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Kanuhura Maldives appoints John Allanson as General Manager
Kanuhura Maldives has appointed John Allanson as its new General Manager.
Allanson, a UK national, brings over 35 years’ experience in hotel and resort management in the Maldives, Vietnam and the UK.
Before joining Kanuhura, he was the General Manager of the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort.
For much of his career, Allanson has been a general manager, or in senior management positions including food and beverage.
He has a diploma in Management Studies and earned a scholarship to the General Managers’ Program at Cornell University. He is also a graduate of the International Management Association and a member of the Hotel and Catering International Management Association.
“As the custodian of this little piece of paradise, Kanuhura Maldives, and on behalf of the team, I am excited and look forward to welcoming you to our shores,” Allanson said.
“Leaving your footprints on our beach will be part of the fondest holiday impressions and special moments that last a long time.”
Allanson’s appointment comes weeks after Mauritian hotelier Sun Limited sold Kanuhura, its only property in the Maldives, to Leisure Oceans Private, which is a new subsidiary set up by Hotel Properties Limited (HPL).
HPL owns 70 per cent of a subsidiary company HPL Resorts Maldives (HPLRM), which in turn incorporated Leisure Oceans in March as a hotel enterprise.
Singaporean businessman Ong Beng Seng is the founder, substantial shareholder and managing director of HPL, whose assets in the Maldives already include Gili Lankanfushi.
HPL’s assets under external management in the country include InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives and Six Senses Laamu.
Its hotel division tallies 38 hotels and resorts across 15 countries, also including Bhutan, Italy, Seychelles, South Africa and Vanuatu and other management companies it works with include Hard Rock Hotels, Hilton International, Marriott International, Concorde Hotels and COMO Hotels & Resorts.
COMO was founded by Ong’s wife and fellow entrepreneur Christina Ong, and also features two hotels in the Maldives.
Entirely renovated and redesigned in 2016, Kanuhura is a timeless castaway chic experience for travellers seeking the ultimate luxury retreat at its best with a casual and private atmosphere.
The island resort is home to 80 villas, tastefully furnished with sophistication and a modern touch.
Kanuhura is also known to have one of the most iconic barefoot beaches in the Maldives together with postcard-perfect views and sunsets.
Kanuhura invites you to visit its restaurants and bars where you will discover exquisite cuisines from all over the world.
To complete your experience, The World’s Best Spa’ by National Geographic Traveller magazine, Kokaa Wellness Retreat and Spa offers a world of blissful serenity for travellers in need of pampering.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has been nominated in the “Resort” category of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, one of the travel industry’s recognised measures of guest preference and brand standing.
Located in Raa Atoll, the resort is continuing to build its profile through its all-Club concept, service model and guest experiences shaped by both location and programme. As the Maldives’ first all-Club InterContinental resort, the property includes a set of signature benefits with each stay, including daily breakfast, afternoon tea and evening aperitif.
The resort features 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences, along with seven restaurants and bars. Its guest offering combines private accommodation with a range of tailored experiences, including manta ray encounters in the Maamunagau lagoon, customised Dining by Design experiences, visiting wellness practitioners and its Artist in Residence programme.
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is also positioned to serve both couples and families, through its family offering and adults-only Retreat enclave.
The nomination reflects continued recognition for a resort that combines service, experience-led programming and a natural setting within one of the Maldives’ established tourism atolls.
The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, aimed at families seeking longer island stays built around shared activities and rest. The offer is available for booking from 15 April to 15 June 2026, with a minimum stay of four nights for travel through to 20 December 2026.
Located within Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is positioning the offer around family wellness, marine experiences and time spent together in a natural island setting. Seasonal snorkelling with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay remains one of the area’s key attractions, while the resort’s collection of beach and overwater villas is designed to accommodate families looking for space and flexibility during their stay.
For larger families and groups, the resort also offers the two-bedroom Heavenly Beach Residence, which includes a living room, kitchen and dining area intended to support longer and more relaxed island stays.
The resort says the guest experience can be shaped around both activity and downtime, supported by Westin’s Sleep Well concept and Heavenly Bed. Children have access to the Westin Family Kids Club, which includes a children’s pool and pirate ship, while parents can make use of Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Away from the villa, the resort is also promoting shared family experiences through Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy activities focused on the culture and environment of Baa Atoll. These include traditional lacquer craft workshops, visits to local islands and guided marine activities in surrounding waters.
The Family Fun Summer package includes three meals per day, with children under 12 dining free of charge. It also includes a one-time dolphin cruise for two adults and two children, a 30-minute photography session with one printed photo, and a USD 150 resort credit.
Reethi Faru Resort has been recognised at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, receiving honours in four categories: Best Beach Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Pool Villa in Indian Ocean, Best Eco-Friendly Resort in Maldives, and Best Sustainable Hotel in Maldives.
The awards recognise performance across villa accommodation and environmentally focused hospitality, reflecting the resort’s emphasis on guest experience alongside sustainability and environmental stewardship.
According to the resort, the recognition supports its positioning within the Maldives market as a property that combines natural surroundings, accommodation standards and responsible hospitality practices.
Located on Filaidhoo in Raa Atoll, Reethi Faru Resort features 145 villas, including beachfront and overwater accommodation designed in a style that combines Maldivian elements with contemporary comfort.
The resort’s food and beverage offering includes six restaurants and six bars, while its leisure facilities cover watersports, diving, yoga, spa treatments and fitness activities. Surrounded by coral reefs, the resort also offers guests access to marine-based experiences in the Indian Ocean.
Sustainability remains a central part of the resort’s operations, with initiatives that include coral reef restoration and guest experiences linked to environmental awareness.
Through its recognition at the 2026 Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards, Reethi Faru Resort has added to its profile as a Maldives resort with a focus on both accommodation standards and sustainability.
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