Featured
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa appoints Stavros Packeiser as General Manager

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has appointed Stavros Packeiser as its new General Manager.
Stavros grew up in Sidirokastro, a small city in northern Greece.
At the age of 18, he ventured to Edinburgh to study for a degree in computer science at Heriot-Watt University. For extra income, Stavros got a part-time job as a waiter and soon realised that he enjoyed working with people more than computers.
After graduating in 2002, Stavros commenced his hospitality career as a bar supervisor at The Carlton Hotel in Edinburgh. He has since advanced through food and beverage roles: on the world’s largest ocean liner, HMS Queen Mary 2; Hyatt Regency Dushanbe in Tajikistan; Sani Resort in Halkidiki, Greece; Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi (now an Andaz); and, Grand Hyatt Dubai.
Since 2017, Stavros had been working as the Food & Beverage Director at Park Hyatt Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Stavros is married to Dia, who loves adventures and travel. They have a 15-month-old son, Harris, who had already taken more than a dozen flights to numerous countries. The family will be calling Park Hyatt Hadahaa Maldives their home.
“At Park Hyatt Maldives, I plan to continue the valuable work my predecessors have done for the resort in terms of performance and sustainability,” Stavros was quoted in a statement, as saying.
“I aim to bring to life new projects and experiences that will make our resort a leader in sustainability and luxury travel.”
Tucked away from the teeming resorts of the dense northern atolls on a private island in Gaafu Alif Atoll, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa offers easy access to more than 30 pristine dive sites to explore, all filled with rich marine life, including resident turtles and black-tip sharks. Diving enthusiasts will be spoilt at Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa as the resort boasts pristine waters, owing to its ongoing conservation efforts, which include banning motorised water sports and coral reef monitoring.
Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa currently features 50 villas — 36 on land and 14 over the ocean. Whether nestled within the island’s tropical greenery or elevated above the water, the villas are steps away from an idyllic beachfront, giving guests direct access to this area or the house reef. All spaces feature floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that lead to a private deck, with some villas inclusive of a private plunge pool.
The resort offers luxurious amenities, a host of recreational activities, and relaxing and rejuvenating treatments.
Since the five-star resort began welcoming guests in 2009, it has undergone several refurbishments to offer guests a rare escape to a barefoot luxury experience. Most recently, it has launched three new luxury villa categories, including the resort’s two-bedroom family villas and villas with deluxe private pools, as well as the Park Sunset Ocean Pool Villas.
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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