Featured
Outrigger wins PATA Gold Award for OZONE conservation initiative
Outrigger Hospitality Group, the premier beach brand in the world, has earned the prestigious 2020 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in the Climate Change category for its OZONE platform – a global conservation initiative supporting coral health and resiliency, with special focus on the waters that surround the iconic beach destinations of Outrigger Resorts around the world.
The winners were announced on September 24 during the virtual PATA Gold Awards presentation.
With more than 60 per cent of the world’s coral reefs under immediate threat due to climate change, land pollution and unsustainable fishing, OZONE invites Outrigger guests to be part of the solution.
“Outrigger’s link to the ocean is unbreakable and the brand sees its stewardship as a responsibility that is inextricably tied to its success,” said Monica Salter, vice president of corporate communications.
“Our OZONE conservation initiative provides enriching experiences for guests, hosts and local communities; we are honoured to receive this PATA award for our efforts and inspired to continue doing our part to protect the world’s oceans and help this essential ecosystem thrive for generations to come.”

As part of the OZONE launch in 2014, Outrigger set a goal of planting and growing a football-field worth of coral at participating resorts over the next decade.
Just five years into the programme, Outrigger has aided in the planting, monitoring and protection of more than 100 football fields’ worth of coral, which has led to an increase in marine life surrounding the coral planted by Outrigger.
The quick success Outrigger saw with its OZONE initiative was in part due to specifically tailored conservation and sustainability programmes in each region the premier beachfront resort brand operates in, such as coral planting in Fiji, snorkelling with a resident marine biologist in Maldives, beach cleanups in Hawaii, visiting a marine rehabilitation centre in Thailand, among other educational opportunities offered to Outrigger guests year-round.

In addition to the immersive activities and educational opportunities, Outrigger was the first Hawaii hospitality group to champion the use of reef-safe sunscreen, well in advance of it being recommended as law starting in 2021. It has given away thousands of reef-safe sunscreen samples, partnering with well-known brands All Good and Absolutely Natural – as well as including information on this in the in-room video.
The focus of OZONE has expanded to include energy conservation, recycling and the reduction of single-use plastics at its properties worldwide. For example, in Thailand, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort has not only eliminated single-use plastics, but uses a reverse osmosis water plant to purify and bottle its own drinking water.

Such milestones, and the prestigious PATA Award, would not have been possible without Outrigger’s dedicated hosts, passionate guests and like-minded partners such as Mamanuca Society, Waikiki Aquarium, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, Phuket Marine Biological Centre, Best Dives Maldives, Reef Conservation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and many more.
The annual awards held by PATA, which was founded in Hawaii in 1951, honour responsible travel and tourism brands that raise the bar of innovation and excellence. Open to both PATA and non-PATA members, this year there were 121 entries from 62 travel organisations across the Pacific Asia region.

In Maldives, Outrigger Hospitality Group runs the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort.
The private island of Konotta is located 340 kilometres to the south of capital Male, and is conveniently accessible via a 55-minute flight from the main Velana International Airport to Kaadedhdhoo Airport followed by a scenic 30-minute journey on a luxurious private yacht.
The award-winning Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort offers guests the largest average villa sizes in the Maldives. Comprising 29 Beach Pool Villas, 21 Ocean Pool Villas, two Lagoon Pool Villas and the three-bedroom Grand Konotta Villa, the resort offers a complete sense of privacy and intimate luxury.
Captivate your senses with innovative dining concepts, the Navasana Spa, and high-end facilities. In between your diving lesson and massage, indulge in sumptuous Maldivian cuisine or a glass of white Burgundy in one of the resort’s restaurants or the comfort of your villa. As the sun sets, sample Japanese single malts at the Teppan bar whilst drinking in endless ocean views.
Featured
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives introduces summer offer across four island resorts
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has introduced a summer offer aimed at travellers seeking longer stays across its four island resorts.
Guests booking stays of seven nights or more will receive complimentary return transfers for two people, while shorter stays will include complimentary one-way transfers. At participating resorts, up to two children under the age of 12 can also stay and dine free.
The offer includes savings on selected excursions and activities and is available for bookings and stays until 31 October 2026.
Guests who book directly through Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives will have access to additional benefits, including options to personalise their stays with beach dining, spa treatments and island activities. Members of the brand’s loyalty programme will receive further savings and earn double Discovery Dollars during the promotional period.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers beachfront accommodation, a range of activities and speedboat transfers from Malé. Its accommodation and family-focused programmes are designed for guests seeking a combination of recreation and time together.
Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives provides accommodation, dining options, wellness services and water-based activities within an island setting. The resort caters to couples, families and travellers visiting the Maldives for the first time.
Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, located across two islands in Meemu Atoll, is positioned for couples and honeymooners. Guest experiences include sunset dining, spa treatments and access to the surrounding lagoon.
Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon caters to divers and snorkellers through its house reef, marine life and access to dive sites. The resort provides direct access to underwater experiences in the Indian Ocean.
The summer offer provides savings of up to 65% across Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives’ four properties.
Awards
JOALI Maldives wins two honours at Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia
JOALI Maldives has been recognised in two categories at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia 2026, receiving honours among the Best Resorts in the Maldives and for the Most Outrageous Villa.
The recognition reflects the resort’s Creative Living philosophy, which brings together art, nature, wellbeing, sustainability and hospitality within the guest experience.
Located in Raa Atoll, approximately 45 minutes by seaplane from Malé, JOALI Maldives opened as the Maldives’ first art-immersive luxury resort. Art installations, dining experiences, wellbeing programmes and accommodation are integrated across the island as part of its approach to resort living.
The property features 73 beach and overwater villas and residences, positioned across the island and above the Indian Ocean. The accommodation has been designed to provide privacy, space and access to views of the surrounding environment.
Each villa combines contemporary design with materials including timber, marble, bamboo and terrazzo, as well as handcrafted finishes. Floor-to-ceiling glass provides views of the ocean, while private pools connect the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Artworks and design pieces are also incorporated into each villa, reflecting the resort’s Creative Living concept and extending the art experience into the accommodation.
Guests can choose from Beach Villas, Water Villas and multi-bedroom Residences, with options designed for couples, families and groups. The larger residences provide additional living areas, pools and facilities for guests seeking more space and privacy.
Each villa is supported by a dedicated Jadugar, a term used by the resort to describe its butler service. The Jadugar assists guests throughout their stay by arranging dining experiences, island activities, celebrations and other personalised services.
Guests are also provided with bicycles to explore the island’s pathways, gardens and viewpoints.
JOALI Maldives said the awards reflected the work of its team and the support of its guests, partners and wider community. The resort also said it would continue developing experiences focused on creativity, wellbeing and connection.
The recognition adds to JOALI Maldives’ position within the Maldives’ luxury resort sector, where its art-led design and Creative Living philosophy form the basis of its guest experience.
Cooking
Michelin-Starred Chef Grégoire Berger to host dining experience at Lily Beach Resort & Spa
Lily Beach Resort & Spa has announced a culinary collaboration with Chef Grégoire Berger, chef and co-owner of the Dubai restaurant Kraken.
Known for progressive French cuisine influenced by the ocean, Berger has received a Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Dubai from 2022 to 2024. His restaurant has also been included among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, while his work has received recognition through several international culinary awards.
Berger’s approach draws on the sea as a source of ingredients, ideas and presentation. His menus combine French culinary techniques with marine influences, with each dish developed around a narrative connected to the ocean.
As part of his visit to Lily Beach in August 2026, Berger will host a fine-dining dinner for a limited number of guests. He will also introduce a signature dish at AQVA Bar & Restaurant during the collaboration.

The programme forms part of Lily Beach’s efforts to expand its culinary offering and introduce visiting chefs and dining concepts to guests in the Maldives.
Located in South Ari Atoll, the resort will provide guests with an opportunity to experience Berger’s cuisine within its all-inclusive hospitality concept. The collaboration will combine his Michelin-recognised approach with the resort’s existing food and beverage programme.
Lily Beach Resort & Spa has established its hospitality offering around its premium all-inclusive model, supported by a range of dining venues. Its restaurants offer overwater dining, international buffet selections, seafood and Asian-inspired dishes.
The resort’s culinary programme is supported by the Platinum Plan, an all-inclusive package that includes dining experiences, a selection of wines and spirits, excursions and personalised services.
Through the collaboration with Berger, Lily Beach aims to add another dining experience to its guest programme while continuing to develop its position within the Maldives’ luxury hospitality market.
-
Celebration1 week agoFinding your #JoyMagenta: Why the Maldives is the ultimate global capital for wellness
-
News1 week agoNiyama invites travellers to explore the Maldives with new summer escape package
-
News1 week agoOZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI and OZEN LIFE MAADHOO earn Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice honours
-
Action1 week agoAnantara Dhigu partners with rrreefs on 3D-printed reef restoration project
-
News1 week agoFrom Shipwreck to Living Reef: Siyam World launches ambitious marine restoration project
-
News1 week agoGlobal Wellness Day at Joy Island features giant floating breakfast experience
-
Awards1 week agoOUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru secures top global ranking in Tripadvisor awards
-
Cooking1 week agoBUBBLE offers immersive underwater dining at Meyyafushi Maldives


