Featured
Sun Island’s gleaming awards
Sun Island is a happy place, always gleaming with radiant smiles!
Shimmering with optimism to make 2021 a superb year, Sun Island’s staff are smiling a lot more these days — because their Sun has just become brighter with several new accolades.
Sun Island is a winner of Agoda’s prestigious 2020 Gold Circle Award (GCA), denoting exceptional service. Agoda.com offers this prestigious award to hotels and resorts that have proven their place among the best, providing excellent value, service, and flexibility to guests.

And with a brilliant score of 9.1 out of 10, Sun Island has won Booking.com’s Traveller Review Award for 2021; an award that exemplifies exceptional guest experiences.

Sun Island has also received Hotel.com’s ‘Loved by Guests Award 2021’ for high guest rating scores, and the prized Holiday Check Award granted based on customers’ ranking of the world’s most popular hotels.


Sun’s General Manager, Abdulla Fathhey – who also recently received the title of the 2020 Best General Manager of the Maldives by the World Luxury Awards in recognition of his commitment to excellence and outstanding achievement in luxury hospitality – is thrilled with the success of his resort.
“These awards, collectively, are an honour bestowed to us by our wonderful guests. I am forever grateful to all our guests for their loyalty to Sun Island and their appreciation of our staff for providing exceptional service at all times,” he says.
“For the past year and to date, especially throughout these trying times, our staff has been extraordinary in stepping up to ensure guest safety and comfort. I am fortunate to be a part of a winning team and will strive to merit these recognitions with the continued support and encouragement from our beloved guests.”
Director of Rooms Abdulla Faiz reflected on what these awards mean to staff.
“These awards mean a lot for all of us at Sun who are working day and night to meet the expectations of our guests. These awards that are based on guest reviews are testimonies of guests’ genuine appreciation of our services. Such recognition of our service by guests bring joy to our hearts and meaning to our service,” he says.
A flowering jewel amongst Maldives family hotels, Sun Island offers over 460 guest rooms, including Standard Beach Bungalows, Superior Beach Bungalows, Beach Pool Villas, Sunset Villas, Water Bungalows and Presidential Suites, making it the largest resort in the Maldives.
Sun Island has introduced brand new Beach Pool Villas, offering enhanced living and relaxation facilities to guests.
The luxurious resort features nine dining options. Local and international buffet spreads are available at Maaniyaa Restaurant. Barbecued seafood is served at Guraamuli Grill Terrace and Italian cuisine is available at Ristorante Il Pontile. Alternatively, Thai dishes can be found at Sun Star, and refreshing beverages at Mekunu Bar.
Sun Island houses an Araamu Spa retreat, which offers a wide range of relaxation options and invigorating treatments, including aromatherapy, reflexology, Indian Ayurvedic therapy, and body scrubs and facials.
The resort also offers a variety of recreational facilities, including a PADI-certified dive centre, table tennis, football, tennis and basketball as well as water sports facilities.
Drink
Sirru Fen Fushi hosts Flor de Caña mixology event with Dinesh Mondkar
The Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series recently hosted a mixology event at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort, featuring Dinesh Mondkar, Flor de Caña’s brand ambassador for India.
The event gave guests an opportunity to explore a selection of rum cocktails while learning more about the craftsmanship and heritage behind the Flor de Caña brand. Set against a sunset backdrop over the ocean, the session combined cocktail-making techniques, brand storytelling and a relaxed island setting.
Guests were introduced to a range of cocktails that highlighted bold flavours and the versatility of rum in contemporary mixology. The evening also offered insight into the methods and presentation behind premium cocktail service, adding an interactive element to the experience.
The event formed part of the resort’s ongoing Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series, which continues to bring recognised figures from the international spirits industry to the Maldives. Through the series, the resort aims to expand its food and beverage offering with curated events that connect guests with global brands and industry expertise.
Such experiences are designed to complement the wider guest programme by combining destination dining and beverage concepts with the setting of the Maldives, while offering visitors a more immersive way to engage with the resort’s hospitality offerings.
Featured
Angsana Velavaru marks reopening of upgraded futsal ground
Angsana Velavaru has reopened its futsal facility as part of efforts to enhance guest experiences and staff engagement through sport and community activities.
The reopening ceremony was officiated by Dhaalu Atoll Council president Ahmed Shafiu and the resort’s general manager, Ahmed Zahir, who jointly cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.
Located within the island grounds, the futsal court measures 57 metres by 38 metres and is intended to serve as a space for both recreational use and organised activities for guests and resort associates.
The resort said the facility would form part of its wider recreational offering and would host workshops and expert-led collaborations aimed at providing guests with sports-based experiences while also supporting skill development and interaction. It added that the initiative also reflects its focus on staff wellbeing, teamwork and active living.
The opening event included friendly matches between the Angsana Velavaru men’s and women’s teams, as well as an inter-resort match between the Angsana Velavaru Orange Army and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
Adjacent to the futsal court is the resort’s upgraded watersports centre, which now includes updated guest facilities such as shower and changing areas.
Ahmed Zahir said the reopening of the futsal ground represented more than a recreational upgrade and reflected the resort’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and associates. He said the facility would support active living, connection and wellbeing, while also serving as a space for learning and collaboration.
Angsana Velavaru, located in South Nilandhe Atoll, said the reopening of the futsal facility forms part of its wider efforts to expand its lifestyle and community-focused offerings.
Featured
World Art Day inspires new Graffiti Club at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has launched the Graffiti Club to mark World Art Day, introducing a team-led initiative focused on artistic expression, collaboration and storytelling through art.
The resort said the initiative brings together more than 18 team members from across different departments, reflecting a shared interest in creativity. As part of the project, selected back-of-house spaces have been turned into canvases, transforming staff areas into spaces for artistic work.
Inspired by the natural environment of the Maldives and the Maamunagau lagoon, the first set of artworks features marine life such as manta rays, whale sharks and sea turtles. The resort said the designs reflect the biodiversity of the destination and its connection to the surrounding ocean. Additional artwork is also being developed as the project continues.
InterContinental Maldives said the initiative is rooted in its brand culture and service philosophy, Inspire Incredible, and is intended to support creativity, collaboration and self-expression among team members.
Renuka Gupta, cluster director of learning and development, said creativity exists in every individual, regardless of role or background. She said the initiative was created to provide team members with a space to express themselves, connect with colleagues and contribute to the environment in which they work each day.
The resort said the Graffiti Club forms part of its wider approach to workplace culture, with a focus on creativity, wellbeing and personal expression alongside the guest experience.
-
News1 week agoSt. Regis Maldives expands and upgrades Two-Bedroom Ocean Villa
-
News1 week agoCentara Hotels & Resorts Maldives marks Thai New Year across island portfolio
-
Featured6 days agoCoco Collection brings conservation and low-waste living into resort experience
-
News1 week agoShangri-La Circle offers dining benefits at JEN Maldives Malé
-
Awards5 days agoAtmosphere Core secures British Airways Holidays awards across five Maldives resorts
-
Featured5 days agoThe Standard, Maldives unveils new Premium All-Inclusive package
-
Drink5 days agoLily Beach announces guest bartender residency featuring Vyacheslav Kasitsyn
-
News4 days agoAlila Kothaifaru Maldives expands wellness programme with curated experiences


