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Banyan Tree Maldives celebrates 2019 sustainability achievements, sets more goals for 2020
In 2019, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Banyan Tree group, the 15th anniversary of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru Marine Lab and the 10th anniversary of the Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF).
Both properties also achieved EarthCheck Gold certification for their commitment to preserve the cultural heritage and natural surrounds. These milestones were commemorated by continuing to drive the core values of sustainable development.
The properties successfully eliminated over 90 per cent of targeted single-use plastic, since pledging to go plastic free on Earth Day 2018.
New initiatives, such as the monthly ‘Full Moon Lights Out’, further increase resource conservation efforts. Since the event began in September 2019, around 350kWhs have been saved which amounts to over 100 liters of fuel — enough energy to power an average worldwide household for a whole month.
To raise awareness about the importance of keeping good health and wellbeing, a regular 1km open water swim is organised across the channel between the two properties.
Guests and associates are also encouraged to go meat free, one day a month, to support better health for both the planet and individuals.
Within the local communities, the properties removed 1.5 tonnes of waste with support from over 2,000 community members and partnerships with schools and councils of the islands of Thulusdhoo, Himmafushi, Huraa and Male, as well as the Maldives Girl Guides Association, American Centre Maldives, Tree Maldives, Dhirham, Arabiyya Scouts Association, and Let’s Do It Maldives.
As part of Banyan Tree group’s special 25th anniversary sustainability efforts, focus was placed on education within communities. Banyan Tree Maldives donated much needed tables and chairs for classrooms at Kaafu Atoll Education Centre, and conducted educational sessions for a number of schools and youth organisations.
Efforts also focused on empowering women and promoting cultural recognition by providing opportunities to emerging artists from the American Centre and craftspeople who are building up their careers in traditional artwork such as embroidery.
Environmental conservation, preservation and restoration efforts remain a large emphasis for both Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru.
In celebration of Banyan Tree Marine Lab’s 15th anniversary, the team expanded one of the lab’s earliest projects, ‘The Necklace’, the world’s first electric reef constructed on Angsana Ihuru in 1998. A pilot experimental assessment is being undertaken, using corals that have been grown on the lab’s various nurseries.
Natural recovery of coral reefs has been slow in North Male Atoll, but it is assisted by the resorts’ conservation, restoration and research programmes.
Around 500 corals that have been growing on rope nurseries for the last two years have been transplanted back onto the house reefs of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru. Reef and fish communities are being compared to control areas to assess the value of assisted recovery in the Maldives.
This year is the fifth year of a collaborative project with the Maldives’ fisheries minister to assess the efficacy of the shark ban, in an effort to understand the impacts on sharks, reefs, fishers and other resource users. Findings from this were published in several peer-reviewed scientific journals in 2019.
Looking ahead to 2020 and beyond, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru are setting the goals even higher, aiming to set best practices and drive core values of sustainable development in the Maldives.
This year, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru will celebrate its own 25th anniversary and continue to strive towards 100 per cent single-use plastic elimination.
The Marine Lab plans to extend restoration work with the implementation of a mid-water nursery, designed to seed corals that can be transplanted back onto the reef, and the 2020 shark monitoring is underway now.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru are located in North Male Atoll, just 25 minutes away by speedboat from the airport. The two resorts are just 2 minutes by boat away from each other therefore guests of each resort can enjoy the facilities of both including two of the most vibrant and well-preserved house reefs in the North Male Atoll.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru opened its door in 1995 and is the first international chain resort in the Maldives. With just 48 pool villas dotting around the island, privacy and relaxation can easily be attained. The resort has a restaurant, bar, PADI Gold Palm five-star resort dive centre and a Banyan Tree Spa.
Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru is also home to the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab, the first of its kind to be funded and built on a private resort, where guests can learn about marine conservation and partake in the many sustainability activities on offer including coral planting, reef cleaning and daily stingray feeding sessions.
Angsana Ihuru is surrounded by one of the most vibrant and well preserved coral house reefs in the Maldives. The resort has 45 villas, a restaurant and a bar, a PADI Gold Palm five-star resort dive centre and an Angsana Spa.
Imagine a place where the world fades away, leaving you with nothing but the gentle sound of waves and the soft touch of sand beneath your feet. A place where privacy is not just a promise, but a guarantee. Welcome to Nika island Resort & Spa, Maldives, the only resort that offers private beaches for an unparalleled experience of seclusion and tranquility.
At Nika, your very own private beach awaits. Picture yourself enjoying a personalised BBQ under the stars or designing your own destination dining experience, tailored to your every desire. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a family feast, the possibilities are endless.
John Miller, a recent guest at Nika, shares his unforgettable experience: “Staying at Nika’s private beach villa was the ultimate privacy I’ve ever experienced. Born in London, I’ve never known such seclusion in my entire life. The resort is lush with vegetation, and the fauna and flora are simply amazing. It’s a hidden gem in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The local stories and the museum displays are fascinating.”
But the allure of Nika doesn’t end there. The resort’s dive centre offers exceptional dive courses, taking you to spectacular dive sites that reveal the breathtaking underwater world. Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a beginner, the wonders beneath the surface will leave you in awe.
After a day of exploration, indulge in the Lotus Spa at Nika. Offering a range of excellent massages, from traditional local techniques to various modern varieties, the spa promises to rejuvenate your body and soul.
Nika is a small resort, yet it is brimming with entertainment and activities. From water sports to cultural experiences, there’s something for everyone. It’s a sanctuary where you can ground yourself, reconnect with nature, and discover a level of privacy that is truly extraordinary.
Escape to Nika and hide away at your secret beach. Here, the ultimate privacy and relaxation await.
Featured
Unwind and Explore: Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa Invites Families to a Rejuvenating Summer Escape
Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa, an all-pool villa haven nestled amidst the breathtaking natural seascapes of the Indian Ocean, invites families to embrace the joy of relaxation and the spirit of adventure this summer with a slew of experiences designed to inspire playful discoveries and foster tranquil reconnections with the mind and body.
Fun for All Ages
Budding adventurers and creative little spirits alike can discover new adventures at Krakengiri Kids’ Club, one of the largest kids’ clubs in the Maldives. Led by a multilingual team of certified childcare professionals, young guests can engage in an exciting array of daily activities that combine learning and play.
Upstairs, Re:Fuel, a rooftop lounge for teens, hosts engaging milkshake-making workshops and fun family movie nights under the starry Maldivian sky.
In June, the resort offers a Holiday Camp for teens, who can personalize their wellness experiences as follows:
- Pick up new sports such as tennis, pickleball, and badminton on the multi-purpose court with the hotel’s resident Sports Animator
- Work out with a personal trainer at the fitness center
- Try aerial yoga for beginners, yoga for better sleep, breathwork, and meditation with the resident yoga practitioner
- Enjoy a restorative massage in the overwater treatment villas of Amingiri Spa.
The experience is available at USD 150++ per person for a combination of any two 30-minute sessions.
Restful Retreats
Amingiri Spa introduces Water Connect, a private in-villa pool experience guided by a certified water shiatsu specialist. The gentle movements and targeted massage techniques melt away tension and create a deeply relaxing sensation akin to being cocooned in the womb. The serene escape is available between 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm at USD 150++ for 30 minutes.
Starting in June, guests can indulge in a brand-new Sleep Wellness menu designed to ease the mind and body into a state of deep and rejuvenating slumber. Guests can choose to unwind with a calming signature massage on the spa’s Skye Deck, bask in the timeless glow of an evening hammam ritual in the modern hammam room, or embrace tranquility with an in-villa session incorporating guided meditation, yoga, and breathwork.
Exclusive Offer
Guests who stay a minimum of four nights enjoy the added value of a half board meal plan and complimentary shared roundtrip speedboat transfers with Maldivian Bliss. This offer is available for stays through to December 20, 2024.
From May through to September 30, 2024, children stay and dine free: parents staying with two young children ages 11 years and below in an Overwater Suite with Pool and any of the Two-Bedroom Beach and Overwater Villas will also enjoy the half board meal plan and complimentary shared roundtrip speedboat transfers when booking Maldivian Bliss. Hilton Honors members enjoy full points for their stay. Terms and conditions apply.
Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 22 distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly on the hotel’s website will have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors app.
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Maldives Madridistas: Patina Maldives, Fari Islands Nets Exclusive Football Camp Partnership with the Real Madrid Foundation
Younger guests at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands can embrace new patterns of play this summer at an exclusive, Maldives-first Real Madrid Foundation football camp. From 4 July – 12 August, a youth coach will lead a comprehensive Real Madrid Foundation programme of daily soccer sessions for ages 5-9yrs, 10-14yrs, and 15-17yrs. The coach will be joined by an elite player ambassador from UEFA’s all-time no. 1 ranked football club toward the end of the programme.
This summer’s inaugural Patina Maldives x Real Madrid CF Foundation football camp is the first edition in an ongoing partnership, with additional future football camp dates to be confirmed. Led by a licensed Real Madrid Foundation coach, sessions will focus on developing each participant both individually and as part of the group, in order to ‘Play The Real Way’ – the training methodology that combines play, as well as sports values.
Sessions will take place on a new, purpose-built 6 a side astroturf pitch located near the Fari Marina Village at Patina Maldives.
All participants will receive an official camp football camp shirt, shorts, socks, drawstring bag, sweatbands, and cap; while those completing a minimum of four days’ coaching will also be presented with a Real Madrid Foundation participation certificate.
Real Madrid Foundation football clinics at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands are priced at USD195++ per child per session for guests of the resort. Bookings are also open to guests from neighbouring resorts, from USD250++ per child per session.
Rates at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands start from USD2,054 (approx. GBP1,620) per night based on two adults sharing a One Bedroom Pool Villa including daily breakfast, complimentary Guest Benefits, tax, and service. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information and reservations, please visit https://patinahotels.com/maldives or contact reservations.maldives@patinahotels.com. For more information on Pathways, please see here.
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