Featured
Sheraton Maldives announces new villa host service as part of $20 mln renovation
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has launched its exclusive villa host service as part of the resort’s multimillion-dollar renovation, which completed in December 2018.
Now available across all 10 luxury room categories at the newly transformed resort, each guest is treated to a private villa host who is responsible for ensuring every need is well catered for to create a tailored and unforgettable five-star experience.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa’s signature villa hosts pride themselves on going above and beyond all expectations and developing a personal relationship with their guests throughout the duration of their stay. Each couple, family or solo traveller is met with one villa host as their main point of contact for every requirement. As such, villa hosts quickly come to understand their guests and can often anticipate their thoughts and requests in advance. This is all carried out through a very subtle demeanour, meaning guests are still left in undisturbed privacy with the knowledge that help is at hand, should it be needed.
Every villa host is dedicated to showcasing every aspect of the island to create the most remarkable trip. This is carried out through a variety of creative and bespoke experiences which are unique to Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa. Highlights include scouting out the most spectacular snorkelling spots that day before guests set out on their excursions, creating remarkable dining experiences such as private sandbank picnics or setting up personalised surprise proposals, honeymoon or wedding dinners in the most secluded and beautiful spots on the island.
Villa hosts are also guests’ main point of contact for all practical matters. This means that ‘nervous’ travellers or families can truly unwind with the knowledge that the travel admin tasks are being dealt with efficiently and quickly behind the scenes. Services include WhatsApping guests’ pre-arrival to make any dinner or water sport bookings, greeting guests upon arrival at the resort, a private buggy service, packing and unpacking guests’ luggage, dealing with all dietary requirements, issuing phone charging cables, sorting transfers and travel changes or even gifting sun-burnt guests with an Aloe Vera plant in their room.
“At Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa we pride ourselves on our five-star service and this is perfectly exemplified through our new villa host initiative which has been implemented as part of our multimillion-dollar renovation. Unlike other Maldivian properties, this service is implemented across all of our room categories so that all guests receive the same expert treatment no matter their accommodation type,” Emilio Fortini, General Manager for Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
“We are experts in being ahead of our guests’ needs and we like to be there before they ask; this comes down to the art of being invisible and yet delivering everything. All of our villa hosts are very proud of their work and through their dedicated care, charming wit and humour, they enhance every guest’s experience and reveal just how much our island has to offer.”
Following the USD 20 million renovation, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa now exhibits beautiful Maldivian architecture with a contemporary twist, reflecting the five-star experience guaranteed at the property.
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is situated on the private island of Furanafushi in the North Male Atoll, just a 15-minute speedboat ride away from the main Velana International Airport.
The five-star resort offers 176 guest rooms designed to blend into the surrounding turquoise waters, pristine beaches and lush greenery. Also boasting seven unique restaurants and bars, the Shine Spa for Sheraton (located on its very own island) and three outdoor tropical fresh water pools, the resort caters for all guests and is the perfect destination for honeymooners, families with young children or teens and solo travellers alike.
Featured
Four Seasons Resorts Maldives blend family travel with marine discovery
As family travel patterns continue to evolve, with multigenerational holidays and “schoolcations” becoming a growing part of the market, Four Seasons is positioning its Maldives resorts as destinations where families can combine leisure with learning, exploration and shared experiences. Through programmes at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the brand is offering a Maldives-based approach to family travel that extends beyond the traditional resort stay.
In the Maldives, the focus is placed on experiences that allow families to spend time together while engaging with the natural environment in direct and practical ways. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, marine education forms a central part of the family offering. Children and teenagers can take part in hands-on initiatives alongside experts from The Manta Trust, learning about coral restoration, manta ray research and ocean conservation. The programme gives younger guests an opportunity to understand the marine ecosystems that define the Maldives while participating in activities linked to ongoing conservation work.
At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the family experience is also shaped by the surrounding lagoon and reef environment. Younger guests can take part in introductory diving, surfing and marine conservation activities designed to build early awareness of the ocean and its ecosystems. These experiences place the Maldives’ natural setting at the centre of the stay, allowing families to engage with the destination through activity as well as observation.
This emphasis on learning through travel reflects wider changes in family tourism, where parents are increasingly looking for holidays that combine recreation with educational value. In the Maldives, that approach has particular relevance, given the country’s dependence on marine ecosystems and its reputation as one of the world’s leading island destinations. By integrating conservation-focused experiences into resort programming, Four Seasons is presenting family travel not only as a period of rest, but also as an opportunity for younger travellers to develop a closer understanding of the environment around them.
The Maldives setting also supports multigenerational travel in practical terms. Resorts such as Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa are well suited to families travelling across age groups, where grandparents, parents and children may all be sharing the same holiday but looking for different forms of engagement. Accommodation, marine activities and wellness offerings can be structured in ways that allow families to spend time together while also catering to different interests and energy levels.
The family proposition is strengthened by the Maldives’ ability to combine relaxation with activities that are tied closely to place. Lagoon-based discovery, reef experiences and conservation work provide a clear alternative to more conventional beach holiday programming. Rather than limiting the stay to accommodation and dining, these activities allow the destination itself to shape the guest experience.
In this context, Four Seasons’ Maldives resorts reflect a broader shift in how luxury family travel is being positioned. The emphasis is no longer only on privacy and comfort, but also on engagement, shared discovery and experiences that carry value beyond the holiday itself. In the Maldives, where marine life and island environments remain central to the visitor experience, that model gives families a way to connect both with each other and with the destination.
Through Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons is therefore presenting a Maldives offering that responds to changing family travel expectations. By combining marine education, outdoor activity and resort-based comfort, the brand is aligning its family travel strategy with the qualities that continue to set the Maldives apart. The result is a version of family travel that is shaped not only by where guests stay, but by what they are able to learn and experience together while they are there.
Drink
Sirru Fen Fushi hosts Flor de Caña mixology event with Dinesh Mondkar
The Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series recently hosted a mixology event at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort, featuring Dinesh Mondkar, Flor de Caña’s brand ambassador for India.
The event gave guests an opportunity to explore a selection of rum cocktails while learning more about the craftsmanship and heritage behind the Flor de Caña brand. Set against a sunset backdrop over the ocean, the session combined cocktail-making techniques, brand storytelling and a relaxed island setting.
Guests were introduced to a range of cocktails that highlighted bold flavours and the versatility of rum in contemporary mixology. The evening also offered insight into the methods and presentation behind premium cocktail service, adding an interactive element to the experience.
The event formed part of the resort’s ongoing Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series, which continues to bring recognised figures from the international spirits industry to the Maldives. Through the series, the resort aims to expand its food and beverage offering with curated events that connect guests with global brands and industry expertise.
Such experiences are designed to complement the wider guest programme by combining destination dining and beverage concepts with the setting of the Maldives, while offering visitors a more immersive way to engage with the resort’s hospitality offerings.
Featured
Angsana Velavaru marks reopening of upgraded futsal ground
Angsana Velavaru has reopened its futsal facility as part of efforts to enhance guest experiences and staff engagement through sport and community activities.
The reopening ceremony was officiated by Dhaalu Atoll Council president Ahmed Shafiu and the resort’s general manager, Ahmed Zahir, who jointly cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.
Located within the island grounds, the futsal court measures 57 metres by 38 metres and is intended to serve as a space for both recreational use and organised activities for guests and resort associates.
The resort said the facility would form part of its wider recreational offering and would host workshops and expert-led collaborations aimed at providing guests with sports-based experiences while also supporting skill development and interaction. It added that the initiative also reflects its focus on staff wellbeing, teamwork and active living.
The opening event included friendly matches between the Angsana Velavaru men’s and women’s teams, as well as an inter-resort match between the Angsana Velavaru Orange Army and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
Adjacent to the futsal court is the resort’s upgraded watersports centre, which now includes updated guest facilities such as shower and changing areas.
Ahmed Zahir said the reopening of the futsal ground represented more than a recreational upgrade and reflected the resort’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and associates. He said the facility would support active living, connection and wellbeing, while also serving as a space for learning and collaboration.
Angsana Velavaru, located in South Nilandhe Atoll, said the reopening of the futsal facility forms part of its wider efforts to expand its lifestyle and community-focused offerings.
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