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Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives recognised for HR excellence
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has been recognised for its excellent performance in human resource management to motivate all its employees and drive successful business outcomes.
At the recently-concluded Maldives HR Awards 2019, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives received the coveted accolade of “Staff Recreation Team of the Year”, whilst Ahmed Shazeen, Human Resources Manager of the resort, was named “An Exceptional HR Leader in the Maldives”.
Through organising and conducting a range of sport, leisure and charitable activities, Shazeen and his team are key in empowering the resort’s team to continue working passionately to deliver true hospitality to guests.
“Our Human Resources team, led by Ahmed Shazeen, has paved the way for all colleagues at the resort to deliver 10 years of true hospitality for all our guests. I am delighted by our HR team’s recognition as through their best practices, they have created a winning culture which is the foundation of our success. It is through their vision of providing both our local and expatriate colleagues a ‘home-away-from-home’ that has allowed us to thrive in an environment that fosters creativity, compassion, and collaboration,” Joseph Della Gatta, General Manager at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
Accolades awarded by HR Maldives represent individuals and organisations that excel in empowering HR to become a strategic business partner, whilst celebrating and acknowledging organisations and individuals that work passionately towards raising the bar for the profession through constant innovation.
Shazeen and his team are key players in driving many initiatives and events for the resort’s team, including internal and inter-resort sporting tournaments, campaigns and week- to month-long events dedicated to celebrating the employees, and sustainable and charitable initiatives.
Celebrate Service Week, a global IHG campaign that aims to say ‘thank you’ to all staff members as well as celebrate their diversity and common beliefs, is one way the HR team ensures the whole resort team feels valued and appreciated. Through a week-long series of events, games, sporting activities, environmental activities, and evenings of vibrant food from different cultures, Celebrate Service Week is a chance for the team to join their colleagues around the world in celebrating a shared dedication to #TrueHospitality.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives also partake in IHG’s Giving For Good global campaign during a month of volunteering, making positive differences to our environment, and activities focused on health, fitness, and wellbeing. In 2019, the resort was part of a whopping 160,000 IHG colleagues around the world who helped raise USD 400,000 to charitable organisations supporting four causes important to IHG in the areas of water and sanitation; waste reduction; hospitality skills building; and disaster relief.
The resort’s staff also take part in a variety of regular sustainable initiatives throughout the year, including tree planting, harbour cleaning, island cleaning, and reef scaping.
The Green Engage team represents a group of colleagues who actively drive daily sustainability initiatives to reduce water and energy usage.
Within the resort team, the management also emphasises the ‘Room to Grow’ philosophy of prioritising and developing internal talent with cross exposure amongst different departments, along with ‘Room for Her’, taking place on March 8 every year to celebrate all the female team members.
Located in the South Male Atoll, a mere 40 minutes by speedboat from the main Velana International Airport, the 32-acre Kandooma Maldives resort features spectacular architecture inspired by sea barnacles. The resort exudes a tropical island atmosphere; its lush tropical greenery, white sand beaches and turquoise waters are more than enough paradise for guests to enjoy relaxed seclusion and privacy.
All the accommodation has been built around the edge of or on the water. Each villa type is fresh and contemporary in appearance, with clean lines and minimal clutter, incorporating all modern amenities, whilst retaining the warmth of natural wood finishes. Large picture windows mean that you are only a glance away from the great blue outdoors. Choose from four room types: Beach View Villas, Seaview Beach Houses, Family Beach Houses and Seaview Overwater Bungalows.
The Kandoo Kids Club – one of the largest children’s facilities in the Maldives with an outdoor splash pool — and daily activities coupled with the “Kids Stay & Eat Free” programme makes this the perfect retreat for family travellers.
The Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala, the proximity to world class diving and surf spots guided by the onsite PADI five-star dive centre and surf school, and “The Marquee” – a fully-fledged indoor event space catering up to 180 attendees — mean that there is something for everyone at Kandooma Maldives.
Nova Maldives will renew its partnership with PADI this September to co-host Project AWARE Week from 16 to 20 September 2026.
Organised by the resort’s marine team, the programme will give guests, from first-time snorkellers to experienced divers, opportunities to combine marine wildlife observation with practical conservation activities. The initiative is intended to turn time spent in the ocean into an educational experience while encouraging greater awareness of marine conservation.
This year’s AWARE Week coincides with PADI’s 60th anniversary and Nova Maldives’ fourth year of operation in South Ari Atoll. Now in its eighth global edition, PADI AWARE Week has developed into a citizen science movement within the diving community and has helped rescue more than 41,000 entangled marine animals to date.
Through its continued participation, Nova Maldives aims to encourage guests to become ocean advocates and remain engaged with marine conservation beyond their stay.
Guests staying at Nova during AWARE Week will be able to participate in a programme designed for different levels of ocean experience. Activities will include:
- Ocean immersion and storytelling: Sessions inspired by Blue Planet and other ocean documentaries, highlighting the diversity and vulnerability of marine life.
- Dive Against Debris: Underwater clean-up dives in the resort’s lagoon, during which participants will remove plastic and other waste before recording the findings in PADI AWARE’s global database.
- Whale shark snorkelling: Guided encounters that will allow guests to swim alongside whale sharks in the open waters of South Ari Atoll.
- Manta ray and turtle-spotting excursions: Guided boat trips to feeding and nesting areas where manta rays and turtles can be observed in their natural habitats.
- Coral restoration workshops: Practical sessions introducing guests to coral planting and the resort’s ongoing reef regeneration work.
“Some of the most meaningful work happens when you show up year after year. Four years into Nova’s story, we’ve learned that the health of the reef tells us a great deal about the impact we’re making, and that the guests who choose to return aren’t just here for the view,” said Abdulla Aboobakuru, General Manager of Nova Maldives.
“They’re here because Nova reflects something they already care about, including care for the ocean, a sense of community and a more thoughtful way of experiencing the places we visit. That’s what we hope Nova can inspire in new and returning guests alike: less a destination, more a calling.”
The resort’s marine conservation work continues throughout the year. Its coral nursery contains a growing collection of metal frames holding individually secured coral fragments, which are later transplanted onto the house reef. Guests are regularly invited to participate in the planting process, while the marine team monitors the young coral colonies as they develop.
Nova Maldives also maintains partnerships with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme and Manta Trust. The resort is accredited as a Responsible Manta Tourism Operator, with the partnerships supporting its year-round approach to marine conservation.
Renowned for its marine life and underwater experiences, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of Sun Siyam’s Privé Collection, has been named Best House Reef at the Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2026.
The award recognises the resort’s marine environment, which is accessible directly from its beaches and overwater villas. The annual TTM Awards and Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers from across the archipelago to recognise achievements within the Maldivian hospitality industry.
The island’s coral reef is home to marine species including resident sea turtles, reef sharks, tropical fish and eagle rays. Guests can explore the reef through guided excursions led by the resort’s resident marine experts, customised scuba-diving experiences and coral restoration initiatives designed to support the long-term preservation of the marine environment.
“Our reef is the living soul of Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, shaping every visitor’s journey from the moment they step into our turquoise lagoon,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager. “To be named the Maldives’ Best House Reef is an immense honour, strengthening our commitment to nurturing this remarkable marine sanctuary so our guests can keep discovering its quiet magic beneath the surface.”
Travellers seeking underwater experiences can book directly with the resort to access exclusive benefits and guided marine excursions.
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Siyam, has announced its festive programme, “Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom”, which will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.
The seasonal programme features activities and experiences for guests of all ages. Dining will take centre stage with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala dinners by the water, exclusive Chef’s Table experiences and seafood barbecues on the beach.
The evening entertainment programme will include live acoustic performances, island DJ sets, aerial dance shows and Maldivian cultural performances.
During the day, guests will be able to explore the resort’s lagoon through activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset Jet Car rides and sandbank excursions. The Spa will offer wellness rituals and couples’ therapies, while younger guests can take part in gingerbread decorating, a fashion show and Santa’s arrival on the beach.
“Eutopia is our invitation to celebrate and embrace nature, meaningful moments, and the relaxed luxury that defines Sun Siyam Vilu Reef through our festivities,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager.
“From unforgettable ocean adventures to starlit beach celebrations, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to create lasting memories that will continue to flourish long after the season ends.”
The programme will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration on the beach on 31 December, featuring live music, midnight toasts and a fireworks display over the water.
The resort’s festive programme is available to view online, with bookings open for stays between 22 December 2026 and 7 January 2027.
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