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Baglioni Resort Maldives, Emerald Maldives Resort amongst Leading Hotels’ most anticipated 2019 openings
Upcoming Baglioni Resort Maldives and Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa have been recognised as the most anticipated openings of the year amongst the newest hotels and renovations in the The Leading Hotels of the World collection.
This year, Leading Hotels is slated to introduce more than 20 outstanding new builds located around the globe. Post-renovation reopenings will also be prevalent, with six properties recently opening their doors for curious travellers to enjoy in 2019 and seven scheduled to reopen and welcome guests this year.
“We look forward to an exciting year ahead, following a strong 2018 where Leading Hotels welcomed more than 50 remarkable hotels to our portfolio,” said Deniz Omurgonulsen, Vice President, Membership, The Leading Hotels of the World.
“The 2019 new additions demonstrate notable growth in countries such as Spain, Japan, the United States, and the Maldives. Our more than 20 anticipated openings and numerous renovations will provide travellers with diverse luxury accommodations in popular and emerging destinations, and a fresh perspective on their respective locales. Collectively, the hotels offer innovative design, thoughtfully curated amenities and local experiences, as well as attentive high-touch service, defining contemporary elegance and comfort.”
Set on the island of Maagau in Dhaalu atoll, Baglioni Resort Maldives will become the first Italian luxury five-star resort in the Maldives when it opens on June 1, 2019.
Accessible by a 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, this exclusive island is surrounded by turquoise water, velvet white sand and tropical nature, allowing guests to experience a bespoke stay – with a distinctly Italian touch – in the heart of the Indian Ocean.
Guests can make the most of their leisure time with a different sporting activity every day, or simply let go and unwind at the Baglioni Spa, offering a deeply relaxing experience with a variety of indulgent treatments in a lush, leafy setting. The entire experience is tastefully enriched by prestigious gastronomic options to satisfy the most discerning international clientele.
Created from sustainable materials and employing eco-sensitive practices to minimise the environmental impact, Baglioni Resort Maldives is the perfect destination for an unforgettable holiday.
Opening in June 2019, Emerald Maldives Resort and Spa is managed by Rome-headquartered hotel chain Emerald Collection. The resort is being developed on the island of Fasmendhoo in the northern Raa atoll, which is accessible by a scenic 40-minute seaplane flight or a 30-minute domestic flight from the main Velana International Airport to Ifuru Domestic Airport followed by a 20-minute speedboat ride.
With a collection of private beach villas and overwater bungalows — many with their own pools and Jacuzzis — Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa combines contemporary comforts with warm tropical flourishes. The resort’s four restaurants, ranging from Mediterranean, to Asian and South American cuisine, as well as wellness offerings like the spa, diving centre, and sports facility invite guests to relax and recharge amid crystalline blue waters and unspoiled nature in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Comprised of more than 400 hotels in over 80 countries, Leading Hotels is a collection of uncommon luxury hotels.
Established in 1928 by several influential and forward-thinking European hoteliers, Leading Hotels has a nine-decade-long commitment to providing remarkable, authentic travel experiences. The company selects only hotels that meet its high standards for quality and distinctiveness, resulting in a curated portfolio of hotels united not by what makes them the same, but the details that make them different.
Leaders Club is the company’s exclusive tiered guest loyalty programme, consisting of like-minded travellers seeking uncommon travel experiences. The programme provides its members with personalised service and exclusive travel benefits to enhance their stays at any Leading Hotel around the world.
Featured
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa unveils family-focused Family Fun Summer package
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, a family-focused package designed to encourage guests to spend time together through dining, leisure and recreational activities in a private island setting.
Located 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the resort is offering the package as a year-round experience, despite its summer branding. The programme is intended for families seeking a stay that combines accommodation, meals and activities in a single offering.
The experience includes daily breakfast at Feast, where guests can access buffet selections for adults and children. Lunch is served as a three-course beachside meal, while evenings include buffet dinners, à la carte options and access to the resort’s speciality restaurants.
As part of the package, adult guests receive a USD 45 dining credit per night, which can be used at selected outlets including Baan Thai and Sea Salt. The offer is designed to expand dining options within the resort’s full board arrangement.
The package also includes activities aimed at different age groups. Children have access to the Sheraton Adventure Club, while families can take part in pool activities, water sports, sunset dolphin cruises and guided snorkelling excursions.
For guests seeking wellness experiences, Shine Spa for Sheraton offers a range of treatments, with the package including 15 per cent savings on selected services. The resort has also introduced a spa experience designed for parent and child. Additional recreational options include sunrise beach yoga, as well as access to tennis and football facilities.
Other inclusions within the offer include a complimentary family photoshoot and dining benefits for children when eating with their parents.
Family Fun Summer is available for booking until 15 June 2026, for stays through to 20 December 2026. Through the package, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is presenting a family-oriented resort experience centred on dining, recreation and shared time together.
Featured
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau to mark Mother’s Day with wellness and dining offerings
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced a Mother’s Day programme centred on wellness, dining and family experiences, offering guests a range of activities designed to mark the occasion in Raa Atoll.
Set within the resort’s island setting, the programme will feature a series of experiences aimed at encouraging families to spend time together through relaxation, dining and shared activities.
At AVI Spa, the Mother’s Day offering will include signature treatments focused on rest and balance. Guests will also have access to holistic sessions led by visiting practitioner Dr Afsana Aradhana Ghyas, whose work focuses on integrative wellbeing and emotional balance.
Dining experiences will form a central part of the programme. These will include floating breakfasts served in private villas, interactive cooking sessions with the resort’s chefs, and private dining experiences ranging from sunset beach dinners to sandbank dining under the stars.
The resort will also offer family-focused activities for the occasion. These will include craft sessions for children, ocean-inspired guided art activities and a family photoshoot intended to capture the day’s experiences.
Through the Mother’s Day programme, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is presenting a combination of wellness, dining and family activities shaped around personal and shared experiences in a resort setting.
Drink
W Maldives unveils The Wavemaker Edit with global talent collaborations
W Maldives has launched The Wavemaker Edit, a new ongoing series of curated collaborations with international talent, aimed at introducing a range of guest experiences across mixology, wellness, cuisine and music.
The series is designed as a rotating programme, with each edition bringing a different creative perspective to the resort. According to W Maldives, the initiative is intended to create a continuing calendar of experiences that combine social, cultural and wellness-led elements.
The first edition of The Wavemaker Edit will run from 3 to 14 June 2026 and will feature two themed chapters, titled Island Alchemy and The Restore Ritual.
Island Alchemy will focus on mixology. On 3 June, Kwok will lead a guest shift at SIP, presenting three cocktails that explore contrast and balance, including a bespoke creation inspired by the Maldives. The collaboration will continue on 6 June at WET Deck, where a poolside day party will feature a curated cocktail menu.
The second chapter, The Restore Ritual, will centre on wellness and movement in recognition of Global Wellness Day. Led by Mumbai-based yoga and movement educator Samiksha Shetty, the programme will include sessions focused on breathwork, mindfulness and alignment-based practice.
The wellness programme will include Sunset Yoga sessions at FIRE Beach on 12 and 14 June, as well as a morning meditation session at AWAY Spa on 13 June. The main event within this chapter will take place on 13 June, when guests will be able to join a Sunset Yoga session aboard the Horizon Yacht. This bookable experience will also include healthy refreshments and a 60-minute massage at AWAY Spa.
W Maldives said future editions of The Wavemaker Edit will expand into culinary, music and art-led experiences under a number of themed series, including Flavors Unscripted, Sound Wave and Make A Scene.
Commenting on the launch, General Manager Amila Handunwala said the initiative reflects the resort’s approach to continuously evolving the guest experience through collaborations with international talent.
W Maldives is positioning the series as part of its broader effort to offer more structured and experience-led programming for guests. In addition, the resort is promoting its Original Wavemaker package, which includes seaplane transfers and a half-board meal plan for two adults with a minimum stay of four nights.
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