News

Nominees announced for SATA 2016

Published

9 years ago

August 17, 2016

sata Maldives.net.mv – South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) opened up for nominations on 30th June 2016 have received overwhelming support from major hospitality brands present in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

While announcing the final nominees of SATA 2016, Mr. Tuan Saabir Vaffoor, Vice President mentioned that: SATA is the first Hospitality Award brand recognized by regional organizations including Federations of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (CATO, India), Association of Tourism Trade Organizations of India (ATTOI), Association of Travel Agents (ATA, Maldives) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).

Mr. Tuan added, undoubtedly SATA will be a great event and an amazing brand. We have already started communicating with 2017 hosting destination as we have got a tremendous number of international and National brands together with us to celebrate the best of South Asian Hospitality.

SATA has also appointed major regional tourism medias including Asian Traveler as premium media partner and Asian Diver, Asian Geographic, Floating Asia and Maldives.net.mv as media partners of the event scheduled to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka during late October.

SATA Nominees 2016 :

Visitors Choice Categories :

(nominated by organizer : based on types of participation from respective destinations)

Leading International Airport:

Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka
Ibrahim Nasir International Airport , Maldives
Trivandrum International Airport, India

Leading Honeymoon Destination :

India
Maldives
Sri Lanka

Leading Diving Destination:

Maldives
Sri Lanka

Leading Surfing Destination

Maldives
Sri Lanka

Leading Heritage Destination

India
Sri Lanka

Leading Beach Destination

India
Maldives
Sri Lanka

Leading Cruising Destination

India
Maldives

Leading MICE Destination

India
Maldives
Sri Lanka

—

Self Nominated Categories :

(Brands and Services nominated by the brand / property)

Leading International Airline :

Singapore Airlines
Mega Maldives

Leading City Hotel :

Casa Colombo Collections , Sri Lanka
Ceylon City Hotel, Sri Lanka

Leading Airport Hotel :

Hulhule Island Hotel, Maldives

Leading Transport Provider :

Flyme , Maldives

Leading Guest House / Tourist Inn

Shamar Guest House and Dive, Maldives
Surf View Raalhugandu, Maldives
Canopus Retreat, Maldives
Yonder Retreat, Maldives
Velana Beach , Maldives
Aqua Inn, Sri Lanka
Kaani Village & Spa, Maldives
Kaani Beach Hotel, Maldives

Leading Liveaboard Brand :

Emperor Divers, Maldives
Scuba Spa, Maldives
Voyages Maldives
Blue K Safari , Maldives

Leading Liveaboard :

Emperor Voyager,Maldives
Scuba Spa Ying, Maldives
Scuba Spa Yang , Maldives
Gurahali , Maldives
Soleil2 , Maldives

Leading House Boat :

Marvel Cruise, India
Spice Routes Luxury Cruise , India

Leading House Boat Brand :

Marvel Cruise, India
Pepper , Spice Routes Luxury Cruise, India
Cinnamon , Spice Routes Luxury Cruise, India
Ginger , Spice Routes Luxury Cruise, India
Clove , Spice Routes Luxury Cruise, India
Cardamom , Spice Routes Luxury Cruise, India

Leading Beach Hotel / Resort:

Finolhu , Maldives
Paradise Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Adaaran Club Rannaalhi, Maldives
Park Hyatt Handahaa , Maldives
Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Maldives
Como Hotels Cocoa Island , Maldives
Como Hotels Maalifushi, Maldives
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
Amari Havodda Maldives
W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives
Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
Uday Samudra Beach Hotel & Spa, India
Sonevafushi, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Tangerine Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes,Sri Lanka
Uga Bay by Uga Escapes, Sri Lanka
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
Amaya Beach Passikudah, Sri Lanka
Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, Maldives
Heritance Negambo, Sri Lanka

Leading Meetings & Conference Resort / Hotel :

Paradise Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Uday Samudra Beach Hotel & Spa, India
Leading Business Hotel :
Best Western Elyon Colombo, Sri Lanka
Taj Samudra, Sri Lanka
The Kingsbury, Sri Lanka

Most Romantic Resort:

Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru, Maldives
Royal island Resort& Spa, Maldives
Coco Boduhithi , Maldives
Conrad Maldives at Rangali Island, Maldives
Adaaran Prestige Vaadoo, Maldives
Jumeirah Dhevenafushi, Maldives
W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives
Sonevafushi, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Hunas Falls by Amaya, Sri Lanka
Langdale by Amaya, Sri Lanka
Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, Maldives
Outrigger Konotta Maldives
Serene Pavilions , Sri Lanka
Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, Maldives
Heritance Tea Factory , Sri Lanka

Leading All Inclusive Resort / Hotel:

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Vivanta By Taj -Coral Reef, Maldives
Adaaran Select Meedhupparu , Maldives
Constance Moofushi, Maldives
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
Turyaa Kalutara , Sri Lanka

Leading Designer Hotel / Resort :

Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Park Hyatt Maldives
Amari Havodda Maldives
Casa Colombo Collection, Sri Lanka
Heritance Negambo, Sri Lanka

Leading F&B Hotel/Resort:

Dusit Thani Maldives
Cinammon Bey Beruwala, Sri Lanka
Centara Rasfushi , Maldives
Centara Grand IslandResort & Spa , Maldives
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives
Uday Samudra Beach Hotel & Spa, India
The Kingsbury, Sri Lanka
Outrigger Konotta Maldives
Sun Aqua Pasikudah , Maldives
The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Maldives
Heritance Ahungalla , Sri Lanka

Leading Luxury Hotel / Resort:

Dusit Thani Maldives
Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Coco Boduhithi, Maldives
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
Vivanta By Taj -Coral Reef, Maldives
Adaaran Prestige The Water Villas, Maldives
Park Hyatt Maldives Handahaa
Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Maldives
Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
Sonevafushi, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Ulagalla by Uga Escapes, Sri Lanka
Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes,Sri Lanka
Residence by Uga Escapes, Sri Lanka
Chena Huts by Uga Escapes, Sri Lanka
Uga Bay by Uga Escapes, Sri Lanka
Casa Colombo Collection , Sri Lanka
The Kingsbury, Sri Lanka
Sun Aqua Pasikudah , Sri Lanka
Heritance Negambo, Sri Lanka

Leading Family Hotel/Resort:

Dusit Thani Maldives
Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Angsana Velavaru , Maldives
Royal Island Resort & Spa , Maldives
Sun Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Como Hotels Cocoa Island, Maldives
Como Hotels Maalifushi, Maldives
Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
Sonevafushi, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Maldives
Turyaa Kalutara, Sri Lanka

Leading Wellness & spa Hotel / Resort:

Dusit Thani Maldives
Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Centara Rasfushi, Maldives
Vivanta By Taj -Coral Reef, Maldives
Park Hyatt Maldives Handahaa
Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, Maldives
Como Hotels Maalifushi, Maldives
Amaya Lake, Dhambulla , Sri Lanka
The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi , Maldives
Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel, India
W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives

Leading Wellness & Spa Brand :

Araamu Spa, Maldives
Como Shambala , Maldives
W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives
Uday Samudra Beach Hotel & Spa, India
Chi, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka
Sun Aqua Vilu Reef, Maldives
W Maldives Retreat & Spa , Maldives

Leading Dive Hotel / Resort:

Holiday Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Vivanta By Taj -Coral Reef, Maldives
Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Maldives
Angsana Ihuru , Maldives
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon
Park Hyatt Maldives Handahaa
W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives
Constance Moofushi, Maldives
Sonevafushi, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, Maldives

Leading Eco Resort / Hotel :

Cocopalm Dhunikolhu, Maldives
Leopard Trials, Sri Lanka
Park Hyatt Maldives Handahaa
Sun Island Resort and Spa , Maldives
Sonevafushi, Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka
Leading CSR Programme
CocoPalm Dhunikolhu Maldives
Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa, Maldives
Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
Uday Samudra Beach Hotel & Spa, India
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
The Kingsbury, Sri Lanka

Leading Surf Hotel / Resort :

Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi, Maldives
Como Hotels & Resorts , Maldives
Cinnamon Dhonveli , Maldives

Leading Dive School / Center :

Sea Splash , Dusit Thani Maldives Dive School
Dive Oceanus , Maldives
Dive Point, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Maldives
Blue Journeys, Park Hyatt Maldives
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives
Down Under, W Retreat & Spa, Maldives
Meridis Dive & Relax , Maldives
Sun Diving School, Maldives

Leading Activity / Water Sports Center :

Meridis Dive & Relax , Maldives
Outrigger Maldives
Q-Adventure , Maldives
Watersports Point, Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Maldives
Park Hyatt Maldives Handahaa
WAVE., W Maldives Retreat & Spa, Maldives

Leading Convention Center .

Bandaranaike Memorial International Conventions Halls (BMICH), Sri Lanka

Leading PSA / GSA Partner , Handling Agent :

Avia Maldives
Marvel Tours, India
Go Maldives
Cyprea Private Limited

Leading Travel Agent :

OV Holidays, Maldives
Classic Travel, Sri Lanka
Capital Travel, Maldives
Flyinstyle , Sri Lanka
Splendid Asia , Maldives
Maldives Holiday Collections, Maldives
Travel Connections Maldives
Resort Life Maldives
Let’s Go Maldives
Gateway Malabar Holidays , India
Moodhu Holidays, Maldives
Sun Travel & Tours , Maldives

Leading Tour Operator :

Viluxur Holidays, Sri Lanka
Classic Travel , Sri Lanka
Cyprea Hotels & Travel, Maldives
Flyinstyle, Sri Lanka
Maldives Holiday Collections, Maldives
Splendid Asia , Maldives
Travel Connections , Maldives
Capital Travel , Maldives
Moodhu Holidays, Maldives
Marvel Tours , India

Related Topics:South Asian Travel Awards (SATA)

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Cooking

W Maldives welcomes acclaimed ‘Dessert King’ Reynold Poernomo for Flavours Unscripted culinary takeover

Published

1 day ago

July 11, 2025

m@ldives

W Maldives is turning up the flavor dial this August with a high-profile culinary collaboration that is equal parts bold, artful, and wildly indulgent. As part of the resort’s Dare To Taste programming under the Flavors Unscripted series, W Maldives will welcome acclaimed chef and culinary creative Reynold Poernomo for a two-part takeover on August 10 and 12, 2025. This exclusive collaboration is set to redefine island dining—one plate at a time.

Born in Indonesia and raised in Sydney, Chef Reynold is no stranger to pushing culinary boundaries. A self-taught prodigy who rose to fame as a finalist on MasterChef Australia, he quickly became known as the nation’s “Dessert King” for his intricate, art-driven creations. In 2016, he co-founded KOI Dessert Bar with his family, which has since become one of Sydney’s most iconic culinary destinations with a cult following. The brand expanded in 2017 with KOI Dessert Kitchen, a production space that also hosts exclusive masterclasses and guest chef collaborations. Reynold’s approach to food is anything but ordinary—his plates are immersive, imaginative, and unapologetically bold. This August, he brings that same creative fire to W Maldives.

The main event unfolds on August 12, when guests will have the rare opportunity to experience Chef Reynold’s culinary artistry firsthand at FISH, the resort’s signature overwater venue renowned for its sustainable ocean-to-table fine dining. For one night only, Chef Reynold will present a specially curated three-course dinner inspired by island ingredients, global technique, and his unmistakable visual flair. Guests can expect bold plating, layered flavors, and a few unexpected turns—this is Reynold unleashed, Maldives-style.

As part of this exclusive collaboration, W Maldives presents Marriott Bonvoy Moments–a once-in-a-lifetime experience for members to bid on a Private Castaway Dining Experience with Chef Reynold, paired with a luxurious four-night villa stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa from August 9 to 13, 2025. The package includes roundtrip shared seaplane transfers from Velana International Airport, daily breakfast, and a one-time signature treatment at AWAY Spa for the bid winner and their guest.

The highlight of the stay begins on August 10, with an intimate starlit dinner on Gaathafushi, W Maldives’ private castaway island, where Chef Reynold will personally host and curate a bespoke tasting menu. On August 12, the duo will receive front-row seats to his culinary showcase at FISH. With only one package available, anticipation is high and competition will be fierce.

To mark the collaboration, Chef Reynold will also unveil an exclusive signature dessert, created just for W Maldives and available on the menu for six months following his visit. Daring, decadent, and destined to be the most photographed dish on the island, it is a lasting tribute to this unforgettable partnership.

“There’s something electric about the Maldives—its textures, its moods, its light,” said Chef Reynold Poernomo. “This menu is my response to that. A dreamscape of flavor brought to life through technique, imagination, and a little island heat.”

Amila Handunwala, General Manager of W Maldives, added, “At W Maldives, we’re all about pushing boundaries—on the plate, behind the bar, and in the guest experience. Reynold brings a daring, creative energy that aligns perfectly with our vision. This isn’t just a dinner; it’s a story told in flavor.”

This collaboration is part of Flavors Unscripted, W Maldives’ platform for culinary expression where global tastemakers meet untamed island creativity and nothing is ever scripted. It is food without rules. Flavor without borders.

Tucked away in the heart of the North Ari Atoll and a 25-minute scenic seaplane journey from Velana International Airport, W Maldives is a bold luxury escape featuring 77 private villas—each with a plunge pool and unobstructed access to the Indian Ocean. Following a recent design refresh, the resort seamlessly blends contemporary luxury with the island’s raw natural beauty.

Members can now bid for a Private Castaway Dining Experience with Chef Reynold Poernomo and a four-night stay at W Maldives until July 21, 2025 through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.

Guests looking to stir things up in paradise can book the Stay, Dine, and Fly package, which includes daily breakfast, a three-course dinner, and roundtrip seaplane transfers. For more information, visit www.wmaldives.com or contact reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.

Awards

JOALI Maldives ranked Asia’s best and No. 7 in world’s top 100

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

m@ldives

JOALI Maldives has been named the #1 Resort in Asia and #7 Resort in the World in the prestigious Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2025, reaffirming its place as one of the leading luxury destinations globally and the hallmark of excellence of the Maldives.

Each year, Travel + Leisure readers rate the world’s most exceptional hotels based on rooms and facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. JOALI Maldives’ consistently high ratings reflect an enduring commitment to thoughtful luxury and heartfelt guest experiences.

With an outstanding score of 99.46 this year, the resort stands among the highest-rated properties in the world in this year’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Guests praised every element of the experience, from the design of the villas to the warmth of the service, with one reader declaring Saoke, the resort’s signature Japanese restaurant, as “the best food in the world.” This level of acclaim reflects not only exceptional facilities, but also the resort’s unwavering commitment to curating personalised, soulful journeys for every guest.

This award adds to an ever-growing list of honours for the resort. JOALI Maldives has proudly upheld Forbes Five-Star status consecutively, has been celebrated in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards most recently as the #1 Resort in the Indian Ocean, and continues to earn praise in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards and previous editions of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best.

“We are truly humbled by this recognition from Travel + Leisure readers,” says Shifaz Hassan, General Manager of JOALI Maldives. “It’s especially meaningful because it comes from our guests — many of whom return year after year, sharing heartfelt feedback about our island. Our team works with quiet dedication to anticipate needs, honour privacy, and create moments of true joy. The recognition reflects the connections we have built with our guests, and I am immensely proud of this achievement”

A beacon of creativity and conscious living in the Maldives, JOALI continues to elevate luxury hospitality by meaningfulness, beauty, and soul.

Awards

Villa Park, Villa Nautica crowned among world’s top 100 hotels

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

m@ldives

Villa Resorts has been recognised in the TopHotels “Top 100 Hotels of the Year 2024” list, with two of its properties, Villa Park and Villa Nautica, featured among the highest-rated hotels based on guest reviews from Russia and the CIS.

TopHotels is one of the most widely used hotel review platforms among Russian-speaking travellers, and its annual ranking reflects feedback from thousands of verified guests. Earning a place in this list highlights the strong appeal of Villa Resorts’ offerings in these markets and the high level of satisfaction experienced by guests throughout the year.

Villa Park, located in South Ari Atoll, is well known for its lush landscapes, vibrant marine life, and wide range of activities suited for families, couples, and nature enthusiasts. Villa Nautica, situated near Malé, offers a more energetic island setting with beachfront villas, lively experiences, and a relaxed yet refined atmosphere.

While each resort offers something unique, both share the brand’s signature focus on heartfelt service, comfortable luxury, and a strong sense of place inspired by the Maldives.

This recognition reflects Villa Resorts’ longstanding relationship with guests from Russia and the CIS. The brand has continually invested in understanding the needs of these travellers, offering multilingual support and culturally considerate service across its properties.

With roots in the Maldives since the early 1980s, Villa Resorts remains one of the country’s most established hospitality brands. This recent acknowledgment from TopHotels reinforces its position as a trusted choice for international travellers seeking authentic island experiences grounded in comfort, care, and connection.