In celebration of World Turtle Day, Canareef Resort Maldives hosted an impactful marine conservation awareness talk last evening at the resort’s Dhoaraa Bar. The interactive session drew a passionate crowd of guests and team members eager to learn about protecting the fragile marine ecosystems surrounding the island.

Located in the highly biodiverse Addu Atoll—a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve—Canareef Resort sits directly upon one of the most vital sea turtle habitats in the entire Indian Ocean region. The surrounding pristine waters are home to over 1,200 marine species, including two distinct, endangered residents: the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

During the presentation, the conservation talk highlighted the fundamentally different and crucial ecological roles these two species play on the same reef:

• Green Turtles serve as essential marine grazers, maintaining the health of seagrass beds. Their grazing promotes fresh seagrass growth, which absorbs carbon dioxide and acts as a vital nursery ground for juvenile fish. Without them, these essential seagrass beds can collapse.
• Hawksbill Turtles, recognised by their narrow, pointed beaks, feed predominantly on sea sponges. By keeping fast-growing sponge populations in check, they prevent them from smothering coral colonies, giving the reef the valuable space it needs to regenerate.

The talk also directly addressed the modern challenges facing sea turtle survival, including plastic pollution, accidental entanglement in fishing gear (bycatch), and light pollution. Marine experts reminded the audience that while sea turtles have successfully navigated the Earth’s oceans for over 100 million years—long before the Maldivian islands even formed—their future survival now rests heavily on human action.

To bridge the gap between awareness and everyday action, Canareef Resort shared a practical roadmap detailing how everyone can directly assist in local conservation efforts:

• In the Water: Swimmers and divers are advised to maintain a respectful three-meter distance from turtles, avoid flash photography, and never step on coral structures.
• On the Beach: Everyone is encouraged to keep beaches completely clear of personal items like sunloungers and bags at night so nesting turtles and hatchlings face no obstructions. Additionally, avoiding the use of torches on the beach after dark helps prevent confusing hatchlings as they navigate toward the ocean using the natural bright horizon.
• Active Reporting: Anyone on the island can support active tracking networks by reporting any distressed or entangled turtles directly to the resort’s reception or the Diverland dive centre team.

Canareef Resort Maldives continues to actively support regional environmental frameworks, highlighting the work of national turtle monitoring by the Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI) and regional protections like the Addu Biosphere rules. Through engaging educational sessions like the World Turtle Day talk, the resort reaffirms its commitment to sustainable tourism, preserving Addu Atoll’s breathtaking natural legacy for generations to come.

ELE|NA has been announced as a finalist in two prestigious categories at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2026, marking a significant achievement for both the brand and the Maldives wellness industry.

The categories include:

• Worldwide Luxury Hotel / Resort Spa of the Year for ELE|NA Elements of Nature at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI
• Sustainable Spa of the Year for ELE|NA Ayur at OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO

Hosted annually in London, the World Spa & Wellness Awards (WSWA), launched in 2012 by the UK-based Professional Beauty Group, are regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades within the global wellness and hospitality industry. With over 30 years of expertise in spa and beauty industry awards, the Professional Beauty Group created the awards to recognise excellence in care, service, innovation, and industry standards across the global wellness sector.

Covering regions including Europe, the Middle East & Africa, North & South America, and Asia & Australasia, the awards celebrate outstanding luxury spas, wellness destinations, and sustainable wellness initiatives worldwide. Judged by an independent panel of industry experts and wellness leaders, the awards honour brands and properties that demonstrate exceptional guest experiences, operational excellence, and meaningful contributions to the evolving wellness landscape. Being shortlisted among leading international wellness brands further reinforces ELE|NA’s growing presence on the global wellness stage.

The nomination for Worldwide Luxury Hotel / Resort Spa of the Year recognises the exceptional wellness experiences offered at ELE|NA Elements of Nature at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. Located in the serene island setting of the Maldives, the spa offers a holistic approach to wellbeing through thoughtfully designed spa journeys that integrate therapeutic traditions, modern wellness science, and immersive sensory experiences. With luxurious tranquil overwater treatment rooms and personalised wellness programmes, guests are invited to reconnect with balance, relaxation, and vitality.

The Sustainable Spa of the Year nomination for ELE|NA Ayur at OBLU NATURE Helengeli by SENTIDO, is the only representative from the Maldives that is shortlisted in this category. It highlights the brand’s commitment to conscious wellness practices, sustainability-led initiatives, and environmentally responsible spa operations. Sustainability is thoughtfully woven into the guest experience through interactive workshops and mindful activities. Further strengthening its commitment to responsible wellness, ELE|NA has achieved the Gold Standard accreditation from Sustainable Wellness, a non-profit organisation established in 2020 that provides independent sustainability guidance and benchmarking for the wellness industry.

Being recognised across both luxury wellness and sustainability categories reflects ELE|NA’s continued commitment to redefining holistic wellbeing experiences. This marks an important milestone in ELE|NA’s journey of creating meaningful, conscious, and transformative wellness experiences rooted in nature, innovation, and mindful hospitality.

Designed to be adaptable across resort and spa environments, ELE|NA’s Wellness Your Way™, philosophy and sustainability framework continue to demonstrate how mindful wellness practices can enhance both guest experience and long-term value creation. Through experiential workshops, responsible spa operations, and holistic wellbeing concepts rooted in nature, ELE|NA is helping shape the future of sustainable wellness hospitality in the Maldives, India and beyond.

Anantara Hotels & Resorts, the luxury brand of Minor Hotels, has marked its 25th anniversary with the launch of a global campaign titled 25 Years of Unforgettable Journeys, celebrating the brand’s growth from a single resort in Thailand to a portfolio of more than 50 hotels and resorts across 24 countries.

Founded in 2001 by William Heinecke, Chairman and Founder of Minor International, the Anantara brand was created to meet demand for luxury hospitality centred on cultural discovery, indigenous design, local cuisine and destination-led experiences. The name Anantara is derived from Sanskrit, meaning “without end”, reflecting the brand’s focus on exploration and the celebration of life’s journey.

“Creating Anantara remains one of my proudest professional accomplishments,” Heinecke said. “Building the brand from the ground up gave us the opportunity to apply what we learned from operating hotels in Thailand for more than 20 years and satisfy the growing demand from discerning travellers who want memorable local experiences and adventures while having luxurious accommodations to come back to each evening.”

The first Anantara property, Anantara Hua Hin Resort, opened on 4 March 2001 in Hua Hin, Thailand. Designed to reflect a traditional Thai village set within tropical gardens, the resort established the brand’s approach to cultural immersion and sense of place.

Anantara later expanded across Thailand with properties including Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in the north and Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort in the south. Its first international property opened in the Maldives in 2006 with Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, marking the beginning of the brand’s expansion beyond Thailand into the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.

The Maldives remains part of Anantara’s anniversary celebrations, with Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas offering private stargazing sessions at SKY, the resort’s overwater observatory, as part of the brand’s global programme of curated guest experiences.

Anantara’s expansion has also included city hotels, with the 2015 rebranding of a landmark Bangkok property as Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel marking a step in the brand’s evolution from a resort-led concept to a hospitality brand with a presence in major urban destinations. In recent years, Anantara has entered several European cities, including Amalfi, Amsterdam, Budapest, Dublin, Nice, Rome and Vienna.

The brand’s pipeline includes upcoming debuts in Australia, Japan, Egypt, Croatia, Argentina, Turks & Caicos and the United States. In 2026, Anantara will also introduce Anantara Tented Camps, beginning with Anantara Tented Camp Kafue River in Zambia, located near Kafue National Park.

“Anantara has played a defining role in shaping Minor Hotels’ luxury portfolio over the past 25 years,” said Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International. “Our focus remains on thoughtful, disciplined expansion that stays true to Anantara’s foundations, with immersive experiences, a strong sense of place and genuine cultural connection guiding how and where the brand evolves.”

As part of the anniversary campaign, Anantara has launched the People Who Inspire series, profiling 25 team members across the brand. The series highlights artisans, conservationists, spiritual guides and long-serving hosts whose work contributes to the guest experience at Anantara properties worldwide.

The first profile features Yingsuphat “Alex” Wrarapho, Chief Experience Insider at Anantara Hua Hin Resort, where the brand began. According to Anantara, the series reflects the role of people and personal connection in shaping the brand’s approach to hospitality.

The 25th anniversary programme also includes a global collection of signature experiences and activations. At Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome, guests can travel along the River Tiber aboard a private luxury boat, while at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in northern Thailand, guests can spend the morning with resident elephants and prepare a gourmet “cake” for them.

Dining experiences and spa offerings inspired by local traditions are also being introduced across selected properties, with further anniversary experiences to be announced during the year.

Discover the full collection of anniversary experiences here.