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The Marina @ CROSSROADS: Maldives’ first integrated lifestyle destination

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CROSSROADS, the first integrated lifestyle destination in the Maldives, is set to open in early 2019.

The development by leading Thai developer Singha Estate sits at Emboodhoo Lagoon, just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport and capital Male. It presents a variety of offers, including dining, shopping, entertainments and leisure activities.

CROSSROADS Maldives will ultimately comprise nine islands, eight hotels and resorts, and a retail space of over 11,000 sqm, equipped with hotel guests’ own arrival jetties and inter-island water transportation. The Marina @ CROSSROADS welcomes visitors of all ages — both foreign and local — with its unique offerings being an upscale boardwalk, featuring a stylish dining experience, and hosting celebrity chefs and world-renowned DJs.

The integrated project will feature the Maldives’s first luxury yacht marina, the eponymous establishment of The Marina at CROSSROADS, which will host the guests’ private yachts and plays its role in redefining the Maldives’ tourism experience.

A wide range of world-renowned restaurants are set to open at The Marina @ CROSSROADS.

At Hard Rock Cafe Maldives, guests can enjoy authentic American cuisine amidst the ultimate rock atmosphere with 185 indoor and outdoor seats, and exclusive beach access, taking dining with a view to a whole new level. Hard Rock Cafe Maldives is a perfect getaway where holidaymakers come to eat and mingle, catering excellent food and music, including cocktails and handmade American classics. Flaunting an exclusive beachfront area with sunbeds, Hard Rock Cafe Maldives welcomes cozy gatherings and party events alike.

Cafe del Mar Maldives, the world-renowned beach club from Ibiza, offers an exclusive relax and dine experience, with an artful selection of food, drinks, and exquisite music in a setting surrounded by nature. Café del Mar Maldives boasts unique designs in a playful marriage of modern convenience, tropical intrigue, and Maldivian arts. The club caters to a great variety of tastes, from light snacks to special dinners, Woodfire Pizza and Gelato Bar, and specialty cocktails. With 300 poolside daybeds and 400 seats, the club will also have three private cabanas and a swim-up pool bar.

Two of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, owned by visionary chef and restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa, will take up residence at The Marina @ CROSSROADS — their first in the Maldives:

  • Ministry of Crab: A true haven for crustacean fans that celebrates Sri Lankan crabs, ranging from 500g ‘Small’ crabs to 2kg ‘Crabzillas’.
  • Nihonbashi: A renowned Japanese restaurant that has, for 23 years, served an extensive selection of fine Japanese cuisine, crafted from the highest quality Sri Lankan ingredients.

The Marina @ CROSSROADS will also feature a mix of top chain restaurants and luxury retail stores. These include: Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, an American roast coffee and exotic tea chain; Cafe’ier, a local chic and comfortable space for special fresh roasted coffee; Saint Trop by Crepes & Co., a unique and timeless south of France cafe nestled in the heart of The Marina @ CROSSROADS; Kenny Rogers Roasters, a mid-casual dining restaurant that serves roast chicken with Kenny’s famous homemade recipe.

Retail stores will include Xerjoff Perfume, an Italian luxury perfumery, Divine Jewelry, and Souvenir shop. Puma, an athletic and casual footwear, apparel and accessories store, will also make an appearance, stocking limited edition, top of the line, and newest products.

“Singha Estate sees a great opportunity to open up new market segments by tapping into MICE travellers and family groups. Our project’s unique selling point as the first multi-island integrated destination and its full range offers of international restaurant and retail outlets will help CROSSROADS cater to the preferences of all visitors,” Thiti Thongbenjamas, Chief Operating Officer at CROSSROADS, said.

The Marina @ CROSSROADS embodies Singha Estate’s values for the expression of cultural identities and sustainability with the creation of the Maldives Discovery Centre, a unique cultural attraction with stunning designs that will showcase the charms of local arts and crafts, and empower local artists; the Marine Discovery Centre, a sea-life conservation hub that will spearhead world-class coral propagation activities, with a goal to become one of the largest coral conservation areas in the Maldives; the CROSSROADS Event Hall, a large multi-purpose venue, ideal for meetings or workshops, that can be hired for exclusive gatherings, dinners and celebrations, supported by a professional event planning and catering team; and the Diving Centre, organiser of water-based recreation activities and home to the Maldives’ first floatable water park and glass bottom submarine.

The development of the CROSSROADS project is set to redefine the Maldives’ vacation experience as the largest integrated leisure and recreation destination that will attract and captivate the international family-leisure markets to the Maldives.

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BBM renews as Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards under multi-year agreement

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Hotelier Maldives has announced Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as the Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 under a multi-year agreement, reaffirming one of the longest-standing partnerships behind the publication’s flagship hospitality recognition platform.

The 2026 edition marks the third consecutive year that BBM has served as Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards, having supported the event in the same capacity since its launch in 2024. BBM has also backed Hotelier Maldives’ second flagship event, GM Forum, every year since 2023, with 2026 set to mark its fourth year as a Silver Partner of the forum.

The continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to recognising the people behind the Maldives’ tourism industry while supporting platforms that encourage industry dialogue, leadership and professional development.

Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 entered its public voting phase on 15 March 2026, with voting set to remain open for one month. Winners will be announced at the gala ceremony on 26 April 2026 at NIVA Kurumba Maldives.

Commenting on the partnership, Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said: “BBM has been a valued partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards since the very beginning, and we are pleased to formalise this continued support through a multi-year agreement. Their decision to return as Title Partner for a third consecutive year reflects not only the strength of our relationship, but also a shared belief in the importance of recognising the people who drive excellence across the Maldives’ hospitality industry.

“BBM has also consistently supported GM Forum over the years, making them one of the most committed partners across our event platforms. We are proud to continue working together as we strengthen both Hotelier Maldives Awards and GM Forum as annual fixtures for the industry.”

AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM, said: “At BBM, we have always believed that a strong hospitality industry is built by strong people, and Hotelier Maldives Awards provides an important national platform to recognise the professionals whose work often takes place behind the scenes. We are pleased to continue as Title Partner of the awards under this multi-year agreement, while also extending our support to GM Forum for a fourth consecutive year.

“As a company that has grown alongside the Maldives’ hospitality sector, we value opportunities that celebrate talent, encourage professional pride and contribute to the long-term development of the industry. Our continued partnership with Hotelier Maldives reflects that commitment.”

Bestbuy Maldives is one of the country’s leading importers and distributors, serving the hospitality, HORECA and retail sectors with a broad portfolio of international brands. The company positions itself as a partner to the Maldivian hospitality industry, supplying products from around the world across key business verticals including resorts, foodservice and retail.

Hotelier Maldives Awards continues to recognise the contributions of resort-based hospitality professionals across the Maldives, highlighting both individual excellence and team performance. The awards programme remains the country’s only dedicated recognition platform focused on professionals working in resort operations. The current public voting round allows industry stakeholders, colleagues, guests and the wider public to take part in selecting this year’s winners.

The growing list of confirmed partners for Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 includes Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as Title Partner, Dhiraagu as Platinum Partner, Storm Events as Organising Partner, NIVA, Kurumba Maldives as Host Partner, Souvenir Marine as Transport Partner, ALIA as Associate Sponsor, and Lightsout Studios as Associate Partner. More partners and sponsors will be announced soon.

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Feydhoo Hall opens at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives as new event space

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Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has announced the opening of Feydhoo Hall, a landmark event venue at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives, redefining the possibilities for meetings, celebrations, and destination events in the Maldives.

Designed to bring scale, flexibility, and creativity to island gatherings, Feydhoo Hall represents a bold step forward in positioning the Maldives as a dynamic destination for conferences, weddings, and large-scale social occasions.

Feydhoo Hall offers a versatile event complex designed to accommodate a wide range of gatherings, from corporate meetings and conferences to weddings and social celebrations.

At its core is the 390 sqm Main Hall, capable of hosting:

  • Up to 300 guests in theatre-style setup
  • Up to 240 guests for dining and banquet-style events
  • Up to 200 guests for cocktail-style receptions
  • Up to 144 guests in cluster-round configuration

Enhancing the flexibility of the venue are additional dedicated spaces, including:

  • A 110 sqm Veranda Terrace, ideal for welcome receptions, breakout sessions, and pre-event gatherings, accommodating up to 100 guests for cocktail-style events.
  • A spacious 1,000 sqm Lawn Space, perfect for large-scale outdoor celebrations, destination weddings, and open-air events, accommodating up to 400 guests for cocktail receptions and up to 350 guests for dining setups.
  • The 55 sqm Ekugai Meeting Room, designed for smaller meetings and executive sessions, accommodating up to 30 guests in theatre or dining setup and 24 guests in cluster-round format.

Together, these integrated spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor event experience, allowing planners to design dynamic and personalised event journeys.

True to the dusitD2 brand’s lifestyle-driven philosophy, Feydhoo Hall introduces a fresh approach to meetings and events — where productivity meets creativity in an inspiring island setting.

The venue offers flexible meeting formats designed to suit different event needs, including:

  • Half-Day Meeting Package (4 hours) — ideal for focused sessions, executive meetings, and creative workshops.
  • Full-Day Meeting Package (8 hours) — designed for immersive conferences, extended workshops, and large-scale corporate gatherings.

These thoughtfully structured packages provide planners with the flexibility to create impactful and seamless experiences, whether hosting intimate strategy sessions or dynamic full-day events.

Located just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives combines accessibility with vibrant lifestyle energy, offering event planners and guests a rare balance between convenience and tropical escape.

With the introduction of Feydhoo Hall, the resort strengthens its position as a versatile destination — not only for leisure travellers but also for international conferences, creative retreats, luxury weddings, and large-scale social celebrations seeking something refreshingly different in the Maldives.

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BBM expands retail presence with new Hulhumalé outlet

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Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) opened a new wholesale store in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Monday.

The outlet is located on the ground floor of Lot 20286, Nirolhu Magu, and is intended to improve access to BBM’s imported goods for residents of Hulhumalé Phase 2 and for businesses operating in the area.

According to the company, the opening forms part of its plan to expand services closer to customers in line with population growth in Hulhumalé.

With the opening of the new store, BBM’s full range of imported and distributed products will be available at the Hulhumalé Phase 2 location. These include consumer goods from international brands such as Lifebuoy, Vaseline and Unilever.

The store will also stock wholesale food products from brands including Daily, Cavin’s and Redman.

BBM has supplied goods to resorts, hotels and retail outlets across the Maldives for several years.

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