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W Hotels Worldwide Appoints Jenné Lombardo As New Global Fashion Director
Maldives Promotion House – W Hotels Worldwide has announced the appointment of Jenné Lombardo, entrepreneur and style maven, as its new Global Fashion Director. For more than 12 years, W Hotels has had a continuous commitment to fashion, and in 2010 appointed the first-ever Global Fashion Director for a hospitality brand – Amanda Ross. As the W brand continues to expand its international footprint and opens in fashion capitals around the world, Lombardo, a global trendsetter with a knack for identifying what’s new and next in fashion, will be instrumental in developing strategic initiatives and partnerships that showcase W’s innovative point of view on fashion.
“W Hotels has established itself as a brand that is constantly searching for ‘what’s new and next’ across music, design, and fashion,” Global Brand Leader of W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien, Eva Ziegler said. “Jenné Lombardo’s international outlook and connection to emerging talent makes her a perfect fit as both the W brand and the role of Fashion Director continues to grow.”
Jenné Lombardo’s intuitive approach to bringing like-minded brands together led her to the creation of M.A.C. & Milk, connecting the renowned beauty brand with a raw space to create a unique platform for emerging designers during New York Fashion Week. M.A.C. & Milk now serves as one of the premiere Fashion Week programs, providing space and other services to more than 40 designers per season.
Several high-profile designers have been showcased at these events, including Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders, Lulu Frost, Matthew Ames, Proenza Schouler, Suno, and Vena Cava. Prior to working with M.A.C & Milk, Lombardo served as the Executive Director of Global Fashion, Talent, and Special Events at M.A.C., where she launched projects with celebrities and artists, including the Viva Glam campaign with Lady Gaga, on a global level.
“Throughout my career I have always looked at the unique ways in which artists, designers, and other innovators can work together,” Lombardo said. “With W Hotels, the possibilities are infinite. I am extremely excited and honored to be working with such a dynamic and global brand.”
In late 2010, Lombardo launched The Terminal Presents, a New York-based consultancy focusing on giving brands unparalleled access to unique talent across fashion, music, the arts, and pop culture. The company’s aim is to identify opportunities in the marketplace to allow brands to create, innovate, collaborate, and articulate an original customized vision. Past events have included after-parties for Alexander Wang and Gwen Stefani, a Gareth Pugh screening and dinner, and performances by Patti Smith, The National, Iggy Pop, Crystal Castles, MIA, and Santigold.
In anticipation of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, Lombardo has begun to identify the next group of designers for this season’s W Hotels Fashion Next program, which is an industry-first initiative that fosters and supports emerging designers. In her new role, Lombardo will seek to firmly establish the Fashion Next program on a global level.
The selected Fashion Next designers will make their debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in September, where they will show their collections at the Box space in Lincoln Center. She is also collaborating with fashion trendsetters in London and Moscow to indentify new and next designers to showcase their latest collections during those cities’ Fashion Weeks. Lombardo and the designers will then travel to fashion-forward cities around the globe as W Hotels provides a platform for support and brings its point of view on fashion to an international audience.
In early 2010, W Hotels first introduced the role of Global Fashion Director to the hospitality industry with the appointment of Amanda Ross, international stylist and fashion authority. During her time as Global Fashion Director, Ross steered W Hotels from backstage to “center stage” at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, as the W VIP Backstage Lounge evolved into a full fashion presentation, showcasing the W Hotels Global Glam collection, a seasonal line inspired by the unique personalities of W Hotels and Retreats. Ross also identified emerging designers to support through the W Hotels Fashion Next program and served as the W spokesperson at international fashion weeks in cities such as New York, Bangkok, and Mexico City.
Throughout its 12 years, W Hotels has been engaged with the world of fashion, from its Backstage VIP Lounge at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to its various collaborations with fashion fixtures, including Simon Doonan, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenberg. W has also redefined traditional hotel retailing with the creation of W Hotels The Store, trendsetting boutique stores that sell designer apparel such as the aforementioned Global Glam collection as well as jewelry, accessories, home and design items in W Hotels around the world, online, and through the W Hotels iPhone application.
Beyond the brand initiatives, W Hotels around the globe have also been engaged in fashion over the past years, whether from the W Lounge at ELLE Fashion Week in Bangkok to the launch of the exclusive James Small-designed Insider belt for W London – Leicester Square, to Fashion Next designer trunk shows in Atlanta, Chicago and New York and the debut of Global Glam from Mexico City, Miami, Barcelona, and Los Angeles, among other destinations. The role of W Hotels in the fashion industry will only continue to grow as the brand expands worldwide, with a presence at fashion weeks across the globe, from New York to London, Paris, Milan, Moscow, and beyond.
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Simply summer at Milaidhoo: Invitation to slow living in the Baa Atoll
In a destination often defined by excess, Milaidhoo Maldives offers a different summer narrative: one of restraint, rhythm and rare stillness. Introducing Simply Summer, a seasonal escape that celebrates the art of slowing down within the UNESCO-protected waters of the Baa Atoll.
An intimate island sanctuary, Milaidhoo is designed for travellers who value time as the ultimate luxury. Days unfold unhurriedly, beginning with relaxed oceanfront breakfasts and shaped entirely by choice, from sunrise yoga and snorkelling in pristine coral gardens to long, private hours spent within the calm of one’s villa. Evenings are defined by elegant à la carte dining, inspired by seasonal flavours and served with effortless grace.
The Simply Summer offer enhances this experience with considered privileges rather than excess. Guests are invited to explore the Maldives’ natural wonders through manta ray encounters in the legendary Hanifaru Bay, indulge in restorative rituals at the overwater Serenity Spa, or discover the atoll through curated island adventures, all with exclusive seasonal savings.
A chilled bottle of Ruinart Champagne awaiting guests in their villa sets the tone on arrival, while flexible early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability) ensures that time is never hurried. Dining remains a central pleasure, with daily breakfast and à la carte dinners at Ocean Restaurant, complemented by generous dining credits across the island’s culinary venues.
Available for stays from 1st May to 31st October 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights, Simply Summer is an understated invitation to experience the Maldives at its most refined, quietly luxurious, deeply personal and guided by the gentle pace of island life.
Simply Summer – Key Inclusions:
- Daily breakfast at Ocean Restaurant
- Daily à la carte dinner at Ocean Restaurant
- USD 65 per person, per night dining credit (food-only) at other restaurants
- 30% savings on manta ray snorkelling in Hanifaru Bay (group excursion)
- 30% savings on selected treatments at Serenity Spa
- 30% savings on curated group excursions and island experiences
- Exclusive benefits when booking direct
Begin your Simply Summer at Milaidhoo.
Excursions
Manta season experience returns as InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau announces 2026 retreat
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced the dates for its 2026 Manta Retreat, following the programme’s strong reception in recent years. The retreat will take place from 24 to 27 March 2026, coinciding with the Maamunagau manta season, when juvenile manta rays are commonly sighted in the resort’s lagoon just offshore.
The resort will once again partner with The Manta Trust, one of the world’s leading manta ray research organisations, to co-host the retreat and offer guests an immersive, educational experience centred on marine conservation. The programme is designed for travellers seeking purpose-led experiences and a deeper understanding of manta rays within their natural environment.
Located on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and adjacent to a known juvenile manta ray aggregation site, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau provides direct access to key research and observation areas. During the retreat, guests will be able to participate in guided reef snorkelling, manta excursions led by The Manta Trust, coral restoration and planting workshops, and a series of educational sessions. Participants will also have the opportunity to adopt and name a manta ray as part of the conservation initiative.
The partnership between InterContinental Maldives and The Manta Trust has been in place since 2019. The retreat will be led by The Manta Trust’s base leader, Meral Hafeez, who will guide guests through manta ray encounters while sharing insight into the organisation’s ongoing research and conservation efforts in the surrounding waters. The programme offers participants a behind-the-scenes look at the daily work of the research team, including observing and recording manta ray behaviour.
In 2023, Maamunagau Lagoon was recognised as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), identifying it as a vital habitat for manta rays and a priority conservation site. The lagoon continues to serve as a key research area for The Manta Trust, allowing guests to observe manta rays in their natural environment within close proximity to the resort. Certified divers are also catered for, with access to dedicated dive sites where manta ray cleaning stations can be observed, highlighting the complex marine ecosystems of the Maldives.
Beyond the retreat activities, guests can enjoy the resort’s overwater villas, unwind at AVI Spa, or explore its range of dining experiences.
The participation fee for the Manta Retreat is USD 1,550++ per night, per room, based on double occupancy, with a minimum stay of four nights. The package includes one manta ray research trip, guided house reef snorkelling, manta ray adoption, educational workshops, and accommodation in a luxury villa or residence on a half-board basis.
Featured
Ten years of turtle conservation: Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu and Olive Ridley Project milestone
Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, part of the boutique island resort collective Coco Collection, is marking ten years of partnership with the Olive Ridley Project (ORP), celebrating a decade-long commitment to marine conservation in the Maldives.
The partnership reached a significant milestone in 2017 with the opening of the Maldives’ first veterinary-led Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, pioneering specialised sea turtle care in the country. Since its establishment, the centre has treated and released 152 injured turtles, achieving a rehabilitation success rate of nearly 60 per cent. The facility plays a critical role in caring for turtles impacted by human activities, including entanglement in marine debris and ghost nets.
Beyond rescue and rehabilitation, the Olive Ridley Project leads long-term sea turtle research across the Maldives, collecting data on nesting activity, population trends and threats to marine life. This work contributed to the country’s first National Red List Assessment of Threatened Species, published in 2022. Supported by a network of citizen scientists, ORP’s Maldives research team has documented more than 45,000 sea turtle encounters nationwide. Over the past decade, Coco Collection has been a major contributor to this effort, recording nearly 3,500 encounters and reinforcing its position as one of ORP’s most significant research partners.
Guests at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu are invited to engage directly with these conservation initiatives through weekly marine talks, educational sessions led by the resort’s resident Marine Educator, and opportunities to witness rehabilitated sea turtles being released back into the ocean.

Commenting on the milestone, Siraj Waseem, General Manager of Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, said that celebrating ten years of partnership with the Olive Ridley Project was a source of pride for Coco Collection. He noted that what began as a shared commitment to protecting marine life has evolved into a long-term collaboration rooted in education, conservation and meaningful guest engagement, adding that the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre continues to grow in strength with ORP’s support.
Dr Martin Stelfox, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Ridley Project, said the decade-long partnership reflects a pioneering collaboration and significant progress in sea turtle conservation in the Maldives. He highlighted advances in conservation medicine and research achieved together, as well as the impact of inspiring guests and Maldivian interns to care for and protect the country’s marine environment.
Over the past ten years, the ORP Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu has hosted ten veterinary surgeons, each contributing to the development of sea turtle conservation medicine in the Maldives. Through the Sea Turtle Veterinary Trainee Programme, the resort and ORP have trained 29 veterinary professionals from 12 countries, helping to strengthen a global network of sea turtle clinical care across the Indian Ocean and beyond.
Alongside its conservation work, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu continues to offer a wide range of experiences for guests, from water sports such as water skiing, surfing and parasailing to sailing, paddle-boarding and kayaking in the surrounding lagoon. Visitors can also explore Maldivian culture through curated Coco Experiences that highlight local island life and heritage. As the resort marks ten years of collaboration with the Olive Ridley Project, Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu continues to demonstrate how meaningful conservation efforts can coexist with memorable guest experiences.
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