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Spotted: Minissha Lamba enjoys serene holiday at Hideaway Beach Resort Maldives
Popular Indian actress Minissha Lamba, who played memorable roles in Bollywood movies and is well known for her portrayal of Mahi Pasricha in Bachna Ae Haseeno and Adaa in Yahaan, was spotted holidaying in the Maldives.
The actress and professional poker professional poker player is spending her getaway at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, a 33-hectare crescent-shaped island with naturally socially distancing villas.
Minissha has been giving her followers on Instagram a glimpse of her getaway destination and her tropical life through posts and stories. She posted shots lounging around the island and showcased the beautiful views inside and outside of her water and beach villas.
In a series of Instagram stories, Minissha noted that she could really get used to living on a tropical island like this– probably for a year to teach and take people snorkelling. She exclaimed how she cannot get over how beautiful ocean is in the Maldives.
In another post, the actress is seen exploring the beautiful turquoise depths of the ocean on a marine adventure to see the rich marine life in the double house-reef around Hideaway. Admittedly, she looks pretty cool in her snorkelling outfit while exploring some of the best sights Maldives has to offer underwater.
Fans poured in the love that they have for her, commenting and liking every tropical hideaway post on Minissha’s Instagram.
In one clip, she gave fans a mini-tour of her villa as well. If this were a competition between villa types, it seems that huge beach villas at Hideaway have truly won her admiration, due to the natural beauty of the space provided with the pool in the backyard.
To quote Minissha herself, she is truly ‘a tropical island baby’.
While having an all-encompassing active and serene retreat which can be seen from her Instagram stories and posts here, Minissha is truly in her element in the tropical Maldives with her ‘million-dollar’ smile in tow.
The Indian actress is spending her getaway at Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa in the Maldives. This island retreat with spacious and naturally socially distancing villas ensures maximum health safety and security for its guests.
Since last year, Hideaway has strict cleaning and contactless interaction procedures in place through its Safe Hideaway Programme. This way, guests can arrive, stay, and depart confidently, taking advantage of free PCR tests (for two adults and 1 child per booking) — now available for stays till the end of May.
The idyllic resort offers an abundance of activities to keep guests engaged during the trip. In addition to exploring the 33-hectares island on their very own bike, the more adventurous can opt to try an array of water sports and dive activities including snorkelling, scuba diving, wakeboarding, kayaking, and hopping onto a giant inflatable aquatic water park at the resort’s well-equipped Water Sports Centre.
Guests at Hideaway will also find a selection of curated unique experiences. More recently known as the “go-to-resort” in the Maldives for fishing experiences such as hand and reel fishing at sunset and even upcoming pole and line fishing.
The resort has been preparing an expansive Ocean-to-Table food concept called the Hideaway Fish Market, where guests can eat fish fresh and have it their way — whether fried, steamed, as sushi, with many variants of marinades, or in another style altogether.
The choices are endless for guests who love to eat fresh fish made to their preference at their favourite tropical hideaway.
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has won three awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, with Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives receiving recognition across three categories.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives secured Gold in the Leading Surf Resort category for the eighth time and fourth consecutive year, while Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives retained Gold in the Leading Beach Resort category for the second consecutive year. Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives also received Silver in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category.
The 10th edition of SATA was held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé on 8 October 2026, recognising achievements across South Asia’s tourism and hospitality industry, including guest experiences, industry leadership and responsible tourism.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is home to the Pasta Point surf break, which attracts surfers from around the world. The resort’s eighth Gold award in the Leading Surf Resort category reflects its position among the Maldives’ surfing destinations. In addition to surfing, the resort offers water sports, wellness activities and other guest experiences.
“We remain committed to delivering memorable surf experiences and holidays in the Maldives,” said Marlon Robert, General Manager of Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives.
Robert also acknowledged the continued support of guests, the international surfing community and the resort team in securing the recognition.
Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives received its second consecutive Gold award as Leading Beach Resort in recognition of its island setting, which features sandy beaches, a lagoon and a selection of beachfront and overwater accommodation. The resort also offers dining, wellness and recreational activities, providing guests with opportunities to explore the surrounding marine environment.
The resort’s Silver award in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category recognised its efforts to provide dive education and career development opportunities for young people from neighbouring island communities.
Implemented in partnership with Dive & Sail, the resort’s PADI-certified dive centre, the six-day programme enabled nine students aged between 16 and 18 from schools in Keyodhoo and Felidhoo to obtain PADI Open Water Diver certification.
The programme combined theoretical lessons, practical training and supervised dives to promote safe diving practices and reef conservation. It also introduced participants to potential career opportunities in marine tourism.
“These accolades reflect the dedication of our teams and the continued support of our guests, whose trust inspires us to keep raising the standard of our experiences,” said Sanjeeva Perera, Area General Manager, Cinnamon Maldives Resorts.
The three awards recognise the tourism experiences offered by Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, as well as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ initiatives in environmental awareness and community engagement across its Maldives properties.
ELE|NA has been named Leading Wellness and Spa Brand at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, recognising the Maldives-based wellness brand’s contributions to the hospitality and wellness industry across the region.
The recognition comes as wellness continues to become an integral part of luxury hospitality, with ELE|NA working alongside resort partners to develop and operate wellness facilities that combine therapeutic experiences, trained professionals and operational expertise.
Guided by its Wellness Your Way™ philosophy, ELE|NA incorporates wellness into different aspects of the guest experience. Its six Pillars of Vitality – TouchFlow, ReFine, BodyFit, SoulVibe, SleepSync and FoodDelight – encompass therapeutic treatments, physical activity, emotional wellbeing, restorative sleep and nutrition. The framework allows individual resorts to develop wellness programmes tailored to their locations and guest preferences.
In addition to providing wellness experiences, ELE|NA works with hospitality partners on concept development, spa operations, therapist training and service delivery. Its operational model combines the individual characteristics of each resort with standardised systems and procedures aimed at maintaining service consistency across its properties.
Sustainability also forms part of the brand’s operations. All ELE|NA properties in the Maldives have received Platinum Sustainable Wellness Accreditation, recognising their approach to responsible spa operations, environmental management and community wellbeing.
The brand also invests in professional development through the ELE|NA Wellness Academy, which provides training programmes for therapists and wellness professionals. The academy combines traditional therapeutic practices, practical training and contemporary wellness knowledge to support professional development and strengthen service standards across the industry.
The recognition at SATA 2026 comes as ELE|NA continues to expand its operations beyond the Maldives, extending its wellness concepts and services into India, Nepal and other emerging hospitality destinations.
With wellness increasingly influencing travellers’ accommodation choices and holiday experiences, ELE|NA continues to focus on integrating wellness services into resort operations while supporting the development of trained professionals and sustainable practices within the hospitality sector.
Milaidhoo Maldives is set to welcome award-winning chef James Knight-Paccheco, widely known as Chef JKP, on 11 and 12 December 2026 for two culinary events focusing on cooking techniques, culinary experiences and the exploration of new flavours.
On 11 December, Chef JKP will conduct a culinary workshop, offering guests the opportunity to cook alongside him, learn professional techniques and exchange ideas in the kitchen. The following evening, he will host a wine-pairing dinner featuring dishes prepared in his signature style, accompanied by wines selected by the resort’s resident sommelier to complement each course.
With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chef JKP has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels and restaurant projects across the UK and the Middle East. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside renowned chefs including Raymond Blanc, Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines. He is also the creator and host of The Chef JKP Podcast, which has recorded more than 6.5 million downloads.
At Milaidhoo Maldives, the culinary experience draws inspiration from the island’s surroundings, Maldivian flavours and traditional cooking methods, combined with international influences introduced by the resort’s team of chefs. This approach encourages the exchange of culinary knowledge and techniques, allowing guests to explore local dishes, learn new cooking methods and engage with the chefs responsible for their dining experiences.
Located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Milaidhoo offers a setting where dining experiences focus on personalised service and interaction between guests and culinary professionals. Chef JKP’s visit is intended to provide guests with opportunities to engage directly with the visiting chef, gain insights into his approach to cooking and experience his culinary creations.
The culinary workshop will take place on 11 December 2026, followed by the wine-pairing dinner on 12 December 2026.
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