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

Published

9 years ago

November 18, 2016

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

Related Topics:Awards South Asian Travel Awards (SATA)

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Maldives resort holidays included in Golden Globes gift bags

Published

11 hours ago

January 12, 2026

m@ldives

The gift bags presented at this year’s Golden Globe Awards include holiday stays at three resorts in the Maldives.

The awards ceremony was held Sunday, with selected winners receiving gift bags valued at more than USD 1 million. According to organisers, the gift bags contain 35 items covering travel, wellness, beauty and related sectors.

The travel and experiences category of the gift bag includes resort stays in the Maldives. The packages are:

Two nights at the Muraka underwater residence at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, valued at USD 70,000, awarded to five winners
Three nights at The Residence at Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa, valued at USD 80,000, awarded to five winners
Three nights at the Grand Overwater Villa at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, valued at USD 26,000, awarded to six recipients

In the awards ceremony, Hamnet won Best Motion Picture (Drama). Jessie Buckley received the award for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama), while the award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in the same category went to Wagner Moura for his role in The Secret Agent.

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Fushifaru Maldives blends cultural experiences with new in-house activities

Published

2 days ago

January 11, 2026

m@ldives

Fushifaru Maldives has introduced a refreshed programme of guest activities and experiences as it enters 2026, combining cultural elements with new forms of entertainment across the resort.

The boutique resort has expanded its in-house activities to cater to a wide range of age groups. New offerings include circus-style sessions for children, hula hoop classes, aerial performances, fire shows and CYR wheel displays, aimed at providing structured entertainment for both families and adult guests.

The resort marked the end of 2025 with a Gatsby-themed farewell event, featuring a cocktail evening where guests were invited to dress in period-inspired attire. New Year’s Eve celebrations centred on a dinner service prepared by the resort’s culinary team, with a menu that included beef ribs, roasted turkey, grilled lobster, salmon and oysters, alongside seafood selections, Japanese dishes, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, and live cooking stations. The evening concluded with desserts and tropical fruit offerings.

For 2026, Fushifaru Maldives has also updated its daily activity schedule. Themed dinner nights continue to form a core part of the guest experience, with a Maldivian-themed dinner held every Friday. This includes a live cooking demonstration based on traditional Maldivian preparation methods, highlighting the step-by-step process of making local curries.

According to the resort, the updated programmes are designed to strengthen guest engagement while maintaining links to Maldivian heritage. The focus remains on offering structured experiences that reflect both cultural practices and contemporary resort entertainment.

Fushifaru Maldives stated that it plans to continue developing its activity and dining concepts throughout the year, with further updates to be shared with guests and industry partners.

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Niyama Private Islands enhances surf lifestyle with stylish new surf venue

Published

5 days ago

January 8, 2026

m@ldives

Niyama Private Islands Maldives now offers what is considered the most luxurious surf experience in the Maldives, enhanced by the introduction of its new Surf Shack — a stylish beachfront hangout serving gourmet bites, drinks, sunset views and lively parties.

Known as Nature’s Playground, the resort has long attracted surf professionals from around the globe. Located in the southern Maldives, where swells are at their strongest, it is a preferred base during peak surf season. Waves break directly on shore, with additional surf spots accessible within minutes by speedboat.

Niyama’s signature waves roll in at Vodi Point, situated on the westernmost tip of its twin islands. It is here that the resort has unveiled the new Surf Shack, designed to make time off the waves equally appealing. The thatched-roof venue encourages a barefoot, relaxed atmosphere, offering an upper deck for sunset viewing and picnic-style seating below. Reflecting Niyama’s sustainability ethos, Area Chief of Engineering Michael Patrick Slevin notes that 75 per cent of construction materials were repurposed, blending beach casual with environmentally conscious design.

Guests can enjoy gourmet dishes served from service windows, with a menu inspired by iconic surf destinations worldwide: Australian fish and chips, Indonesian satay, Mexican nachos and Japanese takoyaki. The drinks list pays tribute to rum, featuring an extensive collection and signature cocktails inspired by renowned surf breaks.

While the Surf Shack maintains a laidback feel during the day, the beachfront transforms at dusk as the tides shift and the DJ elevates the atmosphere. The resort’s rum and reggae Sundays have already become a celebrated weekly event.

Surfers at Niyama can design their days as they wish — chasing waves or relaxing ashore. The Surf Centre offers equipment and guidance, while Drift by Niyama provides recovery treatments to soothe muscles, repair sun-exposed skin and restore energy. Resident professional surfers remain available to advise on technique and wave conditions.

“The new Surf Shack forms part of the renewed Niyama experience, which includes significant refurbishments across the resort, inventive culinary additions and a greater emphasis on active living and wellness,” said Hafidh Al Busaidy, General Manager of Niyama Private Islands Maldives. “With more developments on the way, we look forward to sharing what comes next.”