Featured
Meet the brains behind Cocoon Maldives

Daniele Lago, Simona Fabini, Tomaso Schiaffino and Gian Luca Innocenzi together with Vito Di Bari, are amongst the most notable designers involved in the formation and establishment of Cocoon Maldives, the first ‘design hotel’ in Maldives.
Cocoon is essentially a collaborative effort between its Managing Director Alessandro Azzola, and Daniele Lago, CEO and Chief Designer of leading Italian design company Lago.
A creative, inventive, and innovative leader, Daniele Lago propelled the success of the Lago brand since its launch. Today, the brand is highly established and recognised worldwide, especially in the furniture sector. The brand even has a strong social media presence, with a following of one and a half million.
Cocoon’s alliance with a design company as niche and notable as Lago is auspicious. Along with the company’s area of expertise, Lago meets the image of Cocoon as a brand that reflects lightness, hospitality and respect for the surrounding environment. Every piece of furniture is specifically selected to align with the company’s concept; suspended beds, washbasins with contemporary draining system, authentic Sicilian hand-painted ceramic tables and swings are part of them.
Complementing the state-of-art furnishing is a light installation by Tomaso Schiaffino, Art Director of Bellaria Design.
Specialising in lighted furniture and unique design products, Bellaria Design’s Tree of Light, which was featured in the Oscar-winning movie ‘The Great Beauty’, is a top-rated innovation of Cocoon. Exclusively designed and made in Italy, the ‘Tree of Light’ has received tremendous attention. Inspired by trees, these innovative light installations are particularly popular amongst guests for Instagram worthy shots.
Responsible for the development of Cocoon from its earliest stages right through to completion is Simona Fabini, Chief Architect of Cocoon.
With 20 years of experience in residential and tourism projects both in Italy and abroad, Fabini steered the development of Cocoon, transforming it into the hotel as we know it today. Fabini is the talent responsible for integrating and harmonising the various elements which constitute Cocoon. Another remarkable work of Fabini is the Gold Zanzibar Beach House & Spa, an ultra-luxurious five-star property located in the “spice island”.
Another unique feature at Cocoon is the Tree of Wellbeing by MyEquilibra, designed and developed by Gian Luca Innocenzi and Vito Di Bari .
Integrating outdoor workout, technology, art and community, the Tree of Wellbeing is the world’s first outdoor fitness system based on instinctive body movements. Inspired by nature, the Tree of Wellbeing is shaped to emulate an elegant artwork, with fine details, style and technological sophistication apt for Cocoon. Being the first to adopt this innovation, Cocoon is the first hotel in Maldives with a fully-equipped outdoor gym.
Who will be the next creative, inspiring and expressing themselves at Cocoon? To quote Daniele Lago, “Never stop designing spaces!”
Cocoon Maldives, located in Ookolhufinolhu Island in the northern Lhaviyani atoll, blends the best of Italian design with the Maldives’ stunning natural beauty. The five-star resort, which officially opened in March, houses 150 villas that are exclusively designed by Lago, one of Italy’s finest design firms.
The resort, accessible by a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, features three restaurants and two bars offering a variety of cuisines from around the world and romantic dining experiences.
The Cube Spa at Cocoon is located in the heart of the island to ensure maximum privacy and intimacy, and offers variety of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments with qualified masseurs from Bali. Adjacent to the spa is the all-new ‘Garden of Eden’ wellness area, which features a jacuzzi, a steam and sauna room, as well as a kneipp pool.
Read our review of Cocoon Maldives here.
Awards
Ifuru Island Maldives wins Best Premium All-Inclusive Resort at Golden Travel Awards 2025

Ifuru Island Maldives has been officially named Best Premium All-Inclusive Resort Maldives 2025 by the prestigious Golden Travel Award, recognising the resort’s exceptional guest experience and innovative all-inclusive offering. The resort distinguished itself through its commitment to redefining the premium all-inclusive concept with a bold combination of curated adventures, gourmet dining, and a true sense of luxury.
Marcel Sawyer, General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives, expressed pride in the recognition, noting that it celebrates the dedication and passion the team invests in creating unforgettable moments for every guest. He emphasised that the resort’s experience is designed to offer guests the freedom to relax, explore, and feel truly at home, all within the comforts of a premium all-inclusive package.
Ifuru Island Maldives has quickly established a strong reputation with its thoughtfully crafted ‘Exclusively Yours’ Premium All-Inclusive package. With a fresh approach to luxury and authenticity, the resort continues to resonate with modern travellers who seek both comfort and meaningful connections.
This acknowledgment from the Golden Travel Award further solidifies Ifuru Island’s growing reputation as one of the Maldives’ most distinctive and experience-driven destinations.
Featured
Float & Flow Yoga debuts at Holiday Inn Kandooma Maldives

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives now offers guests a unique wellness activity: Float & Flow Yoga. Set amidst the picturesque surroundings of crystal-clear waters, this innovative session blends balance, movement, and mindfulness on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), fostering a joyful connection with nature.
Designed to accommodate both experienced yogis and beginners, Float & Flow Yoga provides a 60-minute session on the resort’s SUP Yoga Dock. This specially designed floating platform, shaped like a flower, features eight “petals,” each securing a SUP board around a central space designated for the instructor. Participants are guided through gentle yoga sequences that emphasise balance, breath, and flow.
Courtney Chambers, the resident Yoga Instructor at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, describes the activity as a joyful and liberating experience. She notes that SUP yoga encourages participants to embrace the playful side of the practice while reconnecting with nature.
Classes take place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 10:00 am, with a maximum of eight participants per session to maintain an intimate and supportive atmosphere. A minimum of three guests is required for each session. The class fee is priced at US$45 per person, inclusive of taxes and service charges.
Additionally, a professional drone photo and video package is available for US$25 per person, providing guests with a memorable keepsake of their experience.
Participants are advised to wear comfortable swimwear or yoga attire and to arrive 10 minutes early at the Perfect Wave Surf Shop for a pre-session briefing.
Whether the goal is mindfulness, gentle movement, or simply a splash of fun, Float & Flow Yoga at Kandooma offers an unforgettable opportunity to reconnect with both self and sea.
Featured
Five-course Indian fine dining by Atrangi to feature at Jumeirah Olhahali Island’s June pop-up

Jumeirah Olhahali Island has announced an exclusive culinary pop-up in collaboration with Atrangi by Ritu Dalmia, the renowned Indian restaurant located at Jumeirah Al Qasr in Dubai. Scheduled from 7 to 12 June 2025, this special event will feature Atrangi’s Head Chef, Aniket Chatterjee, who will partner with the resort’s culinary team to present a refined five-course dining experience. This unique collaboration aims to reinterpret regional Indian dishes through a contemporary perspective.
Atrangi, inspired by the vision of acclaimed chef and restaurateur Ritu Dalmia, is celebrated for its bold and eclectic approach to Indian cuisine. Ritu Dalmia, a self-taught chef, began her culinary journey by launching Delhi’s first standalone Italian restaurant at just twenty-two. Over the years, she has established a portfolio of acclaimed restaurants across India and Europe, earning her widespread recognition in the culinary world. Representing her creative vision in the Maldives, Chef Aniket Chatterjee brings a modern sensibility and a profound respect for Indian culinary traditions, promising a dining experience that is both sophisticated and soulful.
For this special occasion, Chef Aniket has curated a bespoke menu that masterfully blends traditional Indian techniques with global influences. Guests will be treated to intimate oceanfront dinners and relaxed beach grills under the stars, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian tasting menus available.
The dining journey will commence with a playful twist on the nostalgic chilli cheese toast, followed by pickled doodhi and smoked dahi. Main course offerings include Malvani chicken tikka with confit garlic, or for vegetarians, paneer peeli mirch tikka accompanied by spring onion curry. A whipped butter board will serve as a palate cleanser before guests savour dishes such as kappa meen curry or satu pulao with dalma, parwal, and burnt tomato chutney, celebrating the rich diversity of Indian flavours. The meal will conclude with an indulgent Indian sweet, followed by mignardise featuring pistachio soan papdi and a mini jalebi with rabri.
Chef Ritu Dalmia expressed her excitement about the event, stating, “The Maldives has always been a special country for me, having visited several times. It is a thrill to bring Atrangi to Jumeirah Olhahali Island, where we can showcase community-inspired dishes while celebrating the best produce the Maldives has to offer.”
The beach grill dinner at Shimmers Beach on 10 June will be priced at USD 225 plus taxes per person. On other evenings, the five-course set menu will be served at a designated ocean-view location for USD 195 plus taxes per person.
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