This festive season, Coco Bodu Hithi, part of Coco Collection, invites guests to embrace Island Glow: Moments Made to Remember, a joyful programme inspired by togetherness, shared experiences and the simple pleasure of spending meaningful time in the Maldives.

From 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, the island sets the scene for festive dining, live entertainment, ocean adventures, wellness experiences and time spent together.  The season opens with the Annual Festive Tree Lighting, where twinkling lights, live music and a celebratory toast mark the start of the holidays.

The days that follow bring Maldivian experiences alongside festive traditions, from local handicrafts and underwater coral planting to cocktails, carols and live performances.  On 24 December, guests gather for a Christmas Eve Gala Dinner accompanied by live music.

The following morning begins with a leisurely brunch before Santa makes his much-awaited arrival at the Main Jetty.  By evening, Maldivian flavours, traditional music and island culture add a distinctly local touch to the celebrations.

The programme brings plenty of ways to spend meaningful time with the people who matter.  Families can discover the house reef or have fun with a playful cook-off, while couples can escape to a Maldivian sandbank or capture a special moment with an underwater photoshoot.  Friends can come together over sushi making, local cooking and cocktail workshops, with sunset cruises and laid-back evenings by the shore adding to the holiday spirit.

Dining brings its own pleasures, from freshly grilled favourites by the beach to intimate Wine & Dine evenings.  For those seeking time to unwind, Coco Spa offers coconut-infused treatments, Ayurvedic therapies and restorative rituals designed for two.

Younger travellers can look forward to plenty of fun and discovery, with nature walks, marine-inspired crafts, colourful keepsakes, movies, karaoke and hands-on activities adding a little extra magic to their stay.

New Year’s Eve begins with a cruise across Maldivian waters to toast the final sunset of 2026, followed by an elegant Gala Dinner.  Live performances, DJ beats and the Festive Raffle Draw build towards the midnight countdown and a sparkling welcome to 2027.

The programme carries on into January with leisurely dining, underwater adventures and evenings by the sea, including the Orthodox Christmas Eve Gala Dinner.  On Orthodox Christmas Day, 7 January, the season draws to a close with a relaxed Breeze Beach BBQ, featuring freshly grilled favourites and live entertainment by the sea.

Framed by turquoise waters, private pool villas and warm Maldivian hospitality, Island Glow welcomes loved ones to reconnect, share meaningful moments and take home lasting memories of their time at Coco Bodu Hithi.  Recognised for two consecutive years at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, Best Service in 2025 and Best Waterside Hotel in 2026, Coco Bodu Hithi continues to create heartfelt stays shaped by thoughtful experiences and the beauty of the Maldives.

To celebrate the season at Coco Bodu Hithi, guests can visit www.cococollection.com or contact reservations@cococollection.com to plan their stay and discover the exclusive Coco Festive Celebration.

At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, luxury is increasingly defined not by what guests can add to their stay, but by how much is already thoughtfully built into it. From Maldivian cultural experiences and daily wellness to guided ocean adventures, family privileges, and island-wide dining, the resort brings together a comprehensive collection of inclusions designed to make each guest stay feel both richer and more effortless.

Cultural Immersion and Ceremonial Arrivals

Culture sits at the heart of the experience, reflecting Sun Siyam Resorts’ brand tagline, The Home of the Maldivian Spirit. Included activities celebrating local heritage ensure the stay feels naturally immersive. From the moment guests step ashore, the arrival is marked by the subtle beat of Bodu Beru drums, traditional ceremonial umbrellas, and artisanal refreshments before they are guided to their villa. Through the weekly Maldivian Roots programme, guests engage in hands-on cultural moments, from grinding island spices and learning Dhivehi phrasing to receiving traditional henna art. In the evenings, Turndown Journeys goes beyond classic evening service, offering a calm transition into night with island folklore, small handcrafted keepsakes, and local delicacies, allowing the heritage of the Maldives to unfold at its own pace.

Holistic Wellbeing and Destination Discovery

Active living forms an integral part of island life, with an array of integrated wellness and water activities. Guests enjoy access to guided yoga, meditation, functional training, and beach conditioning sessions, seamlessly blending well-being into every moment of exploration. On the lagoon, the experience includes guided snorkelling at Nemo Park alongside non-motorised water sports, such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

Generational Freedom and Lifestyle Retreats

True luxury is the freedom to connect without distraction. While dedicated adults-only hideaways offer peaceful moments for couples, families enjoy generous privileges and expansive living spaces. At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, every generation is welcomed with genuine warmth, highlighted by complimentary stays and dining for children under 15 when sharing a villa with 2 adults. Days unfold with included leisure activities, from tennis matches and games lounge access to daily frozen treats at La Cremeria. For those seeking complete seclusion, premium villas include exclusive privileges: Sunset Horizon Water Villas with Pool feature chef-curated apéritifs in private sunken lounges, ideal for a romantic escape, while The Retreats elevate the stay with dedicated butler service, private floating breakfasts, and sommelier-led tastings.

A Generous 24-Hour Premium All-Inclusive Dine Around

Designed for total peace of mind, the newly introduced 24-Hour Premium All-Inclusive Dine Around invites guests to explore the resort’s exquisite culinary landscape across 15 distinct restaurants and bars. A curated collection of 66 world-class wines from renowned winemakers and fine champagne inclusions further elevate the experience. Beyond premium dining, this elevated all-inclusive concept extends to curated experiences: ocean enthusiasts can take their first breath beneath the waves with a guided trial dive, while female guests receive a rejuvenating spa facial. For shared moments, families can immerse themselves in an included local island excursion or set sail on a scenic sunset cruise.

Celebratory Privileges

As A Curated Island Sanctuary, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi turns personal milestones into lasting memories. Every celebratory stay is shaped by thoughtful, discreet gestures. Birthdays and anniversaries are celebrated with bespoke artisanal cakes and fresh tropical blooms, while honeymoon stays feature romantic bath rituals and private candlelit dining under the night sky. Housekeeping takes the time to create personalised turn-down touches and decorations, ensuring each guest feels truly pampered.

Experience or Share the Magic

For those looking to extend extraordinary island moments to loved ones or add magic to friends and family’s stays, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi gift cards offer a flexible way to gift elevated stays, spa therapies, or tailor-made island experiences.

From 25 October to 3 November 2026, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives will welcome Chef Joshua Acquaviva, Head Chef of Pellico 3 at Park Hyatt Milan, for a ten-day residency at Pibati Sul Mare, the resort’s beachside Italian restaurant.

Working alongside Executive Chef Frank Wackerhagen and the island’s culinary team, Chef Joshua will present a selection of dishes shaped by his Italian heritage, with a particular affection for pasta and pizza — two traditions deeply connected to his Neapolitan roots.

Born in Naples in 1995, Chef Joshua knew from an early age that the kitchen would become his world. His career has since taken him through some of Italy’s most accomplished kitchens, including VistaMare at Hotel Il Fogliano, where he contributed to the restaurant earning its first Michelin star; two-Michelin-starred Kresios in Telese; and Il Faro di Capo d’Orso on the Amalfi Coast, where he spent four formative years as Sous Chef. In 2022, he joined Pellico 3 at Park Hyatt Milan and progressed from Chef de Partie to Head Chef within two years. Today, his cooking balances technical precision with a deep connection to Italian ingredients, memory and place.

At Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, that philosophy will meet a distinctly different landscape.

Rather than recreating Milan by the Indian Ocean, the residency will bring the two kitchens together through a shared respect for ingredients, technique and simplicity. Chef Joshua’s cooking will remain true to its Italian foundations while responding naturally to Kothaifaru, with carefully selected produce and herbs cultivated on the island bringing subtle freshness to the experience.

Italian Cooking, Shaped by Its Island Setting

Set beside the beach, Pibati Sul Mare takes its name from the Sanskrit word “Pibati”, meaning “to drink, absorb or imbibe”. The restaurant carries that invitation into a dining experience intended to be enjoyed at an unhurried pace.

Its menu centres on artisanal pizzas and handcrafted pastas, bringing together Italian classics and island-inspired flavours. Carefully selected ingredients and homegrown herbs lend freshness and character to the cooking, while the setting balances contemporary elegance with the ease of the coast. With the Indian Ocean beyond the table, Pibati Sul Mare offers a refined yet relaxed expression of Italian dining in the Maldives.

Throughout the residency, guests will also be invited to join intimate pizza-making sessions at Pibati’s counter. Limited to eight participants, each session will offer time to work with the dough, learn directly from the chefs and understand the details behind a well-made pizza. Where demand requires, staggered sessions will be arranged to preserve the personal nature of the experience.

“Welcoming Joshua to Kothaifaru is not about moving one restaurant into another,” said Thomas Weber, General Manager of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “It is about creating space for two kitchens to meet, with respect for what each place brings. Our guests will experience the craft of an Italian chef in a setting that belongs unmistakably to this island, with rare access to the people and thinking behind each dish. That intimacy, rather than formality, is central to our idea of luxury at Alila.”

The residency reflects Alila’s approach to experiences that are personal, rooted in place and shaped by genuine exchange. For the chefs, it creates an opportunity to share techniques, ideas and perspectives across two distinct kitchens. For guests, that exchange becomes tangible at the table — in the handling of the dough, the making of pasta, the use of an island-grown herb and the story behind a finished plate.

“Joshua and I share a respect for cooking that is clear, disciplined and rooted in strong foundations,” said Frank Wackerhagen, Executive Chef of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “At Pibati Sul Mare, we are fortunate to have a talented team of chefs who bring tremendous skill, care and character to the kitchen every day. This residency gives them the opportunity to work closely with Joshua, exchange ideas and build on their craft together. We will begin with the essentials — well-rested dough, pasta made by hand, sauces developed with patience and ingredients treated with respect — then allow Kothaifaru to come through naturally in the herbs, the produce and the way each dish is enjoyed beside the sea.”

For Chef Joshua, the residency is also an opportunity to return to the flavours that have accompanied him from the beginning of his career. Pizza and pasta remain central to his culinary identity, not simply as familiar Italian staples, but as expressions of technique, memory and generosity.

“Naples has shaped the way I understand food from the very beginning,” said Joshua Acquaviva, Head Chef of Pellico 3 at Park Hyatt Milan. “Pasta and pizza are part of that identity, and they remain at the heart of how I cook today. What excites me about coming to Kothaifaru is the opportunity to share those traditions in a completely different setting, while working alongside Frank and the Pibati team. Good cooking is also about exchange — learning from one another, respecting the ingredients in front of you and creating something guests can connect with.”

From the refinement of Pellico 3 to the natural rhythm of island life, the residency brings together two distinct expressions of hospitality through a common culinary language. It is a meeting of people and place, expressed through food that carries its heritage confidently while remaining open to its surroundings.

Chef Joshua Acquaviva’s residency at Pibati Sul Mare will take place from 25 October to 3 November 2026. The guest menu and pizza-making sessions will be subject to availability, with advance reservations recommended.

To reserve your place in advance, contact kothaifaru@alilahotels.com. Follow @alilamaldives on Instagram as Chef Joshua Acquaviva’s residency unfolds at Pibati Sul Mare.