated Candy Spa for children. Its family-focused culinary outlets further strengthen the proposition, with dining concepts designed to appeal to guests of all ages. Beyond the resort, families can discover the surrounding marine environment through snorkelling, watersports and excursions, adding exploration and adventure to an experience centred on togetherness.

Sharing his views on the recognitions, Jorge Fernandez, Cluster General Manager of Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives and Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives, said: “We are delighted to see Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives and Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives recognised at the TTM Awards & Gala 2026. In a relatively short period since opening, both resorts have established clear and differentiated propositions that are contributing to a new dimension of the Maldives travel experience. Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is redefining the family holiday through its underwater-themed setting and extensive family-focused offering, while Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives is introducing a more refined approach to island living through its spacious residences, culinary experiences, wellness and focus on privacy and seclusion. The recognition both resorts have received in such a short period, with award after award across different areas of the guest experience, is a strong indication of the relevance of these propositions and the strength of our teams in delivering them. We remain focused on building on this momentum and further strengthening Centara’s presence in the Maldives.”

The recognition comes at an important stage in the development of both resorts, following their respective openings within a short period of one another. Their continued success across industry awards reflects the strength of their differentiated positioning and the relevance of their offerings to evolving traveller expectations. Together, the two resorts demonstrate Centara’s growing presence in the Maldives and its commitment to developing distinctive resort concepts that bring new perspectives to the destination.

With less than one month to go until Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives becomes Kandooma Maldives, the South Malé Atoll resort has unveiled its new brand mark and shared details of a wider transformation focused on one thing: creating more memorable holidays.

Far more than a change of the name, the transition brings together investment in the resort by owners Hotel Properties Limited, reimagined and new dining and leisure concepts, new accommodation options and an experience-led approach to All-Inclusive.

The new brand mark takes its inspiration directly from Kandooma. Its three organic forms represent life in, on and under water, life on land and the vegetation that connects them, reflecting an island experience shaped by nature, the ocean and everything guests can do within it.

“We are shaping the guest experience around the island and what makes Kandooma special,” says General Manager Andrew Drummond.

“This isn’t about changing the sign above the door and calling it a new brand. We are looking at the whole customer journey and what our guests see, taste, hear and do, how they spend their time and, ultimately, what they remember when they go home.”

The resort team is reviewing that journey through the lens of five new brand signatures: Kandooma Blue, Kandooma Flow, Kandooma Table, Kandooma Social and Kandooma Ways. Together, they will shape experiences in and around the ocean, opportunities to move, play and recharge, memorable food, social connection and ways to discover more about the Maldives and island life.

“Our marketing director has a simple test,” adds Drummond. “If we can replace the name Kandooma with another resort name and the sentence still works, we need to start again. It keeps us focused on what makes this island different.”

Experience-led all-inclusive

Central to the new proposition is an experience-led All-Inclusive concept, moving beyond the traditional emphasis on meals and beverages to include more of what guests actually come to the Maldives to do.

Scuba diving will be among the experiences included, building on Kandooma’s long-established reputation as a dive destination and its location close to some of the Maldives’ most celebrated dive sites.

“All-Inclusive should be so much more than a meal plan,” says Drummond.

“People rarely go home talking about their room rate or listing what was included in their package. They remember swimming with a turtle, catching a wave, sharing an incredible meal, laughing with their children or trying something for the first time.

“Those are the memories people bank. That’s where we want to invest our energy.”

Kandooma’s extensive programme of diving, surfing and watersports will remain central to the island experience, complemented by greater emphasis on land-based activities, sustainability and new experiences for families and teenagers.

Investing in the island experience

The transformation extends across accommodation, dining and social spaces.

Some changes are subtle – new menus, furniture layouts, music and ambience – while others involve completely reimagining existing spaces, including the creation of a new Kandooma Beach Club.

The resort is also undertaking a phased refurbishment of guest villas, installing new private pools and upgrading key public areas while remaining open, with works carefully scheduled to minimise disruption.

Once completed, the resort will offer 146 villas, including new two-bedroom accommodation options providing greater flexibility for families, groups and multi-generational travellers.

“We’re taking everything people already love about Kandooma and making it better, while creating new reasons to come, new things to discover and new memories to take home,” says Drummond.

Established in 1984, Kandooma has built a loyal international following for its relaxed island style, surfing Kandooma Right, award-winning scuba diving, family holidays, and wellness at Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala. These experiences remain part of Kandooma’s DNA, with the new brand building on what has made the island special for more than four decades.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives will continue to operate under the Holiday Inn brand until the end of the month (30 September 2026), becoming Kandooma Maldives on 1 October 2026.

Further details of the new Kandooma Maldives experience will be revealed throughout September.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives will transition to Kandooma Maldives from 1 October 2026, operated by HPL Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Hotel Properties Limited. Visit www.kandooma-maldives.com.