Featured
Jeremy Nordkamp on smashing stereotypes, creating ‘New Maldives’ at Kandima
The hospitality landscape of the Maldives is evolving rapidly, with a raft of new openings over the past few years. New resort owners, developers and operators now have to come up with new concepts to stay ahead of the curve. Existing resorts are required to go back to the drawing board in order to enhance and enrich the guest experience, so that they can continue to earn a loyal following and maintain a global reputation for excellence.
Amidst this transformation and rapid growth, there has perhaps never been a property built on such a radical concept than Kandima Maldives.
Aerial view of Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
Located on a lush tropical island in Dhaalu atoll, Kandima opened in March, offering a choice of 272 stylishly designed studios and villas, with nine different categories to choose from. The four-star plus resort has first class infrastructure, boasting the largest swimming pool and one of the biggest selection of F&B outlets in the country, along with an endless array of activities and events to keep everyone occupied.
But Kandima is much more than just a holiday. Maldives Insider speaks to Jeremy Nordkamp, the acting General Manager at Kandima, about this new game-changing destination and how it is shaking things up!
Maldives Insider: You have been involved from the pre-opening. How has it been?
Jeremy Nordkamp: It was in September last year that I was lucky enough to land this very awesome gig here at Kandima Maldives.
To be part of such a huge pre-opening is obviously a lot of hard work, but it’s been an epic adventure. My first introduction to Kandima Maldives was a 3D video rendering showing the concept of what Kandima was going to be. From that moment on, I knew I had to work here.
When I first got here, most of the buildings were still not finished yet, it was still a construction site. You then watch it build and grow and it was after our awesome launch party in April that I realised just how much the team had achieved together to create this extremely special resort.
The launch party at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
MI: What is the idea behind Kandima?
JN: The Maldives has been screaming out for something different; an innovative product. Kandima is anything but ordinary. We are the New Maldives — that’s what we had in mind when we were developing this game-changing resort.
We’re not a highly priced, exclusive resort. We really encourage our guests to be sociable and inclusive. What’s exciting about Kandima is that we don’t charge thousands of dollars per night to stay here. This allows us to open up the Maldives to a whole new style of guest and make it more accessible for the everyday families, groups of friends and couples that come and visit us. We get to show off this beautiful country to a whole load of new tourists and visitors now!
The Beach and Sky Studios at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
An Aqua Villa at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
MI: How does Kandima differ from other lifestyle resorts in the Maldives?
JN: Kandima Maldives is about keeping it real! We want our guests to feel comfortable, relaxed and have fun, just like they do when they have an awesome day at home – but it will be even better! Guests can be as inclusive as they want with other guests, we host plenty of kool activities which means they make friends and are sociable with others. Traditionally, the Maldives is a place for honeymooners. But we want the world to know that we welcome everyone — we even have special packages for groups on a girls holiday and couples on their babymoon!
From the Kandima Insta Weekend. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
Guests are spoilt for choice with our variety of ten different bars and restaurants. Whether you want to dine as a group or slope off somewhere more intimate for a dinner for two, there are plenty of options, all inspired by global trends. Our all-day-dining buffet restaurants are based on a contemporary European food court concept with multiple cooking stations where guests can help themselves to everything. Sea Dragon is our signature restaurant, which combines authentic Chinese cuisine with a live seafood tank and a modern touch. It also houses the ultra-cool Forbidden bar where house DJs play into the night.
Dining on the beach at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
The Forbidden Bar at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
Our island is also so big that guests can slip away; just disappear and be romantic by themselves. We are also great for families, our Kandiland kids club is one of the largest in the Maldives and has a big outdoor pirate ship with water fountains. Kids just don’t want to leave once they get there. We love to say, ‘happy kids means happy parents’. Kids need a break from mom and dad, and mom and dad need a break from the kids. So here at Kandima, parents can just drop their kids at Kandiland and go about doing whatever they want; be it diving for the very first time, sitting at the bar and enjoying a few cocktails, or having some adult time.
The Kandiland kids club at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
Here at Kandima, it’s all about genuine hospitality with a human touch and smart solutions that make use of the latest innovations. An example is the RFID bracelet given to our guests — it’s a waterproof keyband so nobody at Kandima will ever lose their villa key again!
We also don’t have intrusive service. Our team members are there when you need us to be, but they are not shadowing you around the island. We train our Kandima Krew to treat our guests as if they are a valued friend. We want our Kandima buddies to treat our guests like they are in their own home; make sure everything is fresh and clean, the food is hot, the beer is cold, and that they have what they need.
All of this makes us exciting. We are bright, colourful, cheeky, sexy and a bit naughty. And based on the values of the umbrella brand Pulse Hotels and Resorts — smart, playful, rooted, responsible and human — Kandima is a place with soul, deeply rooted and respectful of our guests, colleagues, community, culture and surroundings.
The Beach Club at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
MI: Can you highlight some of the community programmes carried out by Kandima?
JN: We have this amazing programme called Kandima Smiles. The Medical Centre we have here also boosts a fully equipped dental surgery – the only one in Dhaalu atoll. When the European dentists come over, we make sure we take them over to the local island to give the children dental check-ups. If there are any serious issues, we will bring them back to Kandima free of charge to carry out the dental treatment they need.
We are also focusing very much on young creative Maldivian talent. We want Kandima to be the largest Art Gallery in the country – showing off talent from around the Maldives. We have given artists a platform – giving them a new opportunity to showcase their work – whether that’s fine art, live music, fashion design, photography or arts and crafts. The initiative is called Kula, an art programme where local artists conduct classes for guests. Young, up and coming local artists have the opportunity to sell their artworks at our art studio and gallery, so that they can perhaps buy new equipment to continue doing what they love. USD 1 from every night stay here at Kandima goes into the Kula programme, and the funds are put towards nurturing these local talents and giving them a platform to exhibited their works.
A local artist showcases his talent during a Kula art class held at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
MI: What is the feedback and reaction of the market so far?
JN: The feedback we have received by our guests, tour operators, travel agents and everyone who has come to #GetKandimatised has been beyond anything we could imagine! Our product has been well received by all our guests who love the laid-back, sociable, fun, colourful and vibrant energy you feel at Kandima.
That Kandima feeling obviously comes from the beauty and contemporary style of Kandima, but I’m proud to say that it’s predominantly from our very kool Kandima Krew. We have a great team of people here who deliver that Kandima brand DNA and promise, but also a homely, friendly style of service.
From the Insta Weekend held at Kandima Maldives. PHOTO/ KANDIMA
MI: What is the next step for Kandima?
JN: It’s been an incredible adventure, being part of such a wonderful concept and working with an amazing group of people. We had our first guests in March and they left feeling over the moon. We had our launch party, for which we invited over 100 VIPs, including our key partners. And the feedback that we get from talking to the guests on the island, and on TripAdvisor and Facebook is phenomenal.
To see the team members happy and the guests happier, you can’t help but feel incredibly proud of the people that have already made Kandima what it is today.
Kandima is still the new kid on the block and we have many more kool, fun and awesome ideas, events and parties that are just waiting to get out there to wow our guests. We’ve just had the Maldives first ever Insta Weekend, which couldn’t have gone better and we are now geared up for the festive season! Watch this space and be prepared to #GetKandimatised!
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Sun Siyam Privé Collection, has introduced an expanded portfolio of water-based experiences designed to showcase the natural environment and marine life of the surrounding atolls. The enhanced programme combines exploration, activity and moments of calm, offering guests new ways to experience the Maldives through curated ocean journeys and personalised excursions.
Building on established activities such as Jet Car rides, SeaBob adventures and windsurfing, the resort has expanded its watersports offering to include private speedboat journeys and bespoke marine experiences. These additions are tailored for small groups seeking intimate and meaningful encounters with the ocean.
Available daily from the resort’s Watersports Centre, the new private speedboat excursions provide a personalised way to explore the hidden marine sites of Dhaalu Atoll. Designed for one to four guests, each journey offers flexibility and individual attention. Guests may choose from four-hour, five-hour or full-day itineraries, all of which include a freshly prepared barbecue lunch. From coral gardens to secluded sandbanks, the excursions highlight the region’s diverse marine landscapes.
The programme’s centrepiece is the Full Day Adventure Trip, which offers an extended exploration of key marine locations. Highlights include the Coral Garden, known for its biodiversity and reef formations; Turtle Point, where sea turtles are frequently sighted; and Nurse Shark Point, which provides opportunities to observe nurse sharks in their natural environment. The experience concludes with a beachside lunch on a private sandbank, set against uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean.
For guests seeking a balance between activity and relaxation, the Waves of Adventure and Calmness experience combines a private two-hour snorkelling safari or Jet Ski safari with a full-body massage at the resort. The programme is designed to transition smoothly from ocean exploration to restorative island time, reflecting the relaxed pace that characterises Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.
As part of the Sun Siyam Privé Collection, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef continues to focus on personalised service and experiences rooted in the natural setting of the Maldives. Through its expanded watersports offering, the resort invites guests to engage with the marine environment while enjoying a sense of privacy, discovery and connection to the Maldivian seascape.
Vakkaru Maldives has announced the residency of acclaimed holistic practitioner Yoko Kawaguchi at Merana Spa, taking place from 17 March to 30 April 2026. The residency forms part of the resort’s ongoing focus on wellness, restoration and mindful living.
Grounded in Japanese healing traditions, Kawaguchi’s therapeutic philosophy centres on personalised care designed to calm the nervous system, release emotional tension and support the body’s natural restorative functions. Her integrative approach combines auriculotherapy (ear reflexology), aromatherapy, Reiki energy healing and targeted massage techniques to create treatments tailored to individual needs.
Guests may select from a range of core therapies offered during the residency. Highlights include the Tranquil Mind Ritual, which blends scalp massage, ear reflexology and energy work to ease tension and encourage emotional clarity. The Aroma Reiki Healing Touch treatment combines aromatherapy back massage with carefully selected essential oils and Usui Reiki to address both physical and emotional blockages. Auriculotherapy sessions focus on stimulating reflex points in the ears to support hormonal balance, immunity, nervous system regulation and overall wellbeing, with optional ear seeds available to extend the benefits beyond the treatment.
Alongside individual sessions, Kawaguchi will offer complimentary consultations and a programme of group wellness experiences. These include guided Reiki self-healing meditation and ear stretching massage sessions designed to promote relaxation and mental clarity, providing guests with simple techniques to support their wellbeing during and after their stay.
Hosted within the serene surroundings of Merana Spa, the residency offers guests an opportunity to pause, reset and engage in a deeper wellness journey, aligned with Vakkaru Maldives’ philosophy of understated luxury and holistic balance.
Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, part of The Centara Collection, offers an island experience shaped by the rhythm of the ocean in the heart of South Ari Atoll. While the resort is widely recognised for its celebrated dive sites, award-winning house reef and rich marine life, another presence quietly anchors the spirit of the island.
Within the peaceful grounds of SPA Cenvaree stands a centuries-old banyan tree known locally as the Ummeedhu Tree, meaning Wish Fulfilment. With its expansive canopy and cascading aerial roots, the tree is regarded as more than a natural landmark. It is a symbol of continuity and reflection, standing as a silent witness to the island’s past and present.
Long before the island became a resort destination, the banyan tree stood rooted in the sands of Machchafushi. Today, the resort honours it as the spiritual heart of the island, inviting guests to pause beneath its branches and engage in moments of reflection and reconnection.
This connection is expressed through the Sacred Thread Ceremony, a contemplative ritual designed to offer guests a personal and meaningful experience. The ceremony begins with a quiet walk through the spa gardens, encouraging stillness and intention. Guests select a delicate golden leaf to represent a personal wish—whether for love, wellbeing, success, abundance or inner peace—and hold it alongside a wish card while visualising that intention fulfilled. The golden leaf is then tied to the banyan’s ancient branches, symbolising the offering of the wish to the tree’s enduring presence. The leaf remains there, carrying the quiet energy of the intention until the guest’s return.
Beyond the banyan, the island continues its natural rhythm. The surrounding waters form part of one of the Maldives’ most significant marine environments, known for year-round whale shark encounters and an extensive house reef that stretches beyond the shoreline. Yet amid the movement of the sea and the vibrancy of coral life, it is often the stillness beneath the banyan tree that leaves the most lasting impression.
Sustainability and heritage are integral to life on Machchafushi Island. Located within the South Ari Marine Protected Area, the island is committed to safeguarding both its marine ecosystems and its cultural identity. The banyan tree stands as a reminder that preservation extends beyond the natural environment to include traditions, stories and the deeper connections between people and place.
At Machchafushi Island Resort & Spa, each day unfolds with moments shaped by nature and intention. From golden sunrises over the lagoon to wishes entrusted to ancient branches, experiences on the island are designed not only to be remembered, but to take root.
-
Action1 week agoBestbuy Maldives supports health, wellness as Main Sponsor of MNU Marathon 2026
-
Cooking1 week agoMaagiri Hotel invites guests to celebrate Ramadan with daily Iftar
-
Love1 week agoRomance in nature: Valentine’s week at Eri Maldives
-
News1 week agoVentive Hospitality aligns Maldives portfolio with Green Fins marine sustainability platform
-
Business1 week agoFeydhoo Hall opens at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives as new event space
-
News6 days agoThe Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands launches conservation programme for environmental observances
-
Drink1 week agoProvence comes to Maldives with Château Minuty dinner at Milaidhoo Maldives
-
Business1 week agoBBM expands retail presence with new Hulhumalé outlet