News
LUX* Maldives wins as ‘Leading Family Resort’ at the 2014 Maldives Travel Awards
Maldives.net.mv – After being awarded the Indian Ocean Leading All-Inclusive Resort at Maldives Travel Awards 2013, LUX* Maldives has scored again with yet another valuable award recognizing the significant efforts of the past year by gaining the title of Leading Family Award at the 2014 Maldives Travel Awards.
Since December 2011, LUX* Maldives has worked tirelessly to be recognized as a leading resort in the Maldives and last night’s award ceremony held in Male firmly confirmed this achievement. The resort has been officially awarded for its ongoing innovation, high standards of guest service, understanding of family needs, unique concepts and a true belief in the motto of ‘helping people to celebrate life’. PLAY is the large and well equipped resort kids club for children below the age of 12 providing a daily program of activities including treasure hunts, yoga, pizza making and cake decorating. Teens enjoy a sophisticated program called STUDIO 17 including team sports, teen only excursions, guitar lessons and can even learn how to be a DJ for their own party. The 5 star PADI dive centre and well equipped water sports centre warmly welcomes families of all age groups providing a wide range of experiences in, on and under the water! At LUX* Maldives kids are sure to never be bored and with 7 restaurants everyone is sure to find something they like.
After winning against some of the long established beach resorts of the Maldives, LUX* Maldives General Manager Shaun Dunhofen said “We are immensely proud to receive this wonderful award in this year’s Maldives Travel Awards. The Maldives has become a very popular destination for family holidays and our large beach front, wide selection of resort facilities and experiences, coupled with passionate team members, ensures our guests enjoy the best beach holiday possible”.
Guests at LUX* Maldives are treated to unique experiences such as Café LUX* freshly ground coffee, hand roasted on the island. ScruCap, a special selection of South African wines, produced only for LUX* Resorts & Hotels. ICI, freshly made ice creams and sorbets in a kaleidoscope of delicious flavours, plus the simple fun of ‘Phone Home’, a retro British red telephone box with free calls anywhere in the world! Being one of the larger resorts in the Maldives, guests are provided with a great choice of dining options and activities, a rejuvenating LUX* ME Spa, water sports and dive centre plus regular snorkelling trips by traditional dhoni, to spot magnificent whale sharks, manta rays and endangered turtles that inhabit the warm waters of South Ari Atoll.
As the Festive Season draws closer, LUX* Maldives is looking forward to celebrating this special time with its guests. The island experiences will showcase treasure hunts, beach games, interactive pop-up dining in true LUX* Style. The arrival of Santa is always highly anticipated, arriving last year by FLYBOARD, it’s an exciting time for the younger LUX* guests. The New Year’s Eve party will bring about lavish decorations, fairy lights, live cooking stations and pop-up bars with a colourful Carnival theme showcasing celebrations from around the world. With impromptu cinema screenings on the beach, mother and daughter LUX* ME Spa packages and an onsite Marine Biologist, LUX* Maldives presents a constant variety of activities that never fail to delight – both above and below the waterline!
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Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa to stage 14th edition of Surfing Champions Trophy
The Indian Ocean provides consistent surf conditions throughout the year, but each September, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa hosts the Surfing Champions Trophy at the Sultans break. The event is scheduled to return from 4 to 11 September 2026, bringing together professional surfers, guests and spectators.
Now in its 14th edition, the Surfing Champions Trophy is an invitation-only event featuring professional surfers competing across three board disciplines: single fin, twin fin and thruster. The competition takes place at Sultans, a reef break in North Malé Atoll, with Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa serving as the base for participants, officials and attending guests.
The line-up for the 2026 edition will be announced in stages in the coming months.
The event was first held in 2011, with Mark Occhilupo winning all three divisions and the Grand Champions Final. Since then, previous winners have included Damien Hardman (2012), Taylor Knox (2013), Dave Rastovich (2014), Shane Dorian (2015), Taj Burrow (2016, 2017 and 2024), Josh Kerr (2018 and 2019), Kelly Slater (2022), and Joel Parkinson (2023).
Over the years, the competition has also featured a range of international surfers, including Carissa Moore, Maya Gabeira, Tom Curren, Rob Machado, Layne Beachley, Bethany Hamilton, Mikey February, Jeremy Flores and Jadson Andre.
The 2025 edition saw Tahitian surfer Michel Bourez secure victory despite sustaining a hamstring injury during the event. He won both the thruster division and the Grand Champions Final, achieving the only perfect score of the competition in the closing moments of the final. Other participants included Owen Wright, Jesse Mendes, Craig Anderson and Maldivian wildcard Ismail Rasheed.
In parallel with the event, the resort offers the “Surf’s Up” package, which includes coaching sessions with Tropicsurf professionals, guided surf trips, daily yoga sessions, spa treatments, and accommodation with transfers. The package is available to guests seeking to participate in surf-related activities during the event period.
Updates on the 2026 competition, including participant announcements, will be released through official channels of the Surfing Champions Trophy and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa.
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JOALI brings England football legend Fara Williams to Maldives
JOALI has announced a partnership with retired footballer Fara Williams, who will visit JOALI Maldives and JOALI BEING this April to lead a series of football-related activities for guests and the local community.
Fara Williams is among the most capped players in English football history, with 172 international appearances for the England women’s national team. Over the course of her career, she represented clubs including Chelsea and Charlton Athletic, and captained Everton to victory in the Premier League Cup in 2008 and the FA Women’s Cup in 2010.
As part of the initiative, Williams will host a football workshop for girls from Dhuvaafaru Island on 11 April 2026. The session is intended to support the development of women’s football in the Maldives and reflects JOALI’s engagement with communities in Raa Atoll.
In addition, family-focused football sessions will be held for resort guests on 13 April at JOALI Maldives and on 17 April at JOALI BEING. These sessions will provide children and families with the opportunity to participate in football activities guided by Williams.
JOALI Maldives offers villas starting from USD 3,256 per night for two guests sharing a Water Villa with Pool on a bed and breakfast basis. At JOALI BEING, villas start from USD 3,162 per night for two guests sharing an Ocean Pool Villa on a bed and breakfast basis.
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Grand Park Kodhipparu to host lunar-themed experiences in May
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has unveiled Moon Over Kodhipparu, a month-long programme of curated lunar-inspired experiences scheduled to take place throughout May 2026. Drawing on the natural rhythm of the moon, the resort invites guests to experience the Maldives through a series of immersive activities designed to foster connection to self, others, and the surrounding island environment.
Set against the Indian Ocean, the programme structures each significant lunar phase as a distinct experiential segment. The Flower Full Moon at the beginning of the month introduces a theme of renewal, with activities including guided sound healing sessions, sunset cruises that extend into moonlit lagoon journeys, and oceanfront dining experiences.
Midway through the month, the Super New Moon presents a contrasting focus on stillness and reflection. Guests are invited to participate in beachside wellness sessions, starlit cruises under dark skies, and night fishing experiences guided by the natural rhythm of the sea.
The programme concludes with the Blue Moon on 31 May, marked by a series of experiences centred on celebration and connection, including couples’ spa treatments, lagoon cruises, and curated dining experiences under moonlight.
In addition to these key lunar events, the programme runs throughout May with a range of experiences integrated into the resort offering. Evening options include private beach lounge settings illuminated by lanterns, alongside a selection of botanical cocktails reflecting the changing tones of the night sky. The resort also offers tailored private dining and proposal arrangements, as well as a Mother’s Day concept that enables guests to arrange personalised experiences for travelling family members.
The programme reflects a broader trend in luxury travel towards experience-led stays. At Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, this is reflected through the integration of wellness, dining, and ocean-based activities into a structured programme designed to create continuity across the guest experience.
Guests are able to access the programme through the resort’s “Night on Us” offer, available for bookings made until 30 April 2026. The offer includes two complimentary nights on a six-night stay, allowing guests additional time to engage with multiple phases of the programme. It is valid for stays through 31 October 2026.
Located approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives offers overwater villas, a house reef, and a range of curated experiences that reflect the natural and cultural setting of the Maldives.
Through Moon Over Kodhipparu, the resort continues to expand its experience offering by aligning guest activities with natural cycles and structured programming.
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