Featured
Huvafen Fushi chef becomes Maldives’ first member of World Master Chefs Society
Pioneering Maldives icon, Huvafen Fushi, has announced that Executive Chef Ashish Domee has become the first Maldives-based member of the prestigious World Master Chefs Society; a leading global honours society for exceptionally skilled professional chefs.
Establishing him the same company as Michelin-starred talents such as Daniel Clifford and Paul Croasdale, Chef Ashish’s trailblazing induction is testament to the exceptional quality of the culinary offering he leads across Huvafen Fushi’s tantalising array of restaurants.
The collective expertise of the World Master Chefs Society’s highly qualified founders, patrons and life voting members guarantees its reputation and recognition as an authority by the hotel and catering industry.
Membership is based strictly on high qualifications, career achievements and managerial recommendations, and aims to cultivate a vibrant union of talented professionals who are dedicated to advancing the culinary arts.
Once a member, World Master Chefs are encouraged to foster their culinary wisdom and creativity within their kitchens and communities, and share their wealth of knowledge, experience and ability to promote the social, educational, environmental and inspirational impact of the industry.
Many of the World Master Chefs Society’s influential members have gone on to achieve international award recognition, including the likes of Daniel Clifford, Chef Patron of two-Michelin starred restaurant Midsummer House, Cambridge; Paul Croasdale, Chef Patron of Essex’s renowned Flitch of Bacon; and celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL, proprietor of Café Spice Namasté, London.
Mauritian-born Executive Chef Ashish Domee first started cooking at eight years old, and by the age of 14 had already decided that he had to be a chef.
After graduating from the Ecole Hôtelière Sir Gaëtan Duval in Ebène, Mauritius and Hotelschool The Hague, the aspiring young Chef’s dream came true with a two-year apprenticeship with Chef Robert Lalleman, Maitre Cuisinier de France, Chef & owner of the Michelin-starred Auberge de Noves.
After honing his skills in the kitchens of luxury resorts in Mauritius, Seychelles and the Middle East, working alongside several Michelin-starred chefs and building on his talent for classical French and Mediterranean cuisine, Chef Ashish arrived in the Maldives in 2012 as Chef de Cuisine at The Residence Maldives Falhumaafushi.
After travelling through Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, immersing himself in Southeast Asian cuisine, Chef Ashish returned to the Maldives in 2016 as Executive Sous Chef at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa in the Maldives, progressing to his first Executive Chef role at The Residence Maldives Dhigurah before joining the legendary Huvafen Fushi in 2020.
Chef Ashish is responsible for developing the menus across Huvafen Fushi’s six gourmet restaurants and bars from Salt, the resort’s renowned signature overwater restaurant serving modern Japanese cuisine with an alluring Latin twist, as well as showcasing his culinary creativity with the launch of Immerse…Latitude 4⁰, an intimate new bespoke underwater dining experience eight meters beneath the surface.
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.
-
Action1 week agoSix Senses Kanuhura participates in international COASTS Project on blue carbon ecosystems
-
Cooking1 week agoAnantara Veli Maldives continues Michelin guest chef series with female lineup
-
Action1 week agoBaros Maldives introduces ‘Lines of Respect’ fishing programme
-
News1 week agoReethi Faru Resort joins global Earth Hour campaign with conservation efforts
-
News1 week agoSun Siyam Iru Veli introduces new treatments at Ocean Spa
-
Awards1 week agoVilla Park recognised with CHECK24 Top Hotel Award
-
Cooking5 days agoSun Siyam Iru Fushi hosts Michelin-starred Chef Robin Pietsch
-
News1 week agodusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives observes Earth Hour with sustainability efforts