Featured
Conrad Maldives appoints seasoned hotelier Carla Puverel as General Manager
Conrad Hotels & Resorts, one of Hilton’s global luxury hotel brands, has appointed Carla Puverel as the new General Manager of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
Before taking up the General Manager position stunning twin island resort featuring 151 luxury beach and overwater villas, Carla most recently served as general manager of the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in Sri Lanka.
“We are delighted to welcome Carla Puverel to Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Her impressive background managing a number of luxury properties and expertise in delivering exceptional resort experiences gives us every confidence that she will bring this award-winning resort to new heights and lead the team to delivering an even greater level of service to all their guests,” Paul Hutton, Vice President of Operations for South East Asia at Hilton, said.
With a career spanning over 18 years, Carla has an extensive hospitality management experience with various luxury hospitality brands. She carved a niche for herself in resort operations from her time at Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa in Knysna, South Africa to working with various resort groups in different geographies ranging from the United States to the Middle East and South East Asia.
She took her first hotel leadership position in 2011 as Resort Manager at Naladhu Resort Maldives where she oversaw the overall operations and managed the Naladhu Private Island.
She moved to Phuket two years later to lead the pre-opening team at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort before she relocated to Koh Phangan in 2017 as General Manager of the Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas.
“I’m very pleased to be joining the Hilton family to lead the charge at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island,” Carla said.
“With the resort’s acclaimed legacy of innovation that prides itself with an offering of a sea of firsts in the Maldives and the team’s dedication to delivering excellent luxury service to its guests, I am confident that together we can build on the success that this property has already achieved thus far and take it to the next level.”
In her new role, Carla will be responsible for the operations and performance of the resort while ensuring it is aligned with the global brand strategy within the Maldives.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty programme for Hilton’s 18 distinct hotel brands.
Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels 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 that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi.
Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using a Digital Key.
A celebration of design and human spirit, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island expresses an accord of form, function and innovation in driving hospitality trends that has set the benchmark in its style.
Rejecting trends in design to create a space that invites and inspires with a distinctive design that sits in perfect harmony with the natural environment.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is an inspirational backdrop featuring intuitive service, infinite connections and a distinctive mix of once-in-a-lifetime experiences making it an extraordinary destination for couples and families to discover paradise.
To book a stay at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, please call +960 668 0629 or visit conradmaldives.com.
Featured
‘Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom’ comes to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef this festive season
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.
Awards
Sun Siyam Iru Veli earns top wedding destination honour at TTM Awards
Fresh from being named Best Honeymoon Destination in 2025, Sun Siyam Iru Veli was recognised as Best Wedding Destination at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026, held at Crossroads Maldives on 27 August. The award further reinforces the resort’s commitment to celebrating romance in all its forms.
Surrounded by turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches, Iru Veli provides a natural setting for couples seeking an intimate island retreat. Every villa features a private pool, while secluded beaches, private sandbanks and a 24-hour all-inclusive dine-around experience offer guests privacy and flexibility throughout their stay.
The resort hosts celebrations of different scales, ranging from barefoot ceremonies by the ocean to larger events encompassing the entire island. Dedicated wedding planners work closely with each couple to personalise every element, ensuring that both the ceremony and the wider stay reflect their individual story.
This flexibility extends beyond the resort’s wedding packages. Simple Romance, Grand Gesture and Sandbank Magic provide couples with a starting point, with each celebration customisable through décor, dining, wellness, entertainment and island experiences. For occasions requiring complete exclusivity, full-island buyouts allow the resort experience to be tailored around the couple and their guests.
The celebrations can continue beyond the ceremony through candlelit dinners beneath the stars, spa rituals for two, sunset cruises and time spent together across the island. These experiences enable couples to shape the occasion around their preferences, with personal moments unfolding throughout their stay.
“Every couple arrives with a different story and a different vision for their celebration. There is no template here. From intimate ceremonies for two to full-island celebrations with family and friends, our role is to create moments that feel completely personal. That is exactly what our team does. They listen first and then create a ceremony that truly reflects the couple. This award is a testament to the dedication and care they put into making every moment memorable,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager of Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.
The annual TTM Awards & Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers to recognise achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry. Iru Veli’s latest award further strengthens its position among the Maldives’ leading destinations for weddings and romantic escapes.
Action
Chef Jake Norman and Molly O’Donoghue join Niva Dhigali for November programme
Niva Dhigali Maldives will welcome visiting chef Jake Norman and British pickleball champion Molly O’Donoghue for a curated programme of island experiences this November, bringing together dining and active wellbeing in the Maldives.
Norman began his culinary career making pizza in the markets of Guadalajara, Mexico, before working in several London restaurants, including St John, Ottolenghi and Sabor. He now leads the kitchen at Updown Farmhouse in Kent, where his cooking focuses on seasonal ingredients, live-fire techniques and Mediterranean influences.
On 18 November, Norman will host an exclusive dinner at Faru, presenting a menu that combines Mediterranean flavours with influences from Mexico and the Middle East, while incorporating ingredients sourced from the Maldives.
The shared dining experience will feature Indian Ocean produce, grilled dishes and smoky flavours, with a menu designed to reflect the setting and encourage guests to dine at a relaxed pace.
The programme will also include pickleball sessions hosted by British champion Molly O’Donoghue. A national champion in mixed and women’s doubles, as well as a European champion in mixed doubles, O’Donoghue first discovered the sport while studying in Australia. She has since competed internationally and worked to introduce the sport to players around the world.
At Niva Dhigali, O’Donoghue will conduct beginner sessions and advanced coaching, giving guests of different skill levels the opportunity to learn, play and develop their technique.
Located in Raa Atoll, Niva Dhigali Maldives is surrounded by tropical vegetation, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The November programme, featuring Norman’s dining experience and O’Donoghue’s pickleball sessions, forms part of the resort’s approach to offering guest experiences centred on food, wellbeing and the island environment.
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