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Lily Beach is Covid-19 ready
The best all-inclusive resort in the Maldives continues to impress, this time with a new health-related accolade.
Lily Beach Resort & Spa is now a Covid-Ready Gold certified property, administered by Hotel Resilient and verified by the Maldives’ own auditing company, NSURE.
Gold Certification status verifies that Lily Beach is following international guidelines, Maldives’ Health Protection Agency guidelines, industry best practices, and the latest scientific research related to the pandemic.
To receive this top-ranking credential, Lily Beach had to meet each and every global standard by Hotel Resilient which included enhanced cleaning, risk controls, physical distancing, and response plans.
Since last year, the resort has focused a lot of time, energy, and resources into combatting the pandemic and reducing its negative effects.
Several new strategies and policies were put in place, such as the creation of coronavirus-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the formation of a Covid-19 Taskforce, and the hiring of new staff specifically dedicated to Covid-19.
New changes brought by the Taskforce include creation of sinks made of wood at certain areas of the resort for handwashing, placing hand sanitiser in strategic locations, using the right high quality cleaning materials, and putting up signage both in guest facing and staff facing areas to urge better behaviour to reduce spread of infection such as social distancing in buffet areas etc.
This dedication to safety, coupled with the unique geographic disposition of the Maldives, is the perfect frontline of defence.
All resorts are situated on their own islands, accessible only by speedboat or seaplane. They are thus separated from each other, the capital city, and the main airport.
This “one-island, one-resort” concept has kept the hospitality industry afloat in these challenging times and strengthened the public health response in the Maldives.
Balancing vacation and fun with health and safety is a unique challenge, but one that the Lily Team takes seriously.
Hotel Resilient’s Gold Certification is a culmination of all these measures, and highlights the fact that Lily Beach Resort & Spa is doing everything it can to be a safe tropical destination for tourists during the pandemic.
“All the hard work and effort by staff, as well as our strict following of government rules and regulations, really shines through this Covid-19 Gold Certification. Guests can see first-hand how well we are handling the pandemic and observing global and national guidelines. This is a great success for the resort,” Lorenzo, the Resident Manager of Lily Beach Resort & Spa, said.
While externally seeking this recognition, Lily Beach also turned internally and has been vaccinating staff against Covid-19 since March. Through their #strongertogether campaign, and in close cooperation with the ministries of health and tourism, and Mahibadhoo Hospital, Lily Beach established a vaccination centre and was able to offer the vaccine to all staff members that wanted to receive it.
They even extended services to several other resorts in the South Ari Atoll as well.
At this time, the resort is excited to report 92 per cent of their staff have received at least one dose, with that number projected to increase later this month.
Once the vaccination campaign is complete, more than 95 per cent of staff will have finished their first and second dose, and thus be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“I am very proud of the Lily Vaccination Team, which has done a phenomenal job coordinating, scheduling, and administering not just one, but two, immunisations. Their efforts have led to a very high coverage rate at Lily,” Dr Lidiia Kotok, the in-house resort doctor, said.
“When approached by local authorities to expand our services because of the precision and quality in which we are able to operate, we even took on the extra responsibility to vaccinate other resorts as well.”
For travellers who are anxious about Covid-19 or vacationing during a pandemic, look no further: the best all-inclusive resort has the health and safety of guests and staff as its main focus, both before and during your stay.
Tourists traveling during the pandemic can rest easy knowing their favourite hotel has made mitigating Covid-19 a top priority, and now has the gold badge and vaccine card to prove it.
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.
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.
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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