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Seaside Finolhu appoints new Executive Chef, Food and Beverage Director
The newly redesigned five-star Seaside Finolhu resort will reopen on November 1, as the first member of the Design Hotels in the Maldives.
Bolstering the already impressive ranks of talent at the hotel will be two newly appointed members of staff: Memo V. Hernandez, Executive Chef, and Benjamin Gouet, Director of Food & Beverage.
Together, they will reinforce Finolhu’s outstanding levels of gastronomy and service. Rounding out the offering of culinary craftsmanship and international flair – from traditional Maldivian fare, to modern Japanese cuisine, or flavours of the Middle East and North Africa – will be a focus on handmade produce, crafted from fresh ingredients.
Memo V. Hernandez, Executive Chef
Bringing more than 16-years’ experience in managing restaurants and hotel kitchens internationally, Hernandez joins Finolhu following his previous role as Executive Chef at The Nautilus Maldives.
The Costa Rican native brings a wealth of luxury experience, including training at the three Michelin-starred Quique da Costa Restaurant, Valencia.
Hernandez has as a passion for the traditional, including farming, local produce, and the rustic production of cheeses. This is coupled with a modern outlook towards keto, superfoods, wellness, and vegetarianism and veganism – this includes ambitions to create a variety of dishes where the vegetable is the star.
With ecological and environmental awareness at the forefront, he is looking forward to putting his touch on the menus, including a focus on seasonality, wholesome breakfasts, and plans to grow thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, and coriander on the island.
Benjamin Gouet, Director of Food and Beverage
French-born Gouet has more than 15-years’ experience in the food and beverage industry, and previously held the position of Director of Food and Beverage at Bandos Maldives Resort.
His earlier work experience in senior roles has taken him to key luxury hotels across the world, including the Sheraton Club des Pins Resort, Algeria and Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa, French West Indies.
Gouet will manage the resort’s overall food and beverage service operations, ensuring the highest of standards are met across Finolhu’s six food and beverage outlets – each with its own distinct personality and aesthetic to accentuate.
As a wine lover and cocktail connoisseur, he will enhance the culinary journey with beverage pairings for each cuisine, ranging from wines and whiskeys to specialty teas.
Finolhu was opened in June 2016 and consists of four islands with long beaches. It has 125 beachfront and overwater villas — more than half with private pool — and four restaurants.
While popular with honeymooners, the extensive resort is also very family-friendly, with a kids’ club, a wide choice of activities and world-famous entertainment.
Owned and managed by Seaside Collection, a Europe-based hotel group with an exclusive portfolio of high-end resorts and city hotels, Seaside Finolhu Maldives is a luxury island resort.
“Finolhu”, which is a direct translation of “sandbank” in Dhivehi, is located in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has been nominated in the “Resort” category of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, one of the travel industry’s recognised measures of guest preference and brand standing.
Located in Raa Atoll, the resort is continuing to build its profile through its all-Club concept, service model and guest experiences shaped by both location and programme. As the Maldives’ first all-Club InterContinental resort, the property includes a set of signature benefits with each stay, including daily breakfast, afternoon tea and evening aperitif.
The resort features 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences, along with seven restaurants and bars. Its guest offering combines private accommodation with a range of tailored experiences, including manta ray encounters in the Maamunagau lagoon, customised Dining by Design experiences, visiting wellness practitioners and its Artist in Residence programme.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is also positioned to serve both couples and families, through its family offering and adults-only Retreat enclave.
The nomination reflects continued recognition for a resort that combines service, experience-led programming and a natural setting within one of the Maldives’ established tourism atolls.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, aimed at families seeking longer island stays built around shared activities and rest. The offer is available for booking from 15 April to 15 June 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights for travel through to 20 December 2026.
Located within Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is positioning the offer around family wellness, marine experiences and time spent together in a natural island setting. Seasonal snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay remains one of the area’s key attractions, while the resort’s collection of beach and overwater villas is designed to accommodate families looking for space and flexibility during their stay.
For larger families and groups, the resort also offers the two-bedroom Heavenly Beach Residence, which includes a living room, kitchen and dining area intended to support longer and more relaxed island stays.
The resort says the guest experience can be shaped around both activity and downtime, supported by Westin’s Sleep Well concept and Heavenly Bed. Children have access to the Westin Family Kids Club, which includes a children’s pool and pirate ship, while parents can make use of Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Away from the villa, the resort is also promoting shared family experiences through Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy activities focused on the culture and environment of Baa Atoll. These include traditional lacquer craft workshops, visits to local islands and guided marine activities in surrounding waters.
The Family Fun Summer package includes three meals per day, with children under 12 dining free of charge. It also includes a one-time dolphin cruise for two adults and two children, a 30-minute photography session with one printed photo, and a USD 150 resort credit.
Reethi Faru Resort has been recognised at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, receiving honours in four categories: Best Beach Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Pool Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Maldives, and Best Sustainable Hotel in Maldives.
The awards recognise performance across villa accommodation and environmentally focused hospitality, reflecting the resort’s emphasis on guest experience alongside sustainability and environmental stewardship.
According to the resort, the recognition supports its positioning within the Maldives market as a property that combines natural surroundings, accommodation standards and responsible hospitality practices.
Located on Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort features 145 villas, including beachfront and overwater accommodation designed in a style that combines Maldivian elements with contemporary comfort.
The resort’s food and beverage offering includes six restaurants and six bars, while its leisure facilities cover watersports, diving, yoga, spa treatments and fitness activities. Surrounded by coral reefs, the resort also offers guests access to marine-based experiences in the Indian Ocean.
Sustainability remains a central part of the resort’s operations, with initiatives that include coral reef restoration and guest experiences linked to environmental awareness.
Through its recognition at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, Reethi Faru Resort has added to its profile as a Maldives resort with a focus on both accommodation standards and sustainability.
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