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Maldives Travel Awards celebrates best of Maldives travel and hospitality

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Maldives.net.mv – Maldives Travel Awards 2016 celebrated the very best of Maldives travel and hospitality at the gala event award night held on Sunday, 20th November at the beautiful Olhuveli Beach & Spa.

The event began with welcome speech and word of thanks by Mr. Abdulla Ghiyas, President of Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) followed by awarding of appreciation plaques to panel of expert judges who evaluated the nominations.

This year’s awards received over 300 nominations for 35 categories from 105 resorts, hotels, guest houses and airlines.

The winners of this year’s awards was decided by a judging process which included presentations and onsite visits, along with the SMS and online voting scores. The results were verified by independent audit firm, KPMG.

Maldives Travel Awards

The chief guest for the Gala Event was the Minister of Tourism, Moosa Zameer. The “Lifetime Achievement Award” was awarded to Hon. FDr Ahmed Siyam Mohamed for his contribution to the Tourism Industry and the country as a whole.

The event included entertainment items popular band Eqauatic Vibe.

Maldives Travel Awards 2016 is the fifth edition of the awards and longest running travel awards label in the Maldives. MATATO is the exclusive organizer of Maldives Travel Awards, and this year’s event was managed by Think Advertising.

Maldives Travel Awards

Winners

  • Leading Private Island : Velaa Private Island
  • Leading Luxury Resort : Conrad Maldives Rangali
  • Most Romantic Resort : Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
  • Leading Beach Resort : Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
  • Leading Designer Resort : Velaa Private Island
  • Leading All Inclusive Resort : Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa
  • Leading Family Resort : Bandos Maldives
  • Leading F&B Resort : Conrad Maldives Rangali
  • Leading Eco Resort : Sun Island Resort & Spa
  • Leading Dive Resort : Bandos Maldives
  • Leading Surf Resort : Anantara Dhigu
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Resort : The Sun Siyam Irufushi
  • Leading Meeting & Conference Resort : Bandos Maldives
  • Leading Local Hotel/Resort Brand : Bandos Maldives
  • Leading International Hotel/Resort Brand : Conrad Maldives Rangali
  • Leading Wellness & Spa Brand/Chain : Araamu Spa
  • Leading Human Resource Management : Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
  • Leading CSR Program : Soneva Fushi Resort
  • Leading Airport/City Hotel : Hulhule Island Hotel
  • Leading Guest House : Reveries Diving Village
  • Leading Business Hotel : Hotel Jen by Shangri-La
  • Leading Liveaboard : Voyages Gurahali
  • Leading Liveaboard Brand : Carpe Diem Maldives
  • Leading Dive School/Centre : Dive Oceanus
  • Leading Activity/Water Sports Centre : Active Water Sports Maafushi
  • Leading Innovation in Guest House Design : Reveries Diving Village
  • Leading Travel Website : ICOM Tours
  • Leading Domestic Transport Provider : ICOM Tours
  • Leading Airport Lounge : Leeli Lounge
  • Leading Domestic Airline : Villa Air, Flyme
  • Leading Low Cost Carrier : Fly Dubai
  • Leading International Airline : Srilankan Airlines
  • Leading Guest House Island : Maafushi Council

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Photos by Asad Photography

Love

Angsana Velavaru unveils Valentine’s Day experiences

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This Valentine’s Day, Angsana Velavaru invites couples to experience a romantic Maldives getaway designed for intimacy, connection, and unforgettable moments. Set within a private lagoon in the pristine South Nilandhe Atoll, the resort offers an idyllic Valentine’s Day escape for couples seeking privacy, wellbeing, and meaningful shared experiences.

On 14 February, Angsana Velavaru presents Valentine’s Day Under the Stars, a beachfront dining experience created exclusively for couples. Set along the shoreline, this elegant five-course dinner combines refined cuisine with ocean views, candlelit ambience, and personalised service, making it one of the most romantic Valentine’s Day dinners in the Maldives.

Beyond the evening celebration, the resort extends Valentine’s experiences throughout February with a curated programme of couples’ wellness and spa offerings. Designed to encourage relaxation and reconnection, these experiences include shared spa treatments at the award-winning Angsana Spa, private yoga sessions by the beach, and holistic rituals that promoted balance and wellbeing for couples.

Couples can enjoy sunset walks along white-sand beaches, floating breakfast in private pools, or tranquil time together in the resort’s signature beachfront and overwater villas. The iconic InOcean villas, offer exceptional privacy and panoramic ocean views, making them ideal for honeymooners and couples celebrating Valentine’s Day in the Maldives.

With its blend of romantic dining, couple’s spa experiences, and secluded island living, Angsana Velavaru offers one of the most distinctive Valentine’s Day resort experiences in the Maldives. Whether celebrating new love or deepening a lifelong bond, couples are invited to mark Valentine’s Day in a setting where romance feels natural, personal and timeless.

For more information on Valentine’s Day experiences and romantic stays at Angsana Velavaru, please visit the resort’s website.

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COMO Maalifushi introduces new all-inclusive experience, Simply COMO

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COMO Maalifushi, the only resort in the unspoiled Thaa Atoll, has announced the launch of a new all-inclusive plan – Simply COMO – available from February 1, 2026. Designed for depth over excess, this elevated experience brings together COMO Hotels and Resorts’ renowned culinary philosophy, transformative wellness, and bespoke ocean adventures into one effortless, thoughtfully curated journey.

Simply COMO reshapes the conventional all-inclusive approach. Dining spans multiple venues — from Mediterranean flavours at Thila to Japanese at Tai and the wellness-driven COMO Shambhala Kitchen — complemented by weekly chef-led themed dinners, beach BBQs and a curated beverage list including more than 50 labels of wines, variety of spirits, cocktails and non-alcoholic options, complemented by a daily restocked in-villa private bar. Offering oceanfront dining, barefoot lunches and dinner under the stars, each culinary experience showcases the resort’s dedication to quality, simplicity, and naturally sourced ingredients.

Simply COMO includes an enriching selection of island and marine activities that reveal the beauty and unique surrounding COMO Maalifushi including:

  • Dolphin Sunset Cruise – a spectacle of nature creating a moment of wonder for guests they’ll never forget
  • Splash Boat Cruise – a must for the family at sunset to hop onto our dhoni’s splash net and experience the thrill of being towed through the ocean
  • Guided turtle and reef snorkeling safaris to experience the rich house reef in this remote atoll
  • Offshore sunset drop-line fishing, for a moment of calm as the sky turns gold (one per guest)

Wellness forms the heartbeat of Simply COMO, with inclusion of a signature COMO Shambhala massage per guest as well as daily movement classes – ranging from yoga and stretching to meditation and functional strength – all supported and enhanced by COMO Shambhala Kitchen, for those guests looking to enrich their wellness experience.

For families, Play by COMO offers younger guests a world of discovery, with dedicated supervision that gives parents complete peace of mind. Children can dive into purposeful, creative play including treasure hunts, fort building, yoga sessions, and conservation projects, while parents embrace the island’s natural beauty and curated barefoot rituals. Thoughtful touches, from handcrafted afternoon tea to an all-day ice-cream bar, add a gentle sense of indulgence for little ones too.

Designed to meet the needs of every type of traveller, Simply COMO brings people together across generations – appealing to couples seeking privacy and reconnection, families looking for effortless bonding, and wellness seekers drawn to restorative practices – while inviting everyone to explore the Maldives’ extraordinary marine life and unique position of COMO Maalifushi.

“With Simply COMO, we focused on creating an experience that feels effortless yet elevated,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director, COMO Maldives. “Every element — from cuisine and wellness to our ocean-led adventures — has been crafted to feel distinctly COMO.”

Simply COMO all-inclusive plan is available to book now for stays from February 1, 2026, offered alongside the resort’s existing Half Board meal plan to provide guests with flexible choices tailored to their style of travel.

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Cooking

Meera Sodha to host plant-forward dining experience at Kurumba Maldives

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Kurumba Maldives has announced an exciting culinary collaboration with acclaimed food columnist and cookbook author Meera Sodha. Scheduled from 13 to 15 February 2026, this partnership brings Meera Sodha’s celebrated plant-forward cooking philosophy to the coral shores of Kurumba for a series of curated dining experiences.

This special activation sees Sodha join forces with Kurumba’s own esteemed culinary team. Together, they’ll craft and present a collection of dishes inspired by her acclaimed cookbooks ‘Fresh India’ and ‘Made in India’, which champion bold, vibrant, and accessible vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The collaboration promises to deliver an authentic Gujarati experience that will delight guests, food enthusiasts, and discerning travellers alike.

Throughout her residency, guests at Kurumba Maldives will discover plant-based dishes that reflect Sodha’s signature style. The event showcases the versatility of plant-based ingredients, presented through a series of thoughtfully crafted dining experiences including a Sunset Canapé Evening at Athiri Beach Bar on 15 February 2026.

The collaboration represents a significant moment for the Maldivian culinary scene – a rare chance to experience the creations of one of the UK’s most influential food writers in an iconic island setting. Travellers with a passion for creative and flavourful food will discover a fresh and inspiring take on vegetarian and vegan dining.

For more information or to make a booking, visit www.kurumba.com.

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