Featured
Baglioni Resort Maldives opens
Baglioni Resort Maldives has opened.
Touted as the first Italian luxury resort in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the Baglioni Resort Maldives welcomed its first guests on Thursday.
Basking on the island of Maagau in the pristine Dhaalu atoll, just a 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, the resort’s 96 exquisite villas are surrounded by tropical nature, turquoise waters and velvet-smooth white sands. The resort features:
- 1 Presidential Water Villa: 360 sqm indoors + 310 sqm outdoors + private pool
- 6 Pool Suite Beach Villas: 115 sqm indoors + 60 sqm outdoors + 55 sqm private beach + private pool
- 3 Family Beach Villas: 135 sqm indoors + 45 sqm outdoors + 55 sqm private beach
- 5 Pool Grand Beach Villas: 77 sqm indoors + 43 sqm outdoors + 30 sqm private beach + private pool
- 9 Pool Water Villas: 60 sqm + 45 sqm solarium + private pool
- 33 Water Villas: 60 sqm + 45 sqm solarium
- 31 Beach Villas: 65 sqm + 22 sqm terrace + 30 sqm private beach
- 8 Garden Villas: 65 sqm + 22 sqm terrace




Sublime Maldivian views, elegant Italian flavours
From breakfast to after dinner, a panorama of food and drinks are available to delight the most exclusive international clientele, all in the resort’s signature Italian style.
A pool bar and three superb restaurants – Gusto, for Italian verve; Umami, the place to eat Japanese; and Taste, the home of international cuisine – serve gourmet dishes alongside a healthy menu of light, nutritious creations and a kids’ menu crafted especially for younger guests. Sophisticated aperitivi, wine tastings and personalised private dinners complete the offering.

Italian wellbeing, tropical relaxation
The Baglioni Spa is an Italian oasis deep in the heart of nature. Amidst the tropical vegetation’s warm embrace, the Baglioni Spa is the perfect place to ease your way to a profound sense of peace.

This exclusive centre, with concept design by Raison d’Etre, vaunts four open-air wooden pavilions for individual treatments, two double pavilions for treatments for two, and a yoga pavilion for practising yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. There is also a well-equipped gym.
Cosmetics used at the Baglioni Spa are sourced from Insium, a 100 per cent Italian brand that markets vegan products certified cruelty-free by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world’s largest animal-rights organisation.
The spa menu includes Thai and Balinese rituals, personalised massages, and treatments to tone, purify and rejuvenate the face and body or to strengthen hair stressed by sun and sea. The Baglioni Spa also offers beauty and wellness experiences for children, groups and families.
Adventure, Italian style
A gym, beach volleyball and non-motorised watersports, pedalos, windsurfing, kayaking, boat trips and snorkelling with full equipment provided. The choice is yours!
PADI Gold Palm five-star diving centre is a gateway to some of the finest dive sites on the planet, with daytime excursions and some special trips to enjoy by night. From its strategic position away from the crowded atolls, it offers a wealth of opportunities to explore a pristine reef. All the dive points are near the island, so travel time is kept to a minimum.
The Baglioni Resort Maldives has been planned in meticulous detail for guests to experience a tailor-made stay in the heart of the Indian Ocean with a touch of exclusive Italian hospitality by Baglioni Hotels.

At the Baglioni Resort Maldives, nothing is left to chance. The holiday experience includes multilingual staff available 24/7, a freshwater swimming pool, butler service, laundry, and a beach service with loungers. There is a boutique for treating yourself to a spot of shopping, and a kids’ club to keep younger guests aged 3–12 well entertained. All for an unforgettable holiday with a feast of sport, relax and gourmet experiences.
The resort also benefits from exclusive partnerships forged by Baglioni Hotels with some of the most prestigious Italian brands, including Ferrari Trento, makers of the world’s favourite Italian bubbles; Frette, sumptuous handmade bed linen and bath towels; MC2 Saint Barth, swimwear characterised by exclusive designs; and Insium, innovative anti-ageing cosmetics.
Designed with materials carefully chosen to minimise the environmental impact, the Baglioni Resort Maldives is the ideal destination for those dreaming of an exclusive holiday surrounded by nature and numerous sporting activities to take advantage of.
As Baglioni Resort Maldives celebrates its soft opening from August 1, a special opening rate is available for stays between August 1 and September 30. For more information and reservations, please visit the resort’s official website.
Featured
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives introduces summer offer across four island resorts
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has introduced a summer offer aimed at travellers seeking longer stays across its four island resorts.
Guests booking stays of seven nights or more will receive complimentary return transfers for two people, while shorter stays will include complimentary one-way transfers. At participating resorts, up to two children under the age of 12 can also stay and dine free.
The offer includes savings on selected excursions and activities and is available for bookings and stays until 31 October 2026.
Guests who book directly through Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives will have access to additional benefits, including options to personalise their stays with beach dining, spa treatments and island activities. Members of the brand’s loyalty programme will receive further savings and earn double Discovery Dollars during the promotional period.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers beachfront accommodation, a range of activities and speedboat transfers from Malé. Its accommodation and family-focused programmes are designed for guests seeking a combination of recreation and time together.
Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives provides accommodation, dining options, wellness services and water-based activities within an island setting. The resort caters to couples, families and travellers visiting the Maldives for the first time.
Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, located across two islands in Meemu Atoll, is positioned for couples and honeymooners. Guest experiences include sunset dining, spa treatments and access to the surrounding lagoon.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon caters to divers and snorkellers through its house reef, marine life and access to dive sites. The resort provides direct access to underwater experiences in the Indian Ocean.
The summer offer provides savings of up to 65% across Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives’ four properties.
Awards
JOALI Maldives wins two honours at Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia
JOALI Maldives has been recognised in two categories at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia 2026, receiving honours among the Best Resorts in the Maldives and for the Most Outrageous Villa.
The recognition reflects the resort’s Creative Living philosophy, which brings together art, nature, wellbeing, sustainability and hospitality within the guest experience.
Located in Raa Atoll, approximately 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, JOALI Maldives opened as the Maldives’ first art-immersive luxury resort. Art installations, dining experiences, wellbeing programmes and accommodation are integrated across the island as part of its approach to resort living.
The property features 73 beach and overwater villas and residences, positioned across the island and above the Indian Ocean. The accommodation has been designed to provide privacy, space and access to views of the surrounding environment.
Each villa combines contemporary design with materials including timber, marble, bamboo and terrazzo, as well as handcrafted finishes. Floor-to-ceiling glass provides views of the ocean, while private pools connect the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Artworks and design pieces are also incorporated into each villa, reflecting the resort’s Creative Living concept and extending the art experience into the accommodation.
Guests can choose from Beach Villas, Water Villas and multi-bedroom Residences, with options designed for couples, families and groups. The larger residences provide additional living areas, pools and facilities for guests seeking more space and privacy.
Each villa is supported by a dedicated Jadugar, a term used by the resort to describe its butler service. The Jadugar assists guests throughout their stay by arranging dining experiences, island activities, celebrations and other personalised services.
Guests are also provided with bicycles to explore the island’s pathways, gardens and viewpoints.
JOALI Maldives said the awards reflected the work of its team and the support of its guests, partners and wider community. The resort also said it would continue developing experiences focused on creativity, wellbeing and connection.
The recognition adds to JOALI Maldives’ position within the Maldives’ luxury resort sector, where its art-led design and Creative Living philosophy form the basis of its guest experience.
Cooking
Michelin-Starred Chef Grégoire Berger to host dining experience at Lily Beach Resort & Spa
Lily Beach Resort & Spa has announced a culinary collaboration with Chef Grégoire Berger, chef and co-owner of the Dubai restaurant Kraken.
Known for progressive French cuisine influenced by the ocean, Berger has received a Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Dubai from 2022 to 2024. His restaurant has also been included among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, while his work has received recognition through several international culinary awards.
Berger’s approach draws on the sea as a source of ingredients, ideas and presentation. His menus combine French culinary techniques with marine influences, with each dish developed around a narrative connected to the ocean.
As part of his visit to Lily Beach in August 2026, Berger will host a fine-dining dinner for a limited number of guests. He will also introduce a signature dish at AQVA Bar & Restaurant during the collaboration.

The programme forms part of Lily Beach’s efforts to expand its culinary offering and introduce visiting chefs and dining concepts to guests in the Maldives.
Located in South Ari Atoll, the resort will provide guests with an opportunity to experience Berger’s cuisine within its all-inclusive hospitality concept. The collaboration will combine his Michelin-recognised approach with the resort’s existing food and beverage programme.
Lily Beach Resort & Spa has established its hospitality offering around its premium all-inclusive model, supported by a range of dining venues. Its restaurants offer overwater dining, international buffet selections, seafood and Asian-inspired dishes.
The resort’s culinary programme is supported by the Platinum Plan, an all-inclusive package that includes dining experiences, a selection of wines and spirits, excursions and personalised services.
Through the collaboration with Berger, Lily Beach aims to add another dining experience to its guest programme while continuing to develop its position within the Maldives’ luxury hospitality market.
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