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South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) hosts special gala to award the regional winners

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Maldives.net.mv – South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) concludes for the year 2016 and announced winners at a Special Gala event held on 16th November at Mount Lavinia Hotel , Sri Lanka.

Hon. Minister of Tourism , Sri Lanka HE. John Amarathunga stated during his speech that , SATA will benefit the Tourism Industry of the region and he wishes the best for the initiative while being pleased to have the first event hosted in Sri Lanka.

The South Asian Travel Awards is the first ever regional Travel Awards endorsed by Multi National Associations providing the Tourism sector of the South Asian Region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. The South Asian Travel Awards aims to encourage and raise service standards within the regions of the Tourism industry.

WINNERS OF SATA 2016 :  

  • Leading Guest House /  Tourist Inn – Sri Lanka: Aqua Inn , Trincomalee
  • Leading Guest House /  Tourist Inn – South India: Harvest Fresh Farm Stay
  • Leading Guest House /  Tourist Inn – Maldives: Kaani Beach Hotel , Maafushi
  • Leading Beach Resort – South India: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel, Kovalam
  • Leading Beach Resort – Sri Lanka: Centara Ceysand Resort & Spa
  • Leading Beach Resort – Maldives: Amari Havvoda Maldives
  • Most Romantic Hotel / Resort – South India: Hills & Hues
  • Most Romantic Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: Hunas Falls by Amaya
  • Most Romantic Hotel / Resort – Maldives: Coco Bodu Hithi
  • Leading All Inclusive Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa
  • Leading All Inclusive Hotel / Resort – Maldives: Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa
  • Leading Designer Hotel / Resort – South India: Hills & Hues
  • Leading Designer Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: Heritance Negombo
  • Leading Designer Hotel / Resort – Maldives: Amilla Fushi
  • Leading F&B Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: The Kingsbury
  • Leading F&B Hotel / Resort – South India: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
  • Leading F&B Hotel / Resort – Maldives: Conrad Maldives
  • Leading Luxury Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: The Kingsbury
  • Leading Luxury Hotel / Resort – Maldives: W Maldives
  • Leading Family Hotel / Resort – Maldives: Sun Island Resort & Spa
  • Leading Family Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: Turyaa Kalutara
  • Leading Eco Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: Heritance Kandalama
  • Leading Eco Hotel / Resort – Maldives: Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Hotel / Resort – Maldives: The Sun Siyam Iru fushi
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Hotel / Resort – Sri Lanka: Amaya Lake Dhambulla
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Hotel / Resort – South India: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Brand – South India: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Brand -Sri Lanka: Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Brand – Maldives: Araamu Spa
  • Leading CSR Programme – South India: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
  • Leading CSR Programme – Sri Lanka: Royal Palms Beach , Kalutara
  • Leading CSR Programme – Maldives: Coco Palm Dhunikolhu
  • Leading Tour Operator – South India: Marvel Tours
  • Leading Tour Operator – Sri Lanka: Classic Travel
  • Leading Tour Operator – Maldives: Moodhu Holidays

Overall winners – South Asia

  • Leading Guest House /  Tourist Inn – South Asia: Aqua Inn , Trincomalee , Sri Lanka
  • Leading Liveaboard – South Asia: Scuba Spa Yang, Maldives
  • Leading Liveaboard Brand – South Asia: Voyages Maldives
  • Leading Beach Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Amari Havodda Maldives
  • Leading Meeting & Conference Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Paradise Island Resort & Spa , Maldives
  • Most Romantic Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Coco Bodu Hithi , Maldives
  • Leading All Inclusive Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa , Maldives
  • Leading Designer Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Amilla Fushi , Maldives
  • Leading F&B Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Conrad Maldives
  • Leading Luxury Hotel / Resort – South Asia: W Maldives
  • Leading Family Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Sun Island Resort & Spa , Maldives
  • Leading Eco Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Resort – South Asia: The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Maldives
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Brand – South Asia:Araamu Spa, Maldives
  • Leading Dive Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Maldives
  • Leading CSR Programme – South Asia: Royal Palms Beach Hotel, Sri Lanka
  • Leading Dive Center – South Asia: Dive Oceanus, Maldives
  • Leading Activity / Water Sports Center- South Asia: Water Sports Point , Adaaran Club Rannaalhi, Maldives
  • Leading Business Hotel – South Asia: The Kingsbury, Sri Lanka
  • Leading House Boat – South Asia: Cinnamon, Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, India
  • Leading House Boat Brand – South Asia: Marvel Cruise, India
  • Leading Tour Operator – South Asia: Classic Travel, Sri Lanka
  • Leading Travel Agent – South Asia: Voyages Maldives
  • Leading PSA / GSA Partner – South Asia: Cyprea Pvt Ltd, Maldives
  • Leading Surf Hotel / Resort – South Asia: Cinnamon Dhonveli , Maldives
  • Leading City Hotel – South Asia: Casa Colombo Collection , Colombo Sri Lanka
  • Leading Meeting & Convention Center – South Asia: BMICH , Sri Lanka
  • Leading Airport Hotel – South Asia: Hulhule Island Hotel, Maldives
  • Leading Transport Provider – South Asia: Princy Travel , India
  • Leading Travel Technology – South Asia: Findmyfare.com

Visitor’s Choice Awards

  • Visitors Choice – Leading International Airline: Singapore Airlines
  • Visitors Choice South Asia’s – Leading International Airport: Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka
  • Visitors Choice South Asia’s – Leading Honeymoon Destination: Maldives
  • Visitors Choice South Asia’s – Leading Diving Destination: Maldives
  • Visitors Choice South Asia’s – Leading Beach Destination: Maldives
  • Visitors Choice South Asia’s – Leading Cruising Destination: Maldives

 

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Eri Maldives offers accessible reef diving and snorkelling

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Eri Maldives is located within the waters of North Malé Atoll and is surrounded by a house reef accessible to both beginner and experienced divers. With four direct reef entry points and shore access, the resort offers opportunities for snorkelling, introductory dives and certified diving.

The house reef supports a range of marine life, including white-tip and black-tip reef sharks, nurse sharks, hawksbill turtles, mobula rays and spotted eagle rays, as well as schools of reef fish. The accessibility of the reef allows guests to explore the area over multiple days, providing opportunities to observe marine behaviour and habitats over time.

Turtle encounters

Hawksbill turtles are among the most frequently observed species on the reef. The resort’s dive team has identified 14 individual turtles, each recognised by shell patterns and physical features. These include turtles known as Rosie, Cara and Anna, which have been documented through repeated sightings.

The resort maintains records of these turtles, allowing returning guests to identify individuals over time. Guests may also contribute to this initiative by naming newly identified turtles that have not previously been recorded.

Manta ray season

From December to April, manta rays are known to visit cleaning stations at Bodu Hithi Thila, located approximately one hour by boat from the resort. During this period, ocean conditions support plankton flows that attract mantas to the area, where they can be observed feeding or visiting cleaning stations.

Night diving experiences

Night snorkelling and diving activities provide a different perspective on reef activity. Species such as reef sharks, trevallies, moray eels and nurse sharks become more active after dark, offering guests the opportunity to observe nocturnal marine behaviour.

At Eri Maldives, marine experiences form a central part of the guest offering, with the house reef providing consistent opportunities for exploration. The resort’s dive programme is designed to support repeated interaction with the marine environment, allowing guests to experience a range of underwater activity throughout their stay.

Accommodation is available in studio and beach villa categories, with full board packages offered for direct bookings, subject to availability.

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Sirru Fen Fushi hosts football programme with Marcus Allbäck

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Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort has announced another successful edition of the Sirru Icon Series, a week-long programme that brought international sporting energy, youth inspiration, and meaningful community connection to this private lagoon paradise.

Held from 27 March to 3 April, the initiative welcomed former Swedish professional footballer Marcus Allbäck, whose presence made the week truly exceptional for guests, young aspiring players, and the neighbouring island community. Marcus Allbäck is a celebrated former Swedish international striker, having played 74 games for his country, scoring 30 goals. He represented Sweden in three European Championships and two World Cups, and enjoyed a distinguished club career across Europe, including the Bundesliga, Serie A, the English Premier League, the Dutch Eredivisie, and the UEFA Champions League. Following his retirement, Marcus served as assistant coach for the Swedish national team for six years. Today, he continues to inspire the next generation of footballers, working as a player agent and advisor to help aspiring players achieve their dreams. His visit highlighted the power of sport not only as entertainment, but as a bridge for cultural exchange and social impact. This reflected the resort’s ongoing commitment to purposeful, community-centred initiatives.

Throughout the week, Marcus led a line-up of engaging activities, including friendly football matches with guests, dedicated junior football camps that fostered confidence and skill-building among young participants, and a memorable visit to a nearby local island. This local-island match stood out as a meaningful moment of connection, bringing the resort and community together through shared passion and friendly competition.

Guests also enjoyed an intimate Sirru Signature Sunset Cocktail, where they had the rare opportunity to meet Marcus in person, hear stories from his international career, and enjoy a relaxed, uplifting atmosphere against the backdrop of the resort’s iconic sunsets.

Programme Highlights:

  • Friendly Football Matches–A fun and energetic opportunity for guests to play alongside an international football figure.
  • Junior Football Camps –Inspiring sessions focused on youth development, teamwork, and confidence-building.
  • Local Island Football Match – A memorable moment on the local island Milandhoo, celebrating the power of sport to bring resort guests and the local community together.
  • Meet & Greet Sunset Cocktail – An exclusive experience offering direct interaction with Marcus and inspiring conversation.

The Sirru Icon Series reflects the resort’s dedication to creating exceptional experiences that go beyond traditional hospitality, pairing luxury with purpose and offering guests opportunities to connect, learn, and create lifelong memories.

This remarkable week marked an inspiring chapter of the Sirru Icon Series, with more unique programmes planned for the future to continue delivering immersive guest experiences at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort.

For further information and reservations, please visit sirrufenfushi.com or contact reservations@sirrufenfushi.com.

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Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa introduces Secret Garden private dining concept

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Kuredhivaru Resort & Spa presents a new chapter in destination dining with the launch of its Secret Garden concept, a thoughtfully designed experience that brings guests into a secluded setting surrounded by nature, soft lighting, and carefully curated details.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the island, Secret Garden is created for those moments that deserve more than a traditional dinner. The space is styled with flowing drapes, warm candlelight, and natural greenery, creating a calm and intimate atmosphere that feels both personal and special. It is a setting that invites guests to slow down, connect, and enjoy the evening at their own pace.

At the centre of the experience is a seven-course menu, crafted to guide guests through a balanced journey of flavours. Each course is presented with care, with live cooking moments adding a sense of theatre and interaction throughout the evening. The service remains attentive yet discreet, allowing the experience to feel seamless and uninterrupted.

Guests can choose between two tailored offerings. The Romantic Escape focuses on the dining experience itself, complemented by a beautifully arranged setup and personalised service. For those looking to extend the evening, the Ultimate Romance Experience adds thoughtful touches such as a welcome glass of champagne, a private cinema moment under the open sky, in-villa breakfast the next day, and special bed decoration to complete the occasion.

The concept also allows for additional customisation, from floral arrangements to bespoke messages and decorative details, giving guests the flexibility to shape the evening around their celebration, whether it is a birthday, proposal, or simply a meaningful time together.

With Secret Garden, Kuredhivaru continues to expand its dining experiences beyond traditional venues, offering guests something more personal and immersive. It reflects the resort’s approach to hospitality, where every detail is considered, and each experience is designed to feel natural, effortless, and quietly memorable.

For any reservations or inquiries, guests are encouraged to contact the resort at Resort.Kuredhivaru.Reservations@ennismore.com or +960 6563000. 

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