News
South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) hosts special gala to award the regional winners
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
Awards
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef secures Best House Reef title at TTM Awards
Renowned for its marine life and underwater experiences, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of Sun Siyam’s Privé Collection, has been named Best House Reef at the Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2026.
The award recognises the resort’s marine environment, which is accessible directly from its beaches and overwater villas. The annual TTM Awards and Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers from across the archipelago to recognise achievements within the Maldivian hospitality industry.
The island’s coral reef is home to marine species including resident sea turtles, reef sharks, tropical fish and eagle rays. Guests can explore the reef through guided excursions led by the resort’s resident marine experts, customised scuba-diving experiences and coral restoration initiatives designed to support the long-term preservation of the marine environment.
“Our reef is the living soul of Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, shaping every visitor’s journey from the moment they step into our turquoise lagoon,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager. “To be named the Maldives’ Best House Reef is an immense honour, strengthening our commitment to nurturing this remarkable marine sanctuary so our guests can keep discovering its quiet magic beneath the surface.”
Travellers seeking underwater experiences can book directly with the resort to access exclusive benefits and guided marine excursions.
News
Huvafen Fushi expands wellness offering with Aromatherapy Associates treatments
Huvafen Fushi Maldives is expanding its wellness offering with two new longevity-focused treatments from Aromatherapy Associates, available now at Huvafen Spa, the resort’s iconic underwater spa.
The launch arrives as longevity becomes the defining word in luxury travel. Virtuoso’s 2026 travel data reinforces the shift, naming longevity tourism as luxury travel’s breakout segment, with wellness-focused hotel bookings up 28% and travellers increasingly seeking sleep optimisation, metabolic health support and measurable, long-term outcomes over one-off spa treatments. The Global Wellness Summit’s Future of Wellness 2026 report identifies women’s healthspan as a defining trend of the year, as spa and wellness destinations increasingly launch programmes tailored to female physiology across every life stage, from perimenopause through to menopause and beyond.
The new Recovery Reset and Pause & Reset treatments combine the therapeutic power of essential oils with advanced hands-on techniques, offering two distinct approaches to modern wellbeing: one supporting physical recovery and resilience, the other addressing the changing needs of women’s health.

Recovery Reset: restorative bodywork for active lifestyles
Recovery Reset is an advanced restorative body treatment designed to support muscular recovery, mobility and long-term physical wellbeing. Going beyond traditional aromatherapy massage, it introduces a range of advanced bodywork techniques:
- Myofascial release – to help release deep-held tension and improve mobility
- Advanced deep-tissue massage – to target areas of muscular tension
- Targeted bodywork – to support physical recovery and ease of movement
- Therapeutic aromatherapy – combining expert touch with powerful essential oil blends
- Hot stone therapy – to further support muscular recovery and restoration
Ideal for active lifestyles, travel fatigue and guests seeking a deeper approach to massage, Recovery Reset brings together physical recovery and the restorative benefits of aromatherapy in one deeply therapeutic experience.
Pause & Reset: nurturing support through hormonal change
Pause & Reset is a nurturing treatment dedicated to women’s wellbeing, created to support the physical and emotional effects associated with hormonal change – from PMS and post-pregnancy through to perimenopause and menopause. As the sense of smell is closely connected to emotion and wellbeing, essential oils can offer valuable support during these transitions.
Following a personalised aroma consultation, guests select from three Aromatherapy Associates essential oil blends before experiencing an enhanced treatment incorporating:
- Inhalation – using the guest’s personally selected essential oil blend
- Balancing breathwork – to encourage relaxation and reconnection
- Body brushing – to awaken the body and prepare for treatment
- Restorative abdominal massage – providing a deeply nurturing focus to the treatment
- Hand and foot reflex techniques – focusing on the endocrine and reproductive systems
- Together, the treatments reflect a more holistic approach to longevity, recognising the importance of recovery, movement, rest and emotional wellbeing throughout different stages of life.
Aromatherapy Associates has been a pioneer in therapeutic aromatherapy for more than 40 years, combining expertly crafted essential oil blends with the healing power of touch to create transformative experiences for body and mind.
“We are delighted to introduce these new Aromatherapy Associates treatments,” said Tri Wardani, Director of Spa. “Our approach to wellness continues to evolve alongside the needs of our guests, and these new treatments allow us to offer highly personalised experiences that support both physical and emotional wellbeing in some of the Maldives’ most extraordinary spa settings.”
Guests can experience Recovery Reset and Pause & Reset at the underwater spa at Huvafen Fushi Maldives, alongside a curated selection of Aromatherapy Associates products to continue their wellbeing journey beyond the treatment room.
Awards
Kandooma Maldives secures family resort and sustainability honours at LUXlife Awards
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has received two honours in the 11th annual LUXlife Hospitality Awards, named Best Family Resort 2026 – Maldives and recipient of the Sustainability Excellence Award 2026 – Maldives.
The LUXlife Hospitality Awards recognise businesses and individuals demonstrating excellence across the global hospitality industry, from hotels and resorts to dining, travel and wellness experiences.
For Kandooma, the two awards recognise areas that have become an important part of the island experience: creating memorable Maldives holidays for families while continuing to strengthen its approach to responsible tourism and environmental stewardship.
Speaking about the resort’s latest accolades, General Manager Andrew Drummond said the recognition comes at an exciting time for Kandooma.
“These awards recognise two areas that are incredibly important to us, and the timing couldn’t be better. We are delighted to have our family offering recognised, particularly as we have some exciting new developments ahead that will make the family experience at Kandooma even stronger when we become Kandooma Maldives on 1 October. The Sustainability Excellence Award is equally meaningful for our team. Sustainability is something we want to keep building on, finding practical ways to reduce our impact, protect the natural environment around us and, importantly, bring our guests along on that journey,” he said.
Kandooma’s family offering combines spacious accommodation, a dedicated Kandoo Kids’ Club, family activities on land and water, and the freedom of an island where days can be as active or relaxed as each family chooses.
Sustainability has also become increasingly embedded in resort operations and the guest experience, with initiatives spanning renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling, marine conservation, environmental education and community engagement.
The LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2026 are determined through LUXlife Magazine’s independent, merit-based research and evaluation process. Nominees are assessed against criteria including service quality, guest satisfaction, brand reputation and overall performance within their field. The awards are designed to recognise achievement on merit rather than the size, location or market influence of the organisation.
Located in South Malé Atoll, approximately 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is a private island resort known for its relaxed atmosphere, natural beauty and strong connection to the ocean.
The resort offers 146 contemporary Garden, Beach and Overwater Villas, together with extensive family experiences, the Kandoo Kids’ Club, exceptional scuba diving including nearby Kandooma Thila, surfing, island dining and Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives will transition to Kandooma Maldives from 1 October 2026, operated by HPL Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Hotel Properties Limited. For stays and further information, visit www.Kandooma-Maldives.com.
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