Featured
Maldives crowned World’s Leading Destination in historic World Travel Awards win
Maldives has received the World’s Leading Destination award at the World Travel Awards for the first time ever.
This is the first time Maldives won the award, which is the most distinguished category of the World Travel Awards.
Maldives competed in the category with 22 other destinations including Dubai, Malaysia, Spain, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.
Established in 1993, World Travel Awards is the most prestigious honours programme in the global travel and tourism industry and is recognised as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. It serves to acknowledge, reward, and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.
Maldives receiving such an esteemed recognition during the most challenging of times faced by the tourism industry.
“Maldives winning World’s Leading Destination award is a strong endorsement of the popularity of Maldives amongst international tourists,” tourism minister Dr Abdulla Mausoom said.
“This superb win reflects the strong determination and sound policies of HEP Solih and his administration, strive and strides of travel and tourism industry partners and employees; targeted #VisitMaldives promotion by industry partners and MMPRC and of course the warm smile of Maldivians. Congratulations!”
Maldives was also nominated in a staggering 40 categories at the Grand Final with eight nominations in destination categories, 53 nominations in 30 Hotels and Resorts categories, and three nominations in three world categories.
Properties in Maldives won these awards:
- World’s Leading New Resort 2020: Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa
- World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
- World’s Leading Luxury Island Villas 2020: Baros Maldives
- World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2020: JA Manafaru
- World’s Leading Water Villa Resort 2020: Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa
- World’s Leading Seaplane Operator 2020: Trans Maldivian Airway
- World’s Leading Airport Resort 2020: Hulhule Island Hotel
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maldives as a whole and the travel and tourism industry was hit hard, and it caused an unprecedented level of disruption.
As the lockdown began, the marketing plans of the government’s national tourism body, VisitMaldives, came to a complete halt, and the campaigns had to be shifted to digital platforms; all travel and tourism partners began adapting to the new situation.
The means of communication changed, but it enhanced the way for a more effective channel between agents, partners, and customers across various key markets.
Efforts and planning for the reopening of borders were made with the contribution of the entire industry, where emphasis was given on the unique geographical formation of Maldivian islands, and the key USP of the “one-island-one-resort” concept.
These characteristics make Maldives a relatively safe destination and a safe haven for visitors.
The rest of the world was constantly being made aware of the safety measures and important procedures in place for tourists, which came with the reopening of borders on July 15.
Visit Maldives, alongside industry stakeholders and partners, continued working tirelessly to assure tourists of this, and keep them dreaming about the destination. Several marketing activities and campaigns were launched, providing a platform for tourists from around the world to relive the happiness and rediscover the wonders of Maldives.
All in all, Visit Maldives has carried out over 412 different types of marketing activities in 22 global markets.
A total of 314 activities were carried out during this pandemic as part of the crisis recovery plan. Some of the activities include fairs (online as well as offline), webinars, FAM trips, online roadshows, outdoor campaigns, and digital media campaigns.
Despite the challenges over the course of the year, this accomplishment is a remarkable testament the love tourists from around the world have for the Maldives, as well as the massive effort and continuous contribution made by each and every industry stakeholder, in order to revive and restore the industry.
Visit Maldives Managing Director Thoyyib Mohamed expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who voted for Maldives and the tourism industry stakeholders.
“We are beyond thrilled to receive the World’s Leading Destination award for the first time in the history of Maldives. This prestigious award means a lot to Maldives, especially as we achieved this during these difficult times,” he said.
“Thank you everyone who voted for us. And thank you to the travel industry partners for the immense work carried out to accomplish this. I would like to thank His Excellency President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for the support and close guidance especially in the recovery process of the nation and the tourism industry”.
World Travel Awards has also reported a record number of visitor traffic and engagement from public voters. This shows that as global travel resumes and tourism recovers, the appetite for travel has never been greater.
Tourists are constantly seeking the very best tourism products from across the world, and as Maldives is now the World’s leading Destination, it is a pivotal moment to market the country as one of the safest and top travel destinations in the world.
Maldives had earlier won four awards in the Indian Ocean category at World Travel Awards. These categories are Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2020, Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2020 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination 2020.
The destination has also won the famed Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination award 12 times within the last 16 years, this year being the 13th time.
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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