Featured
Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort celebrates one-year anniversary
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, which opened in October 2018, is thrilled to reflect on a memorable first year whilst looking ahead to exciting, new initiatives for 2020 and beyond.
The much-anticipated Westin debut in the Maldives didn’t disappoint. A sensational ‘Ocean Escape’ themed launch event in November 2018 saw the Natural History Museum in London converted in a spectacular Maldivian island for 200 guests.
This launch event set the tone for a remarkable first year in which the hotel has garnered not just one, but three prestigious awards: Indian Ocean’s Leading New Resort 2019 – World Travel Award; 20 Best Spas in Global Spa List – Travel & Leisure (India and South Asia); and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Award Runners up – Best Hotel in Asia.
The Westin Maldives has also been recognised as being a leading guest satisfaction performer with Marriott Bonvoy.
With sustainability at the heart of its design and ethos, the award-wining hotel was created on 14 acres of previously undeveloped land which have been transformed into an understated yet luxurious resort comprising 70 villas and suites. Every step of the process has had sustainability and protection of the habitat as a key pillar.
“The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is a resort of incomparable beauty, as well as outstanding wellness, accommodation and gourmet offerings. We are delighted to be celebrating our one-year anniversary having made such an impression on our guests and the industry as a whole. It is a great honour to have been acknowledged so highly with three recent awards and we are relishing the challenge of going above and beyond expectations. Our focus now is how we can elevate our experiences for our guests and make their stay even more memorable. We look forward to another successful year ahead,” Brendan Corcoran, General Manager at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
Looking Ahead
The Westin Maldives will continue to provide its guests and visitors with an unmatched luxury experience by investing its time and efforts in exceptional cuisine, spa initiatives, kids’ offerings and unique guest experiences.
The Westin Maldives has recently launched a host of exciting workshops as part of its kids programme encouraging its younger guests to ‘Sea Clearly’. An exciting new range of activities, it will aim to educate and empower children about the environment and demonstrate how we can all do our bit to help save the planet and the ocean.
The resort’s wellness focus is changing each month in 2019 and 2020 with specialist practitioners visiting the resort, resonating the Westin brand’s Six Pillars of Well-Being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well.
During the months of October and December, wellness practitioners Barton McGuckin and then Elizabeth Cocoann will be visiting The Westin Maldives. From an abundance of deep individual healing practices to nutrition consultations and life coaching, the practitioners have been individually hand picked and tie in with the other incredible wellness offerings at the resort. These include the luxurious Heavenly Spa by Westin, fresh and healthy cuisine and a state-of-the-art gym.
The hotel will also continue to deliver exquisite culinary experiences to match the needs of all customers. The resort perfectly embodies the Westin brand’s wellness philosophy “Empowering a Better You”, and the four sensational dining outlets are no exception.
A range of cooking classes are on offer including pastry-making, sushi and Maldivian cooking classes. The resort offers an array of curated dining experiences including floating breakfasts, destination dining on the beach, seafood wet markets.
In addition, exclusively over the dates October21-31, Hawker restaurant will be hosting ‘Streets of Silom’ festival, celebrating the very best of Bangkok’s cuisine.
Surrounding the anniversary, the resort will be running various anniversary special offers including; the Ultimate Romance package, Ultimate Wellness package, Dinner on Us package and the Holistic Wellness package with visiting practitioner Elizabeth Cocoann to help guests find their inner balance.
UNESCO Location
Situated on a beautiful coral island in the Baa atoll, a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort offers a tranquil escape with uninterrupted ocean and pristine turquoise lagoon views.
Each villa is shaped with an eco-friendly double roofing to create the perfect natural ventilation. Outdoor rainforest showers are a distinctive feature. Poised over the sea on stilts and with an area of almost 200 square metres each, the overwater suites are among the largest a resort has to offer in the Baa atoll region.
Featured
Villa Nautica’s festive glow: Yoga at sunrise, fireworks at midnight
Villa Nautica will embrace the festive spirit from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, offering guests an easy island rhythm that flows from bright mornings by the water to music-filled evenings on the sand. The season begins with illuminated beaches and relaxed barbecues, gradually building through creative afternoons and live performances. Christmas Eve will feature a gala dinner, followed by Santa’s arrival on 25 December. The celebrations will culminate in a vibrant New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks, before settling into a calm reset on New Year’s Day and concluding with Orthodox Christmas.
The programme balances practicality with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Mornings will bring sunrise yoga, family pool activities, and interactive cooking sessions, while evenings will feature poolside soirées, wine-paired dinners, and sunset cruises. With simple yet photogenic settings, the lagoon and sky take centre stage in shaping the mood. Guests—whether couples, friends, or families—can participate freely without losing the island’s easy pace.
For younger visitors, the festivities will centre around the kids’ club, where cookie and cupcake decorating, beach games, origami and craft sessions, storytelling, and cosy movie nights will take place. Small groups and attentive care ensure that creativity and play remain the focus, allowing parents to enjoy uninterrupted moments around the island.
A highlight of the season will be the Champagne Lucky Draw & Disco. From 1 to 31 December, each bottle of champagne purchased at resort bars or restaurants will serve as an entry to the draw. Guests are advised to keep their entry stubs for the live draw, held at 01:00 during the New Year’s celebration, where the prize will be a seven-night stay in a Water Villa for two.
Throughout the festive period, private experiences will feel as memorable as the larger celebrations. Guests may enjoy candlelit dinners on the sand, floating breakfasts, or early morning snorkelling sessions to begin the year anew. Whether seeking a lively shoreline celebration or a quiet evening stroll beneath lanterns and palms, Villa Nautica offers an atmosphere where every festive moment can glow in its own way.
Featured
JOALI BEING launches global campaign ‘Joyful Journeys of Well-Living’
JOALI BEING, the world’s first well-being island, has announced the launch of its new global brand campaign titled “Joyful Journeys of Well-Living.” The campaign celebrates the art of self-discovery, inviting travellers to reconnect with their inner selves through bespoke and transformative experiences.
Building upon JOALI BEING’s core philosophy of the “Joy of Weightlessness,” the campaign embodies the essence of harmony between mind, body, and spirit. It encourages guests to explore holistic pathways designed to restore balance and inspire personal growth.
Joyful Journeys of Well-Living serves as an invitation to travellers seeking meaningful change and renewal. The campaign narrates stories of individuals discovering joy through purposeful living, mindful connection, and immersive well-being experiences at JOALI BEING.
The visuals capture the island’s tranquil landscapes and nurturing spaces — from oceanfront sanctuaries to treetop villas and transformative healing sessions led by resident experts. The campaign presents JOALI BEING as more than a destination; it is a journey towards well-being, creativity, and self-transformation.
Each guest journey at JOALI BEING is founded on the resort’s Four Pillars of Well-Being — Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Through tailored programmes, guests can embark on integrative wellness experiences encompassing sound therapy, movement and fitness, hydrotherapy, nutritional guidance, and energy-healing sessions curated by specialists.
The island features a series of advanced well-being spaces, including:
- CORE: a movement and fitness zone
- AREKA: a transformative treatment centre
- KAASHI: a hydrotherapy hall
- SEDA: a sound-healing room
- Ocean Sala: an open-air meditation and relaxation deck
Each space is designed to nurture a profound connection with nature and the self.
The Joyful Journeys of Well-Living campaign has been conceptualised and produced by JOALI BEING’s in-house team in collaboration with creative partners and visual storytellers from across the globe. The multi-platform campaign integrates film, digital, and print media to convey JOALI BEING’s ethos — a celebration of joy, transformation, and harmony.
The visual narrative draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the Maldives, reflecting JOALI BEING’s immersive design philosophy. The imagery captures the rhythm of the ocean, the play of light, and the flow of energy that define the spirit of the island.
Awards
Coco Bodu Hithi wins Best Waterside Hotel at Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2026
Coco Bodu Hithi has been recognised on the global stage, winning Best Waterside Hotel (Riverside, Lakeside, Seaside) at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2026, held on 3 November 2025 in the UK. It is the second consecutive year the resort has been honoured by the publication, following last year’s win for Best Service, reaffirming its focus on heartfelt Maldivian hospitality and refined island living.
Described by Condé Nast Johansens as an “over-water, over-indulgent Maldivian island outpost,” Coco Bodu Hithi offers an intimate retreat of comfort and calm. The resort’s 32 Water Villas and 24 Coco Residences, each measuring 184 square metres and featuring private pools, provide secluded spaces set above the lagoon, where nature, design, and comfort come together to reflect the island’s romantic ambience.
Known for contemporary design infused with Maldivian heritage, the resort continues to welcome travellers seeking time by the sea, complemented by culinary collaborations with celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs. The experience balances privacy and comfort throughout a guest’s stay. With turquoise waters, quiet spaces, and experiences designed for connection and shared discovery, the resort presents a considered take on island living.
Located 35 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the island combines accessibility with seclusion—close enough for convenience, yet removed for privacy and serenity. As part of Coco Collection, the resort offers bespoke experiences, attentive service, and sustainable practices, shaping stays that feel personal and reflective of relaxed, authentic island life.
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