Featured
DJ Scott Mills to lead Amilla Maldives’ NYE spectacular
BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills will be leading guests at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences out of 2020 and into 2021 at a show-stopping New Year’s Eve party.
The five-star Baa Atoll resort has a reputation for holding spectacular events to wrap up the year. And despite a tumultuous 2020, the team has managed to pull together a stellar line-up, with the theme of “The Greatest Showman’.
Joining Scott Mills will be Hayley Sanderson, one of the lead vocalists on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. They will be supported by home-grown Maldivian talent: Area 51 performers, Limestone and DJ Shafraz.
General Manager Jason Kruse says everyone deserves a treat after such a tough year, so he wanted to deliver a spectacular party to end 2020.
“We are very happy to announce that Amilla will be bursting at the seams this festive season,” he says.
“This means we’ve been able to plan a festive programme in keeping with our reputation for world-class events. Just one month ago we weren’t sure what we could achieve for the festive season, what with all the uncertainty in the world. However, we’ve managed to assemble a very impressive line-up which is even better than we could have hoped for!”

There will be acrobatic displays, songs, pop-up performances and all kinds of spine-tingling entertainment in store.
Guests can also expect to hear their favourite songs from the box-office smash, The Greatest Showman, with a contemporary twist.
The amazing live spectacles are being organised by Amilla’s incredibly talented in-house team Area 51 Performers, and overseen by Director Matt Page.
‘Ringmaster’ Dez will return once again to Amilla to host as ‘PT Barnum’. Dez is acclaimed for his hosting and musical skills and always delights the crowds.
In addition, throughout December to March, Amilla will have a new band in residence. Hailing from Moldova, the performers will be entertaining guests nightly. Members of the band have previously performed in the Eurovision Song Contest finals as “The Sunstroke Project’ and “‘DoReDos’.
This year’s festive celebrations will have a greater focus on sustainability, with millions of solar-powered LEDs lighting up the resort and immunity-boosting treats on hand.
Amilla is continuing to look after the health of its guests with its Covid-19 prevention protocols which includes complimentary PCR tests on site.
The Maldives remains open with free visas on arrival for all nationalities, providing they take a PCR test up to 96 hours before departure and observe local health protocols.
For more information about the resort and bookings, please email sales@amilla.mv or visit www.amilla.com.
Awards
Kuda Villingili listed in Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Cooking
Baros Maldives to showcase sustainable dining for Earth Day
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Awards
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives earns TUI Global Hotel Award recognition
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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