Business
St. Regis, Constance Halaveli, Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Anantara named Maldives best resorts

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Constance Halaveli, The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi and resorts run by Anantara have won prestigious titles at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony for being the leading resorts in the Maldives.
The prestigious Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony took place at the five-star Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort on Saturday, with hospitality leaders from across the region in attendance to discover who amongst them has been voted the pinnacle of the travel industry.
At the ceremony, The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi was named the Maldives’ Leading Resort, while The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort won the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Island Resort award and Constance Halaveli the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Resort award. Velaa Private Island was named the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Villa Resort.

Evgenia Boyankova, Group Director of Business Development at The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives, receives the Maldives’ Leading Resort award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

General Manager at Velaa Private Island Michal Smejc (L-2) receives the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Villa Resort award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
Resorts run in the Maldives under the Anantara shined at the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony, with Anantara Kihavah Maldives winning the Maldives’ Leading Villa Resort award, Anantara Dhigu Resort Maldives winning the Maldives’ Leading Water Villa Resort award and Naladhu Maldives winning the Maldives’ Leading Boutique Resort award.
Lily Beach Resort and Spa was named the Maldives’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort, while Kanuhura Maldives won Maldives’ Leading Family Resort award and aaaVeee Nature’s Paradise the Maldives’ Leading Green Resort award.

Sarah Forster, Sales Manager at Lily Beach Resort and Spa, receives the Maldives’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Officials from aaaVeee Nature’s Paradise receive the Maldives’ Leading Green Resort award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Officials from Kanuhura Maldives receive the Maldives’ Leading Family Resort award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
The Royal Island Suite at JA Manafaru won the award for the Maldives’ Leading Hotel Suite, and the Sunset Water Villa at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island won the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Hotel Villa award.

Zainab Shihab, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort, receives the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Hotel Villa award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Food and Beverage Manager Kyra Bommelje (L-2) and General Manager William Harley-Fleming (R-2) at JA Manafaru receive the Maldives’ Leading Hotel Suite award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
Meanwhile, Get Into Maldives Travels was named the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Tour Operator, while the award for the Maldives’ Leading Travel Agency went to Vermillion International Maldives.

Mohamed Mauroof, Managing Director at Get Into Maldives Travels, receives the Maldives’ Leading Luxury Tour Operator award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

Ahmed Musthaeen, General Manager at Vermillion International, receives the Maldives’ Leading Travel Agency award at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony held at the Sun Aqua Vilu Reef resort in Maldives on Saturday. PHOTO/ WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
The Maldives also won several prestigious destination titles at the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony.
World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.
Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.
World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.
Business
Dubai Chocolate Brownies in Maldives: BBM, Dreidoppel conclude pastry tour

BBM’s exclusive Dreidoppel Demo Tour, led by Master Pâtissier Frankie Robin, concluded successfully on Apr 30th, after a 10-day pastry training series across 15 leading Maldivian resorts that requested the training. Two city bakeries were also trained on the 30th. The initiative brought together global expertise and a strong commitment to raising pastry standards in the local hospitality industry.
This year’s sessions focused on practical pastry solutions using Dreidoppel’s premium ingredient range to create Panettone, Dubai chocolate brownies, Mousses, Crème Brûlée, Fill & Gloss applications, and Caramel Chocolate Snacks.

A standout feature of the tour was the passion shown by young chefs across the islands.
Chef Frankie Robin remarked, “What truly impressed me was how prepared and passionate the young chefs were. Their eagerness to learn, experiment, and take their skills to world-class standards made every session an absolute joy.”

Grounded in real kitchen challenges—speed, flavour, and efficiency—Chef Frankie’s demos showcased how smart ingredient choices can drive both creativity and performance.
A.V.S. Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer at BBM, added, “At BBM, we believe in more than just supplying ingredients—we are committed to the professional growth of the industry. Collaborations like this empower culinary teams with global techniques and greater confidence.”
The tour reflects BBM’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Maldivian foodservice industry through knowledge-sharing and access to world-class products.
Business
BBM brings Vaseline, Hellmann’s, BRU Coffee to Maldives market

Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) extended their strong and decades old partnership with Unilever International, by adding to their brand portfolio – Vaseline, Hellmann’s, and BRU Coffee for the Maldivian market.
The collaboration was announced at a Business gathering held at the Manhattan Business Hotel, attended by over 300 trade partners from across Maldives.

With this partnership, BBM strengthens its retail offerings across the Maldives archipelago. Vaseline, a trusted name in skincare, and Hellmann’s, known globally for quality food products, will now be available through BBM’s distribution network.
“Vaseline is a name that generations trust for skin care. And Hellmann’s is a global icon in flavours. We’re proud to bring both to shelves across the Maldives and enrich everyday living for our customers,” said Muksith Hussain, Business Head – Retail.
In the hospitality sector, BBM introduces Bru Coffee as an addition to its HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, Café) offerings. BRU Coffee provides a quality beverage option for hotels, resorts, and restaurants across the Maldives.

“BRU is one of the most loved coffee brands in the region. With this launch, we’re giving our hospitality partners a versatile product that delivers on both taste and reliability that can be consumed as a beverage and for the purpose of dessert preparation, something they can serve with confidence,” said Hisham Girsy, Business Head – HORECA.
The gathering served as a platform for BBM to engage with its valued trade partners and introduce these new brands to the market.
A.V.S Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer at BBM, remarked: “BBM is built on relationships. This event reflects our commitment to not just introduce great products but to support, connect, and elevate our trade partners. We’re in this together, and the journey ahead is promising.”

As BBM continues to grow its portfolio and global partnerships, the focus remains clear delivering excellence, building trust, and shaping the future of trade in the Maldives.
Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) is a leading distribution company in the Maldives, connecting international brands with local businesses across retail and hospitality sectors. With a customer-focused approach and extensive distribution network, BBM continues to be a trusted partner in the Maldivian market.
Business
Redefining corporate retreats at Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives

MICE travel is undergoing a sea change—quite literally. No longer limited to traditional conference rooms and structured schedules, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) are now about creating moments that inspire, rejuvenate, and bring teams closer together. At Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives, the boundaries between business and leisure blur, offering a setting that transforms work into a pleasure.

Just a 20-minute speedboat ride from Malé, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is the ideal destination for teams looking to escape the expected. Here, brainstorming sessions take place on powder-soft beaches, where the rhythmic waves set the pace for new ideas. Mornings might begin with yoga by the ocean, followed by strategy meetings in open-air pavilions. Afternoons invite collaborative workshops under swaying palms or team-building activities that include snorkelling, paddleboarding, or even a friendly beach volleyball match.

Dining at Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives elevates every corporate event with fresh, sea-to-table cuisine, designed to fuel both body and mind. From curated group dinners under star-streaked skies to themed private banquets, every meal becomes an experience in itself. For those looking to celebrate milestones or reward top performers, the resort’s scenic locations offer the perfect backdrop for gala evenings or intimate cocktail gatherings.

Accommodation blends comfort with elegance, offering ocean-view suites and beachside retreats that allow participants to rest, recharge, and return with a fresh perspective. Despite the remote charm, connectivity is never an issue—seamless Wi-Fi and business-friendly amenities ensure that productivity doesn’t pause, even in paradise.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives turns corporate travel into something memorable. Whether it’s a leadership retreat, a high-level conference, or an incentive escape, the resort offers a canvas for events that leave lasting impressions. Here, business goals are pursued in harmony with nature, creativity flows effortlessly, and the line between work and well-being fades.
Let your next MICE experience be more than a meeting—make it a journey worth sharing.
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