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To celebrate Food Day, COMO Maldives resorts support local students

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COMO Hotels and Resorts has launched an initiative to support children, including school students in Maldives, as part of the hotel group’s celebration of World Food Day.

Launched in association with Mastercard, the initiative celebrates World Food Day, which falls on October 16, by highlighting the importance of childhood nutrition. From October 1 to December 31, the partnership (through the Purchase with Purpose programme) will provide 10 nutritious meals for underprivileged children every time a guest settles their bill with a Mastercard.

In the Maldives, the beneficiaries of this year’s Purchase with Purpose programme include:

  • Maafushi School and Guraidhoo School: Providing primary and secondary school education to 580 children. Supported by COMO Cocoa Island.
  • Thaa Gaadifushi School: Providing primary school education to 50 children. Supported by COMO Maalifushi.

The Maafushi school. PHOTO/ OURGLOBALTREK.COM

Hans Jörg Meier, Chief Operating Officer for COMO Hotels and Resorts, says: “World Food Day is an important day for us. At COMO, we believe that serving our guests well includes providing an assurance of responsible dining. This partnership with Mastercard will allow us to serve at least 35,000 meals to underprivileged children living in the vicinity of our hotels.”

World Food Day is celebrated each year on October 16 by Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to commemorate the founding of the organisation in 1945. Events are organised in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all.

COMO runs two resorts in the Maldives, the COMO Cocoa Island in South Male Atoll and COMO Maalifushi in Thaa atoll.

COMO Cocoa Island is an intimate private Maldives island resort, located in the South Male Atoll and accessible by a 40-minute speedboat ride from the main Velana International Airport.

COMO Cocoa Island. PHOTO/ COMO

The resort features 33 overwater suites, allowing you to slip right into the turquoise lagoon to explore an exceptional house reef. Encircled with powder soft white sand, the carefree, understated luxury experience includes holistic wellness treatments at COMO Shambhala Retreat, South Indian-influenced cuisine and world-class diving.

COMO Maalifushi is the first luxury resort in the Maldives to open in the pristine Thaa atoll in the archipelago’s southwest. With overwater villas and garden suites, Maalifushi is the ultimate away-from-it-all destination for families, couples, surfers and divers. There are some excellent breaks nearby as well as a string of uninhabited private islands, where whale shark sightings are common.

COMO Maalifushi.

Among Maldives island resorts, Maalifushi stands apart with its understated style, encapsulating the spirit of the Indian Ocean and the barefoot chic of a COMO private island resort. The luxuries are all here, with a COMO Shambhala spa, world-class yoga facilities and exceptional cuisine along with the Maldives’ vibrant marine life, including rich whale shark, hammerhead and manta ray populations.

Entertainment

QUEENZ OF PIANO to perform at Reethi Faru Resort this festive season

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Reethi Faru Resort has announced that internationally recognised piano duo QUEENZ OF PIANO will perform at the resort as part of its Christmas and New Year celebrations for the 2026/27 festive season.

The duo will present three live performances on 29 December 2026, 31 December 2026 (New Year’s Eve) and 2 January 2027, offering guests a series of musical experiences during the holiday period.

QUEENZ OF PIANO are known for combining classical music with contemporary pop, performing arrangements that bring together compositions from different musical periods and genres.

Their performances reinterpret well-known classical pieces and modern hits, incorporating elements of both musical styles to appeal to audiences of different ages and musical preferences.

The duo’s approach focuses on showcasing the versatility of the piano through arrangements that blend traditional classical techniques with contemporary musical influences.

The performances will form part of Reethi Faru Resort’s festive entertainment programme, providing live musical experiences for guests celebrating Christmas and New Year in the Maldives.

The three scheduled performances will take place during the resort’s year-end celebrations, including a special appearance on New Year’s Eve.

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Featured

Kandooma Maldives unveils ‘Pirates’ Festive Adventure’ for Christmas and New Year

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Kandooma Maldives has announced its Christmas and New Year programme, titled Pirates’ Festive Adventure, featuring festive dining, family activities, marine excursions, live entertainment and wellness experiences.

The programme will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027, offering a range of activities and celebrations for guests staying at the resort in South Malé Atoll.

The festive programme forms part of Kandooma Maldives’ experience-led all-inclusive offering, which combines dining, recreational activities and marine experiences.

The resort provides round-the-clock dining at Kandooma Café, with meals and snacks available to accommodate international arrival and departure schedules. Eligible certified divers staying for four nights or longer can also participate in daily diving activities as part of the all-inclusive offering.

For families, Kandoo Kids’ Club will organise a series of themed activities throughout the festive period. These will include pirate-themed crafts, treasure-inspired games, creative challenges, festive card-making, gingerbread making and Christmas celebrations.

Younger guests will also have opportunities to participate in Christmas cookie decorating and other seasonal activities, while Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance as part of the festivities.

Marine excursions and watersports will feature throughout the programme, with activities including shark snorkelling, shipwreck safaris, turtle-point snorkelling, sunset cruises and night fishing.

Guests will also have opportunities to participate in surfing lessons, guided Jet Ski tours and other watersports activities around the island.

Festive dining will form a central part of the celebrations, with the resort organising a Maldivian-themed buffet dinner accompanied by traditional Bodu Beru drumming and a fire dance performance.

Other dining experiences will include a multi-course Christmas Eve gala dinner, Christmas dining events and special New Year celebrations. The menus will feature a combination of Maldivian cuisine, international dishes and traditional festive offerings.

For guests seeking wellness experiences, Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala will offer a range of treatments, including couples’ spa experiences, a three-day wellness programme and recovery treatments designed for surfers.

The festive programme will continue into January with additional activities at Kandoo Kids’ Club, marine excursions and recreational experiences.

The celebrations will conclude on 7 January 2027 with Orthodox Christmas activities for guests observing the occasion.

Andrew Drummond, General Manager of Kandooma Maldives, said the programme was designed to bring together different aspects of the resort’s guest experience during the festive season.

“Festive holidays are about spending meaningful time together, discovering something new and creating memories that last long after the journey home,” he said.

“Our programme brings together the experiences that make an island holiday special, whether that means an ocean adventure, a celebration around the table, time to relax or a little festive magic for the family.”

Located on a private island in South Malé Atoll, Kandooma Maldives offers accommodation, dining, marine activities and recreational facilities for families, couples and groups of friends.

Guests are advised to review the festive programme for activity schedules, package inclusions and advance-booking requirements. Additional charges apply to selected excursions, watersports and spa treatments.

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Awards

Secret Paradise Maldives Co-Founder recognised for regenerative tourism efforts

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Ruth Franklin, Co-Founder of Secret Paradise Maldives, has received the Regenerative Travel Pioneer Award at the 2026 Inspiring Women in Travel Asia (IWTA) Awards, held at the Conrad Bangkok on 14 October 2026.

The IWTA Awards recognise women contributing to environmental, social and regenerative initiatives across Asia’s travel and tourism industry. The Regenerative Travel Pioneer Award honours individuals whose work places local communities, cultural preservation and environmental conservation at the centre of tourism development.

Franklin co-founded Secret Paradise Maldives in 2012, establishing a tourism business focused on providing visitors with experiences beyond traditional resort holidays. The company promotes interactions between travellers, local communities and the natural environment through locally led tourism activities.

Secret Paradise Maldives works with local businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community groups to support responsible tourism practices and ensure that a greater share of tourism revenue benefits local communities.

Its activities focus on marine conservation, cultural awareness and creating opportunities for Maldivians to share their knowledge, traditions and way of life with international visitors.

Commenting on the recognition, Franklin acknowledged the contributions of the company’s employees, local partners and community organisations.

“I’m incredibly honoured to receive this recognition. While the award may have my name on it, it represents the collective efforts of the entire Secret Paradise team, our local partners and the many NGOs and community members we work alongside.

“Since establishing Secret Paradise, our aim has always been to demonstrate that travel can be a force for good, creating meaningful experiences for visitors while supporting local livelihoods, celebrating Maldivian culture and helping protect the incredible natural environment we are so fortunate to call home. This award is recognition of everyone’s contribution to that journey,” she said.

The award recognises Franklin’s work in promoting community-based tourism in the Maldives and Secret Paradise Maldives’ efforts to integrate environmental conservation, cultural preservation and local economic participation into its tourism operations.

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