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Lti Maafushivaru welcomes Global Gift Foundation founder Maria Bravo
Lti Maafushivaru has welcomed Maria Bravo over five nights after attending a range of philanthropic events in Dubai.
For her arrival on February 28, the resort management team gathered on the arrival jetty, all wearing the Global Equity Limited Edition Tee in support of the Global Gift Foundation, which was founded by Maria in 2013.
The Global Gift Foundation aims to create a positive impact on the lives of the children, women, and families in need across the world.
Maria’s story starts in Marbella, Spain; due to her study of business and nature of work; she has lived in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.
After several years spent working in the entertainment industry producing and acting in films and television, Maria decided to use her existing status and business connections to bring forward an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy and impacting positive changes in the world.
Maria has branded some of the highest profile events in the philanthropic world with her celebrity clients that work closely with her. She brings together the worlds of philanthropy, celebrities, and corporations to give financial support and media awareness to fiscally responsible foundations worldwide.
Maria’s daily Instagram stories and posts showcasing the beauty of lti Maafushivaru island highlight how much she enjoyed her idyllic and unique island experiences.
Maria also posted an extensive Tripadvisor review declaring how important this kind of holiday is for her, to recharge and disconnect from what is happening in the world, allowing her to bounce back to the new normal with positivity.
During an overview catch-up with the resort’s marketing team, Maria congratulated the resort for doing a great job in maintaining the island’s natural beauty while providing impeccable service to all guests and first-class dining experiences.
Lti Maafushivaru ranks first out of 38 resorts in South Ari Atoll, and currently sits on rank third out of 418 resorts in the Maldives, based on traveller rating on Tripadvisor.
Additionally, she mentioned that she felt safe and worry-free throughout her stay, thanks to the resort’s COVID-19 safety guidelines and practices.
Maria plans to initiate the Global Gifters annual gathering location for 2021 to lti Maafushivaru.
Global Gifters are people who support the Global Gift Foundation in some a variety of ways, inclusing volunteering, by purchasing a ticket for gala dinner, or by committing to the foundation by becoming members, partners, raising social awareness or connecting the foundation’s mission among their own contact networks.
Some notable Global Gifters include Eva Longoria, David and Victoria Beckham, Antonio Banderas, Tony Parker, Goldie Hawn, Deepak Chopra, Terrence Howard, Ronaldo Cristiano, Mariah Carey, Leona Lewis, Ronan Keating, Alec Baldwin and many more.
For 2021, the main objective of the initiative gathering will focus on the ocean, marine life conservation, plastic use reduction and sustainability which Maria considers extremely important to discuss and raise awareness of.
Given the different sustainability practices that lti Maafushivaru is implementing in its daily resort operation, alongside the exceptional location of the Maldives in terms of ocean health, the resort is the perfect place to host the annual event. Maria stated that she can’t wait to return and show to her “Global Gifters” all that lti Maafushiravu offers.
“I’m taken aback by how clean the water that surrounds the island is. I’ve been in many different places like Bora-bora, Greece, Hawaii and other holiday destinations in the world but nothing compares to the Maldivian ocean,” Maria said.
Located in the pristine South Ari Atoll, Maafushivaru is just a 25-minute seaplane journey from Male and offers guests the idyllic island experience epitomising all that one dreams of when thinking of the Maldives.
At just over 350 metres in length, Maafushivaru cocoons guests in lush vegetation, encircled by powder white-beaches, and a fringed by a house reef that a myriad of fish call home.
A total of 81 villas spread on the land and overwater offers a choice of five different categories for guests to choose from for their unique Maldives experience.
Maafushivaru provides an array of diverse dining options on the island with multiple meal plan options.
A new dining option, Half Board Plus, includes breakfast and dinner at the Cuisine Gallery, Daily High Tea with tea/coffee and snacks served at the Library Lounge from 3-5pm alongside a wide range of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including selected soft drinks, juices, international branded spirits, an extensive cocktail list, draught beer, a selection of bottled wines, specialty coffees and teas, and house mineral water. Other benefits offered in the plan include complimentary snorkelling equipment and non-motorised water sports.
Half Board and Dine Around All Inclusive options are also available.
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.
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.
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.
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