Milaidhoo Maldives’ overwater Serenity Spa has received the Best Hotel Spa award at the 2027 Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, recognising the resort’s personalised wellness services and spa experiences.

The awards ceremony was held at The Montcalm Mayfair in London on Monday, 2 November 2026. Milaidhoo Maldives was represented by Georgie Westley, Corporate Director of Marketing and Communications at Versa Hospitality, alongside representatives from ROVE PR UK.

Located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Serenity Spa offers a range of wellness treatments and services in an overwater setting.

The spa provides personalised wellness programmes supported by an on-island wellbeing consultant, daily yoga classes and an extensive selection of treatments designed to meet individual guest requirements.

Guests can receive treatments at the overwater spa or in the privacy of their villas. The treatment menu includes massages, beauty therapies and specialised wellness treatments incorporating advanced technologies.

Among the technologies available at Serenity Spa are the LYMA Laser, Archedaway Cupping Therapy and M2T Blade. The spa also uses products from wellness and beauty brands including Natura Bissé, Aromatherapy Associates, Obsidian for Men and Margaret Dabbs.

Milaidhoo Maldives incorporates wellness into other aspects of its guest experience, including its culinary offerings. The resort’s approach includes meals prepared using fresh ingredients from its Chef’s Garden, alongside daily yoga sessions and activities centred on relaxation and wellbeing.

Paul van Frank, General Manager of Milaidhoo Maldives, said the award recognised the spa team’s commitment to delivering personalised services.

“We are incredibly proud of this recognition. Our Serenity Spa is a special part of the Milaidhoo experience and our team, the Milaidhoo Family, takes great care to ensure every guest receives the attention and personalisation they deserve. From expert treatments to the simple pleasure of taking time for yourself, we want guests to leave feeling refreshed and reconnected,” he said.

The recognition highlights Milaidhoo Maldives’ wellness offerings, which combine spa treatments, specialist therapies, personalised services and wellness-focused dining experiences.

The resort continues to incorporate wellness into its hospitality offering through its Serenity Spa, culinary programmes and recreational activities.

ELE|NA, the spa and wellness brand by Atmosphere Wellness, celebrates its 11th anniversary this November under the theme 11 Years. One Essence. Born in the Maldives, the brand has grown through a philosophy rooted in nature, personalisation and connection, carrying its wellness philosophy to new destinations while staying true to the principles that shaped its beginnings.

Eleven years on, the essence is unchanged. What evolves is how that philosophy is experienced: through new wellness practices, scientific innovation, sustainability initiatives and the people who bring each guest journey to life.

Recognition has followed. ELE|NA was named Leading Wellness Brand of the Year at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, and ELE|NA Essentia was named Emerging Skincare Brand of the Year at the Destination Deluxe Awards 2025.

“For eleven years, ELE|NA has believed that wellness should feel personal and give back to the places that inspire it. That belief has not changed. What has grown is our team, our knowledge and our reach, now across South Asia. This anniversary belongs to the therapists and colleagues who bring that essence to every guest,” said Heidi Grimwood, Senior Vice President, ELE|NA.

A Maldives-Born Philosophy, Evolving with Time

The Maldives is at the heart of ELE|NA’s story. Across its sanctuaries, the brand explores how wellness can respond to the individual while drawing inspiration from nature and the surrounding environment.

This year, ELE|NA introduced the Pillars of Vitality, a framework that now anchors its therapies and shapes a more considered, holistic approach to wellbeing. Spanning TouchFlow, ReFine, BodyFit, SoulVibe, SleepSync and FoodDelight, the pillars give each guest journey a clear structure while leaving room for personal choice.

At selected sanctuaries, QEST4 bio-energetic assessment adds a technology-led dimension to personalised wellness, complementing traditional practices with a deeper understanding of individual needs.

The ELE|NA Wellness Academy, endorsed by CIBTAC, is advancing the brand’s commitment to learning. It has hosted Reiki and sound healing courses that develop practitioners and deepen their understanding of complementary wellness practices.

A Milestone in Sustainable Wellness

Nature has always been central to ELE|NA’s philosophy, extending beyond treatments to the brand’s responsibility towards the environments in which its sanctuaries operate.

That commitment reached an important milestone this year, when all eight ELE|NA sanctuaries in the Maldives were awarded Platinum, the highest tier of the Sustainable Wellness Group’s Sustainable Spa & Wellness Accreditation, following three consecutive years at Gold Standard. The recognition reflects a sustainability journey built year on year, and a focus on embedding responsible practices into everyday spa operations.

Celebrating the People Behind Eleven Years

Across ELE|NA’s Maldives sanctuaries, the anniversary is being celebrated through experiences that bring guests and teams together. Sunrise yoga, meditation and sound healing sit alongside tree planting, botanical workshops, sustainable craft activities and anniversary gatherings.

At the heart of the day is The 11:11 Moment. At 11:11 AM on 1 November, every sanctuary pauses together, as guests and teams stop to breathe, make a wish and share it, marking eleven years with one shared intention.

Each property brings its own character to the celebrations, with activities and shared rituals that reflect local surroundings and resort communities. Team performances and appreciation initiatives also recognise the therapists and colleagues whose care and expertise shape the guest experience every day.

While each sanctuary celebrates in its own way, the intention is shared: to honour the connections between wellness, nature and community.

From the Maldives to New Horizons

ELE|NA’s next chapter carries its wellness philosophy further into India. Building on its presence at Sadar Manzil Heritage by Atmosphere in Bhopal, the brand opens ELE|NA Ayur at Ananta Spa & Resort, Ajabgarh, on 1 November, with OZEN Villas Jaipur and Arunya in Coorg to follow. Each destination offers an opportunity to interpret the brand’s approach through its own landscape and setting.

The brand is also introducing ELE|NA Essentia, its own skincare line, to India. Made in India and inspired by Indian botanicals, Essentia extends ELE|NA’s nature-led philosophy beyond the spa and into everyday skincare rituals.

Beyond India, ELE|NA’s pipeline extends to Sri Lanka and Nepal, where new destinations will bring the brand’s nature-led approach to fresh landscapes and cultures.

Eleven years on, the destinations have grown and the practices have evolved. The essence remains one.

Perched above the crystal-clear lagoon, The Standard Spa at The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, by Hyatt serves as the resort’s overwater wellness centre, where transformative wellbeing experiences are inspired by the natural rhythms of island life. Surrounded by endless shades of blue and gentle ocean breezes, the spa is designed as a haven for restoration, movement, and mindfulness, inviting guests to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and embrace a renewed sense of balance while immersed in the beauty of the Maldives.

The wellness philosophy at The Standard Spa is thoughtfully centred around three core pillars: Recovery & Reset, Balance & Movement, and Relaxation & Healing, creating a holistic framework that nurtures both physical vitality and mental wellbeing.

Recovery & Reset focuses on restoring the body and replenishing energy through experiences designed to ease physical fatigue, support muscle recovery, and encourage overall rejuvenation. At the heart of this pillar is the spa’s newly introduced Contrast Therapy Circuit, a guided wellness experience featuring alternating hot and cold therapies including a steam room, sauna, cold plunge pools, cold-water bucket therapy, warm showers, and dedicated relaxation spaces (including an infinity pool) overlooking the crystal blue colours of a shallow water lagoon which extends to the Maldives ocean. Rooted in time-honoured wellness traditions, the circuit promotes circulation, recovery, and a revitalised sense of wellbeing.

Balance & Movement celebrates mindful movement as an essential component of holistic health. Guests can participate in private or group yoga sessions, guided stretching, personalised wellness activities designed to strengthen the connection between body and mind. For those seeking a more active approach to wellbeing, the wellness team can also curate experiences incorporating private tennis coaching, recognising the sport’s natural synergy with movement, coordination, focus, and overall physical vitality. Personal fitness studio, cardio and strength training are also available in the resort’s fitness centre. This pillar encourages guests to cultivate strength, flexibility, and mindfulness while embracing an active lifestyle during their island escape.

Relaxation & Healing invites guests to pause, unwind, and nurture inner calm through treatments inspired by both ancient healing traditions and contemporary wellness practices. Signature experiences range from therapeutic massages and hammam rituals to body scrubs, body wraps, facials, and sound healing therapies, each carefully designed to promote deep relaxation, emotional balance, and a renewed sense of harmony.

Further elevating the spa’s wellness offering, The Standard Spa has introduced a collection of multi-experience wellness journeys, allowing guests to personalise their path to wellbeing by combining treatments from each of the three pillars. Designed as immersive three-day programmes, these curated experiences create a balanced wellness flow tailored to individual goals, whether focused on recovery, movement, relaxation, or a combination of all three. The flagship Journey to Ultimate Bliss delivers a comprehensive wellness experience featuring Contrast Therapy, private yoga or tennis sessions, and restorative healing treatments, while the Self-Discovery Journey provides an accessible introduction to holistic wellbeing through group wellness activities complemented by signature spa therapies. Guests seeking a more focused escape can also indulge in specialised experiences such as the Awakening and Serenity Signature Rituals, or enjoy dedicated couples’ experiences including the Romantic Couple Ritual and Starlight Couple Massage, each thoughtfully crafted to foster relaxation, connection, and renewal.

Complementing every wellness journey is access to Tonic Lounge, the spa’s adults-only swim-up bar and relaxation space overlooking the lagoon. Here, guests can continue their wellbeing experience with a thoughtfully crafted wellness beverage menu of fresh juices, herbal infusions, and healthy tonics designed to nourish the body from within and give your health an extra boost. Available to guests enjoying spa treatments and wellness journeys, Tonic Lounge provides the perfect setting to relax, refuel, and savour mindful dining in a tranquil overwater environment.

“Wellness continues to play an increasingly important role in the way our guests travel,” said Justin Swart, General Manager of The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, by Hyatt. “At The Standard Spa, we have created experiences that go beyond traditional spa treatments by combining recovery, movement, nourishment, and healing into a truly holistic wellness offering. Whether guests embark on one of our curated wellness journeys, experience the Contrast Therapy Circuit, enjoy a healthy meal at Tonic Lounge, or simply take time to disconnect and unwind, our goal is to help them leave feeling restored, energised, and fully present throughout their stay.”

With its refreshed wellness philosophy, curated healing journeys, and immersive overwater experiences, The Standard Spa reaffirms The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives’ commitment to creating meaningful moments of wellbeing, inviting guests to reconnect, recharge, and discover balance in one of the world’s most captivating island destinations.

For reservations and enquiries, please contact the resort at mv.reservations@standardhotels.com or visit the resort’s website.