Connect with us

News

Emirates introduces new in-flight entertainment system

Published

on

Emirates

Emirates introduces its new generation in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. The latest features include larger screens in First Class and Economy Class and three times the media storage – offering passengers an even greater choice of content on board. The new products can be found on Emirates’ newly-delivered Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A380 aircraft.

Passengers travelling in First Class will have a more immersive viewing experience to look forward to with IFE screens increased from 27 to 32 inches – the 40% increase makes it the largest screen on any aircraft.

Economy Class passengers can also look forward to immersing themselves in Emirates’ selection of inflight programmes, with the industry’s largest in-seat screens at 13.3 inches. These can also be found on Emirates’ latest two-class configured A380. The Business Class screens, at 23 inches wide, remain one of the industry’s largest for its class.

With three times the media storage on the new IFE system, ice Digital Widescreen now has 2,186 channels of on-demand entertainment and 1,230 music channels which amounts to about 4,300 hours of entertainment. This includes over 50 full TV box sets and close to 600 movies. Reflecting Emirates’ global and diverse customer base, the enhanced system also features a multilingual interface in 14 languages.

Other new features on ice includes enhanced handset controllers, USB ports and PC power outlets on all seats across the three cabin classes to allow passengers to charge their own mobile phones and portable devices.

Connectivity on board

Emirates’ next generation IFE system is complemented with connectivity on board. The airline offers Wi-Fi on 142 aircraft, more than half of its fleet, and Live TV now on 75 aircraft. Emirates began offering free Wi-Fi on board last year and has invested US $15 million to offer its passengers data connectivity in 2015. From January to September this year, 2.6 million Emirates passengers connected to Wi-Fi on board – a four-fold increase from last year, reflecting the strong consumer demand for connectivity services while travelling.

Other product enhancements include new micro fibre optic carpet in the First Class cabin which helps to reduce the effects of jet lag, and private suites in the centre aisle have been widened by 1.9 inches.

Featured

Baros Maldives sets festive calendar of dining, culture and marine experiences

Published

on

Baros Maldives will welcome guests for its festive season from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, with a programme centred on the island’s natural surroundings, Maldivian heritage and a series of culinary, marine and cultural experiences.

The programme will combine Christmas and New Year traditions with activities inspired by island life, including ocean excursions, local cultural experiences, festive dining and wellbeing sessions.

The season will begin with a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, followed by a series of activities introducing guests to festive traditions and Maldivian culture. These will include a Christmas cookie workshop, an Ocean, Coconut & Spice cooking class, a Maldivian Heritage Evening and an Island Christmas Market.

Marine experiences will remain a central part of the festive programme. Guests will be able to join a Sunrise Nooma sailing experience, take part in fishing trips at sunrise or twilight, explore the house reef with the resort’s marine team or join a dolphin-watching cruise.

Private yacht excursions, visits to local islands and trips to Malé will also be available for guests wishing to explore beyond the resort.

Baros Maldives will also offer a series of culinary experiences throughout the festive period. These will include a Sake Pairing Dinner, a Great Gatsby-themed five-course dinner and a Champagne Dinner inspired by the Seven Seas.

Other dining experiences will include a Butcher’s Block buffet, an Omakase tasting lunch and a Master Chef Tuna Carving Show & Tasting. Guests will also be able to take part in wine discovery experiences, cocktail-making sessions and an Island Crafted Cocktails programme.

On Christmas Eve, guests will gather at The Lighthouse for a cocktail reception before continuing to Lime for the Christmas Eve Gala Dinner.

Christmas Day will feature breakfast, festive activities and time for guests to enjoy the beach, lagoon and other island experiences with family and friends.

New Year’s Eve celebrations will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a Gala Dinner, live entertainment and the countdown to 2027.

New Year’s Day will start with a celebratory brunch, followed by a selection of wellbeing and dining experiences. These will include a beachfront degustation dinner accompanied by live violin and saxophone performances.

Younger guests will also have a dedicated programme of festive activities, including mocktail-making, Christmas cookie workshops and island-based activities designed for families and children.

Throughout the season, Baros Maldives will host live music, marine presentations, yoga and meditation sessions alongside its wider programme of dining, recreation and ocean experiences.

The festive programme is intended to reflect the character of Baros Maldives by combining Christmas and New Year celebrations with the island’s marine environment, culinary offering and Maldivian culture.

Continue Reading

Featured

Niva Kuramathi announces ‘A Tropical Festive Season’ for year-end celebrations

Published

on

From 21 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, Niva Kuramathi will mark the festive season with “A Tropical Festive Season”, a programme of dining, entertainment, outdoor activities and family experiences shaped around the island setting.

The programme will make use of Kuramathi’s natural surroundings, including its house reef and sandbank, alongside its 12 restaurants and seven bars.

The festivities will begin on the evening of 21 December with a Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the sandbank. Guests will be welcomed with drinks and live music at sunset, followed later in the evening by a traditional Bodu Beru performance.

On 28 and 29 December, the resort will host a traditional Maldivian Market, featuring Bodu Beru drumming, a folklore parade and locally made artisanal crafts.

Christmas Eve festivities

Christmas Eve celebrations will begin on the sandbank at sunset, with welcome drinks and Christmas carols. Santa Claus and his elves will also make an appearance before guests gather for a gala buffet dinner.

The evening will conclude with an outdoor screening of a classic Christmas film under the stars.

Countdown to 2027

New Year’s Eve celebrations will begin at sunset with cocktails on the sandbank.

A gala dinner will then be served across Farivalhu, Malaafaiy and Haruge restaurants before the countdown to 2027. Fireworks will mark the arrival of the New Year, while live music and DJ performances will continue at Fung Bar and Sand Bar.

Festive activities

Throughout the festive period, Niva Kuramathi will offer a programme of recreational, culinary and entertainment activities.

Guests will be able to take part in moonlit yoga sessions on the sandbank, sand sculpting, Sip & Paint evenings for couples and fire dance performances.

Sporting activities will include beach volleyball, a football match between the Niva Kuramathi team and guests, as well as kayak, pedal boat and stand-up paddleboard races.

The entertainment programme will also include wine tastings, karaoke, music trivia, live music and DJ evenings.

Cooking classes will be held at Kobe, where guests will be able to take part in sessions centred around the restaurant’s open kitchen experience.

The festive programme is designed to allow guests to participate in scheduled activities while also having the option to spend time at leisure.

The season will conclude on 1 January 2027 with a late-morning brunch and the first house reef dive of the year.

Festive programme for children

Bageecha Kids Club will host a separate festive programme for younger guests, combining recreation, creative activities and environmental learning.

Activities will include treasure hunts, splash pad games, cookie-making, arts and crafts, eco workshops, nature exploration, holiday films, karaoke, bracelet-making and gardening in the resort’s hydroponic garden.

Children will also be able to take part in scavenger hunts, mini-Olympic games, yoga and disco dancing, as well as shared lunches and dinners with other young guests.

On Christmas Eve, the programme will begin with a family photograph session, followed by gingerbread house decorating, writing letters to Santa, a palm-leaf handicraft workshop and outdoor games.

Christmas morning will feature a pyjama party with musical games and pool activities. Later in the day, families will gather at Athiri Deck to welcome Santa Claus, who will distribute gifts to children.

New Year’s Eve activities for younger guests will take place during the afternoon, with music and games around the pool followed by a children’s disco as part of the resort’s final celebrations of 2026.

Continue Reading

News

Atmosphere Core unveils ONE BANYAN Amaraa Faru as 10th Maldives resort

Published

on

Atmosphere Core, a leading hospitality company with roots in the Maldives, announces the signing of its 10th resort in the archipelago nation, ONE BANYAN Amaraa Faru An Atmosphere Hotel, Maldives, set to open in March 2027. Housed within the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand, the property will be positioned under the ‘An Atmosphere Hotel’ sub-brand and will be the first resort in the ONE BANYAN series of co-branded island resorts in the Maldives bringing a distinctive and independent character to the portfolio.

Commenting on the announcement, Salil Panigrahi, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Atmosphere Core, said, “As demand for the Maldives continues to grow and diversify, we are seeing travellers seek stays that are luxurious yet tailored to their individual needs, and purchasing decisions increasingly shaped by the quality of experiences rather than amenities and services alone. With Amaraa Faru, we bring our brand ethos of ‘A New Experience Awaits’ to life, while also responding to this evolving demand. At this resort, guests can look forward to a lavish yet grounded sophistication inspired by the natural rhythm, culture and people of the islands.”

ONE BANYAN is conceived as a unique co-branded concept within Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, designed to bring together individual resort identities while allowing each property to retain its own character. The name Amaraa Faru brings together two cultural references with ‘amaraa’ inspired by the Sanskrit word associated with eternity or immortality, while ‘faru’ means reef in Dhivehi, evoking a connection with marine life and the ocean.

The first of the series, ONE BANYAN Amaraa Faru, will offer freedom and flexibility rather than overly formal luxury. As ‘An Atmosphere Hotel’ sub brand, it is shaped by the spirit of its place, with a distinctive story, rhythm and sense of belonging. The concept is designed for today’s free-spirited explorer, responding to a growing desire for experiences that feel inspiring and have a lasting impact.

An Authentically Maldivian Setting

Promising enriching, immersive and authentic moments, ONE BANYAN Amaraa Faru will become the 9th resort worldwide within the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand. It is in Kaafu Atoll, accessible via a 45-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport. Framed by wide, luminous lagoons in layered shades of blue and green, the island lends itself to unhurried days by the water. Guests will have the privilege of an indulgent Holiday Plan, a signature of the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts brand, encompassing dining, wellness, snorkelling and other tropical activities, all tailored to meet the most discerning expectations.

A Distinctive, Contemporary & Nature-Inspired Aesthetic

Aesthetics at Amaraa Faru will offer a fresh, contemporary design expression, introducing a new design language within the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts portfolio. Rooted in the island’s surrounding marine world, the design will draw inspiration from traditional palm-leaf craftsmanship, where coconut and palm fibres are woven into functional art. This traditional craft will be reinterpreted through couture elegance, with natural materials, locally influenced textures, Art Deco touches and eco-conscious finishes layered into a soothing palette of crème and soft greens.

Guests will choose from 118 beach and overwater villas, ranging from 100 m² standard beach villas to 164 m² family beach villas and 117 m² overwater villas, each with a private pool. Fluid indoor and outdoor spaces will create effortlessly stylish retreats, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the island’s natural rhythm.

An all-day dining restaurant will anchor the culinary offering, complemented by a relaxed main pool bar and three speciality restaurants offering diverse culinary experiences, ranging from vibrant Argentinian cuisine to a charming overwater Japanese dining experience.

Additional facilities will include a sprawling kids’ club, an ocean-view gym and fitness centre, a dive and water sports centre, and a promenade-style retail space. A spa and wellness centre by the company’s award-winning brand, ELE|NA Ayur, with overwater treatment rooms, a 40 m² saltwater pool, and sauna and steam facilities will round out the resort’s facilities.

Contemporary & Intuitively Innovative Experience

Technology will be seamlessly integrated throughout the guest journey. At its heart, the resort will foster a service culture that is smart, original and elevated. Resulting in a relaxed and elegant environment — modern in spirit yet grounded in the warmth and hospitality for which the brand is known.

Amaraa Faru will also incorporate solar energy solutions, water conservation systems, and a no-plastics approach, including in-house glass water bottling, aligning with Atmosphere Core’s broader commitment to sustainability.

A New Chapter for Atmosphere Core

Founded in 2013, Atmosphere Core has built a strong presence in the Maldives with nine operational resorts across three brands and two developments in the pipeline, including ONE BANYAN Amaraa Faru An Atmosphere Hotel. The company’s international journey continues with a heritage hotel now open in India and Italy, along with plans for over 20 upcoming properties across Europe and South Asia.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.