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Festive extravaganza at Hard Rock Hotel, SAii Lagoon Maldives
S Hotels & Resorts has announced an extensive line-up of events in Maldives this festive season.
The Hard Rock Hotel Maldives will ring in the New Year with all things pink for the resort’s first festive season. The SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, will spread festive cheer and ring in the New Year with exotic celebrations, live entertainment and tropical delicacies.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is ready to rock ‘n’ roll this Christmas with an array of music-themed festive activities on offer throughout the holiday season. Think pink as the resort decks its halls with rose-coloured decorations, accessories and beverages, inviting guests to complement the theme and dress pretty in pink.
The festivities kick off on December 22 with an Island Food and Wine Fun Fair, where delicacies of the world are combined with fragrant wines from the resort’s cellar to create a bountiful island feast. Guests are invited to adorn a chef’s hat and apron at Sessions and learn the tricks of the trade behind each chef’s live cooking station, featuring an assortment of exotic flavours from Indonesia to Japan, to Saudi Arabia.
On December 23, little rock stars are invited to rock around the Christmas tree with the resort’s tree lighting ceremony at Octagon Lawn, accompanied by delicious Christmas cookies, fruit punch and heart-warming mulled wine for adult rockers.
On Christmas Eve, families and friends can come together to enjoy Christmas In The Sand at Sessions, a novel dining experience on the peaceful shores of Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. On Christmas Day, jingle all the way to The Elephant and The Butterfly, where rosé and pink hats are aplenty and a pink Christmas brunch like no other awaits.
The festivities resume on December 27 with La Vie en Rosé Fridays; sip rosé, savour seafood, soak in the sunshine and dance to live music throughout the day at The Elephant and The Butterfly. On December 29, celebrate the delights of the Indian Ocean with a seafood market.
On New Year’s Eve, Hard Rock rings in the New Year with all things pink, where a sumptuous feast at Sessions tickles the tastebuds, and everything from gin, to cocktails, to champagne and beer, are all served in shades of pink. Live entertainment ensues by the beach with Latino band Sugar, followed by renowned acoustic guitarist Luca Stricagnoli.
The festive season is all around at SAii Lagoon Maldives, as the resort celebrates its first SAiisational winter with a series of fun-filled activities for guests of all ages. Decorations of blue and silver will echo throughout the resort, bringing festive cheer to the island paradise.
The festivities begin on December 22, as you join the resort’s chefs to craft and decorate your very own gingerbread house at Miss Olive Oyl. The build-up to Christmas continues on December 23, when parents, children and couples are invited to enjoy the resort’s SAiisational Tree Lighting, during which fruit punch, cookies and glühwein will be served to the sound of joyous SAiicarollers.
On Christmas Eve, little ones can make their way to Santa’s Wishing Counter at Koimala & Maalimi’s Junior Kids Club and Camp, where Santa’s helpers will be ready to make wishes come true on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve dinner will be served at Miss Olive Oyl.
On Christmas Day, wondrous surprises lie in store as Santa’s sleigh touches down on the shimmering sands of SAii Lagoon Maldives. Guests will be invited to gather around Koimala & Maalimi’s Junior Kids Club and Camp as an exciting morning filled with engaging activities and amusement awaits. At lunchtime, Miss Olive Oyl Pool will host Art Of The Party; a colourful event featuring flamboyant costumes, vibrant artworks and Mediterranean delights alongside live musical entertainment.
SAii reignites the festivities on December 27 with a seafood market at Miss Olive Oyl, showcasing the freshest local catches of the day.
On New Year’s Eve, guests can enjoy an exotic celebration at One Thousand And One Nights, an evening filled with aromatic flavours, fairy tale lighting and live entertainment. The celebrations continue after dinner in Café del Mar Maldives with a Countdown Party till late.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, a Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives are part of Crossroads Maldives, the Maldives’ first and largest integrated tourist destination owned by Thailand’s leading developer Singha Estate.
Crossroads encompasses nine idyllic islands fringing the Emboodhoo Lagoon in the South Male Atoll, three of which have been used as the first phase of the project.
Phase one of the integrated development opened in September, and features two lifestyle hotels, SAii Lagoon Maldives and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, both of which have direct access to extensive facilities at The Marina @ Crossroads, an 800-metre lifestyle area and beach walk featuring retail, entertainment and dining outlets. The facilities include a 30-berth marina, the Junior Beach Club and Camp, the Crossroads Event Hall, Maldives Discovery Centre and Marine Discovery Centre – the project’s environmental and educational hub.
A Curio Collection by Hilton hotel, SAii Lagoon Maldives is an original and inspiring resort that features a series of rooms and villas, including overwater pool villas, plus world-class dining as well as access to extensive water sports, cultural activities and wellness at The Marina.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives features 178 rooms, suites and villas, plus family-friendly experiences and Hard Rock’s branded concepts, including a Hard Rock Cafe, Rock Spa, and two Rock Shops showcasing merchandise and music memorabilia.
Both hotels are operated by S Hotels & Resorts, the hospitality arm of Singha Estate.
The Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series recently hosted a mixology event at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort, featuring Dinesh Mondkar, Flor de Caña’s brand ambassador for India.
The event gave guests an opportunity to explore a selection of rum cocktails while learning more about the craftsmanship and heritage behind the Flor de Caña brand. Set against a sunset backdrop over the ocean, the session combined cocktail-making techniques, brand storytelling and a relaxed island setting.
Guests were introduced to a range of cocktails that highlighted bold flavours and the versatility of rum in contemporary mixology. The evening also offered insight into the methods and presentation behind premium cocktail service, adding an interactive element to the experience.
The event formed part of the resort’s ongoing Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series, which continues to bring recognised figures from the international spirits industry to the Maldives. Through the series, the resort aims to expand its food and beverage offering with curated events that connect guests with global brands and industry expertise.
Such experiences are designed to complement the wider guest programme by combining destination dining and beverage concepts with the setting of the Maldives, while offering visitors a more immersive way to engage with the resort’s hospitality offerings.
Angsana Velavaru has reopened its futsal facility as part of efforts to enhance guest experiences and staff engagement through sport and community activities.
The reopening ceremony was officiated by Dhaalu Atoll Council president Ahmed Shafiu and the resort’s general manager, Ahmed Zahir, who jointly cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.
Located within the island grounds, the futsal court measures 57 metres by 38 metres and is intended to serve as a space for both recreational use and organised activities for guests and resort associates.
The resort said the facility would form part of its wider recreational offering and would host workshops and expert-led collaborations aimed at providing guests with sports-based experiences while also supporting skill development and interaction. It added that the initiative also reflects its focus on staff wellbeing, teamwork and active living.
The opening event included friendly matches between the Angsana Velavaru men’s and women’s teams, as well as an inter-resort match between the Angsana Velavaru Orange Army and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
Adjacent to the futsal court is the resort’s upgraded watersports centre, which now includes updated guest facilities such as shower and changing areas.
Ahmed Zahir said the reopening of the futsal ground represented more than a recreational upgrade and reflected the resort’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and associates. He said the facility would support active living, connection and wellbeing, while also serving as a space for learning and collaboration.
Angsana Velavaru, located in South Nilandhe Atoll, said the reopening of the futsal facility forms part of its wider efforts to expand its lifestyle and community-focused offerings.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has launched the Graffiti Club to mark World Art Day, introducing a team-led initiative focused on artistic expression, collaboration and storytelling through art.
The resort said the initiative brings together more than 18 team members from across different departments, reflecting a shared interest in creativity. As part of the project, selected back-of-house spaces have been turned into canvases, transforming staff areas into spaces for artistic work.
Inspired by the natural environment of the Maldives and the Maamunagau lagoon, the first set of artworks features marine life such as manta rays, whale sharks and sea turtles. The resort said the designs reflect the biodiversity of the destination and its connection to the surrounding ocean. Additional artwork is also being developed as the project continues.
InterContinental Maldives said the initiative is rooted in its brand culture and service philosophy, Inspire Incredible, and is intended to support creativity, collaboration and self-expression among team members.
Renuka Gupta, cluster director of learning and development, said creativity exists in every individual, regardless of role or background. She said the initiative was created to provide team members with a space to express themselves, connect with colleagues and contribute to the environment in which they work each day.
The resort said the Graffiti Club forms part of its wider approach to workplace culture, with a focus on creativity, wellbeing and personal expression alongside the guest experience.
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