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.
Awards
Minor Hotels celebrates multiple wins at TTM Awards 2025

Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group operating nine resorts in the Maldives, has announced that three of its properties were recognised at the Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2025. The annual awards celebrate achievements across 28 categories, with winners selected through votes cast by guests and travel partners.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives received the award for Best Family Resort. The property is known for offering experiences for all ages, with facilities including a playground, splash park, and gourmet kitchen at its children’s club, alongside an extensive schedule of activities. Young guests are provided with age-appropriate experiences such as snorkelling safaris, cooking classes, surf lessons, and outdoor cinema evenings.
Accommodation includes a variety of spacious villas and pavilions, such as the newly renovated Deluxe Family Beach Pool Villa. Combined with diverse dining options, recreational activities, and personalised service, the resort seeks to provide both adventure and relaxation for families.
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort was named Best Beach Resort, reflecting its setting of white sands, turquoise lagoons, and coconut groves within Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The resort offers contemporary villas, including Beach Pool Villas and Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villas, with direct beach access.
Since opening in 2023, Avani+ Fares has aimed to introduce a laid-back approach to Maldivian holidays, combining modern design with the natural environment. Guests can participate in activities ranging from water sports and wellness to dining and cultural programmes.
NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort was awarded Best Dive Resort, recognised for its accessible house reef and marine biodiversity. Located close to the shoreline, the reef offers opportunities for snorkellers and divers of all levels, with frequent encounters with species such as reef sharks, turtles, rays, and tropical fish.
The resort also provides access to the dive sites of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, where PADI-certified instructors guide guests through channels, thilas, and reef walls.
In addition to these three awards, Minor Hotels’ properties received 12 finalist nominations across seven categories. These included its newest addition, NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort, which was shortlisted in three categories.
The group’s nominations at the TTM Awards 2025 were:
- Best Beach Resort: Avani+ Fares and NH Collection Maldives Havodda
- Best Family Resort: Niyama, Avani+ Fares, and NH Maldives Kuda Rah
- Best Boutique Resort: NH Maldives Kuda Rah
- Best Culinary Resort: Niyama
- Most Picturesque Resort: NH Collection Maldives Havodda
- Best Surf Resort: Niyama
- Best Dive Resort: Avani+ Fares, NH Collection Maldives Havodda, and NH Maldives Kuda Rah
Featured
Sirru Fen Fushi unveils ‘Symphony of the Island’ festive celebrations

This festive season, Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, located in Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives, will host an extensive programme of events under the theme Symphony of the Island. Running from 22 December to 7 January, the schedule brings together globally acclaimed performers and specialists, from award-winning musicians and Michelin-starred chefs to a World Cup football champion, wellness practitioners, mixologists, and even a NASA astronaut.
The resort’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will be headlined by Rami Jaffee, Grammy-winning keyboardist of the Foo Fighters, accompanied by violinist, cellist, and vocalist Jessy Greene (formerly Foo Fighters and Pink), and drummer and producer Erik Aldenius of Billy Idol. The All-Star Band will also feature Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from The Offspring, and Bill Reynolds, Grammy-nominated bassist and producer, formerly of Band of Horses, creating a powerful line-up to welcome 2026.
Onu Onu Beach Bar will host award-winning bartenders throughout the festive period. On 30 December, Harrison Kenny, associated with the World’s 50 Best Bars, will present alongside Millie Tang, one of Australia’s leading bartenders. On 3 January, Pham Quoc Dat, Head Mixologist at The Haflington in Vietnam (Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024), will take over the bar with a signature showcase.
Culinary highlights include the arrival of Chef Valentino Cassanelli, Head Chef of Michelin-starred Lux Lucis in Italy, who will collaborate with the resort’s Executive Chef Girish Sharma on 8 and 10 December. Cassanelli will also host his own signature four-course dinner. On 3 January, Jean-Philippe Blondet, Chef Patron of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, will present a four-hands dining experience at Azure alongside Chef Girish.
Sports and wellness sessions will be led by Christoph Kramer, Football World Cup Champion and television football expert, former professional tennis player and coach Alexandra Viktorovitch, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturist and trainer Josiah Ngai, and yoga instructor and sound healer Tamuna Lomidze. Guests will be able to book one-to-one sessions throughout the festive programme.
On 6 January, the resort will present a special performance by Daria Pavlenko, Principal Ballerina of the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg.
NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy officer Dominic Antoneli will share first-hand insights into life in space, recounting stories of exploration and discovery.
The season will begin on 22 December with the island illuminated by festive décor and Christmas Eve sunset drinks at Onu Onu Beach. On Christmas Day, celebrations will include a beach arrival by Santa in Maldivian style, followed by a festive brunch and a lobster and champagne dinner, with entertainment from fire dancers, magicians, and musicians.
The New Year’s programme begins with a sunset journey from Spa Beach to Central Park, before a gala dinner at RAHA Market. The evening will feature the All-Star Band, ballet performances, acrobats, and a fire and laser show, concluding with an after-party to welcome 2026. On 1 January, guests can enjoy a New Year’s brunch accompanied by live jazz and tropical rhythms.
Orthodox Christmas Eve on 6 January will include a gourmet buffet at RAHA Market, seafood dining at Azure, and a performance by ballerina Daria Pavlenko, followed by a beach party with international DJs. On 7 January, celebrations will conclude with a Cristal Champagne golden-hour sunset and beachside à la carte dining.
Featured
Wellness in Pink: Milaidhoo Maldives supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, Milaidhoo Maldives will mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Wellness in Pink — a curated series of experiences designed to encourage guests to slow down, reconnect, and explore the deeper dimensions of wellbeing.
Rooted in the island’s philosophy of mindful, barefoot living, the programme reflects Milaidhoo’s approach to quiet luxury and personal wellness. Each experience has been designed to restore the body and nourish the soul, creating opportunities for reflection and reconnection.
Set within the tranquil surroundings of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll, Wellness in Pink invites guests to pause, breathe, and share stories — both lived and unfolding.
Signature Experiences:
- Sunset Serenity: A Couple’s Wellness Ritual: A 90-minute ritual held on the open-air deck of a private villa. The session begins with a calming full-body massage, followed by a refreshing facial, and concludes with a glass of chilled sparkling rosé. USD 380++ per couple | Advance reservation required
- Rose Renewal Ritual: Special Edition: A 120-minute treatment created to support emotional balance and inner strength. The ritual combines an aromatherapy massage with rose essential oil, a rose quartz facial massage, and a grounding foot massage to restore energy flow. USD 240++ per person
On 23 October, guests may take part in a Zumba for Awareness session — a lively group activity celebrating vitality and community spirit.
On 24 October, The Pink Care Routine will be held at Milaidhoo’s overwater yoga pavilion. This guided session combines self-massage techniques, somatic body awareness, and breast health education, offering space for learning and gentle empowerment.
Milaidhoo emphasises that wellbeing is not a checklist but a feeling — of being cared for, of being seen, and of returning to oneself. Through Wellness in Pink, the resort seeks to honour those touched by breast cancer and to create space for healing in all its forms.
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