Featured
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives returns with annual Pink Festive programme

he festive season is upon us once again! Are you ready to experience another soul-stirring vibes at the iconic Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, where the music and party never stop?
As the Festive Season draws closer, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, the country’s first integrated resort destination, is all set to return with its signature “Pink” festive theme to welcome its valued guests for an ultimate party atmosphere holiday.
Now on its third year, the resort continues to adopt the Pink Festive theme after culminating a rocking success for the past two years – this year’s celebration will certainly bound to shine even grander.
Throughout the festive season, the island is decorated with rose-colored ornaments to reflect the Pink Festive. A Christmas tree will be positioned at the resort’s panoramic Octagon Garden to add the holiday ambience.
There are so many reasons for choosing this iconic music and lifestyle resort this festive season, from wide-ranging program with enriching and exhilarating experiences, amazing live entertainment and to delectable culinary offerings — diverse enough to delight even the most discerning palettes.
The resort will also be hosting a series of late night parties to get the guests in the festive spirit.
As the sun sets on 21st December, a traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Octagon Garden will kick off the festive celebrations and completes with a dazzling reception, offering delicious Christmas cookies and fruit punch for little rock stars; and heart-warming mulled wine for adult rockers.

On Christmas Eve, Sessions restaurant will feature an al fresco dining experience under the stars with a sumptuous Christmas Gala Dinner offering traditional seasonal favourites, as well as live cooking stations and an array of decadent sweet treats.
Right after the dinner, a big party awaits those who are looking to dance the night away at the resort’s signature Marquee, celebrating festive in a true Hard Rock style.
The following day, the resort will have a special guest during the Kids’ Christmas Party at Hard Rock Cafe, who will bring festive cheer and entertain all the little rock stars.
The celebration continues with an inspiring New Year’s Eve celebration with an array of events and entertainments. Hard Rock Hotel Maldives will take its guests to a dazzling and unique festive celebrations, as the whole island will be transformed into “the pinkiest island” in the Maldives on New Year’s eve.
All the guests will be invited to dress-to-impress in pink and party all night long at the Marquee with resident DJ April, right after dining at the extravagant festive-inspired international buffet served in a beautiful beach setting under the starry night sky, while listening to the beat of in-house band.
After the countdown, the music resumes and the party continues.
To fill up the resort with lively festive atmosphere and celebrate the island’s music scene, there will be an impressive lineup of live entertainments this year from local and International artists to Disc Jockeys (DJ), who will perform across the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and The Marina @ CROSSROADS Maldives.
Speaking about the resort’s Christmas celebrations, Managing Director, Tolga Unan said: “Festive celebrations at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is always the most magical time of the year. It is the ideal getaway destination to spend the holiday season – we’ve got all that you could possibly wish for a memorable year-end celebration with a Maldivian tropical twist.
“Our Pink Festive has been a huge success for the past two years. A lot of commendations from our previous guests, so we have decided to keep the same theme every year and wish to turn it to a tradition. I am confident that the theme will continuously add a further sparkle to the already glamorous setting on the island.”
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is committed to keeping its guests safe in response to COVID-19, therefore the Brand’s SAFE + SOUND programme ensures that its guests can enjoy the Pink Festive experience in a safe and sanitary environment.
Hard Rock International partnered with world-renowned public health and safety organisations like EcoSure, an Ecolab Division, and NSF International, formerly known as the National Sanitation Foundation, to ensure its properties are SAFE + SOUND, and meet the highest standards of safety, sanitation, food handling and employee training.
The enhanced SAFE + SOUND safety protocol includes, but is not limited to procedures such as a state-of-the-art, non-intrusive thermal temperature screening process before entering, social distancing measures and protective mask requirements for all team members.
For more information and booking, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com/maldives.
Awards
Minor Hotels celebrates multiple wins at TTM Awards 2025

Minor Hotels, a global hospitality group operating nine resorts in the Maldives, has announced that three of its properties were recognised at the Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2025. The annual awards celebrate achievements across 28 categories, with winners selected through votes cast by guests and travel partners.
Niyama Private Islands Maldives received the award for Best Family Resort. The property is known for offering experiences for all ages, with facilities including a playground, splash park, and gourmet kitchen at its children’s club, alongside an extensive schedule of activities. Young guests are provided with age-appropriate experiences such as snorkelling safaris, cooking classes, surf lessons, and outdoor cinema evenings.
Accommodation includes a variety of spacious villas and pavilions, such as the newly renovated Deluxe Family Beach Pool Villa. Combined with diverse dining options, recreational activities, and personalised service, the resort seeks to provide both adventure and relaxation for families.
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort was named Best Beach Resort, reflecting its setting of white sands, turquoise lagoons, and coconut groves within Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The resort offers contemporary villas, including Beach Pool Villas and Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villas, with direct beach access.
Since opening in 2023, Avani+ Fares has aimed to introduce a laid-back approach to Maldivian holidays, combining modern design with the natural environment. Guests can participate in activities ranging from water sports and wellness to dining and cultural programmes.
NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort was awarded Best Dive Resort, recognised for its accessible house reef and marine biodiversity. Located close to the shoreline, the reef offers opportunities for snorkellers and divers of all levels, with frequent encounters with species such as reef sharks, turtles, rays, and tropical fish.
The resort also provides access to the dive sites of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, where PADI-certified instructors guide guests through channels, thilas, and reef walls.
In addition to these three awards, Minor Hotels’ properties received 12 finalist nominations across seven categories. These included its newest addition, NH Maldives Kuda Rah Resort, which was shortlisted in three categories.
The group’s nominations at the TTM Awards 2025 were:
- Best Beach Resort: Avani+ Fares and NH Collection Maldives Havodda
- Best Family Resort: Niyama, Avani+ Fares, and NH Maldives Kuda Rah
- Best Boutique Resort: NH Maldives Kuda Rah
- Best Culinary Resort: Niyama
- Most Picturesque Resort: NH Collection Maldives Havodda
- Best Surf Resort: Niyama
- Best Dive Resort: Avani+ Fares, NH Collection Maldives Havodda, and NH Maldives Kuda Rah
Featured
Sirru Fen Fushi unveils ‘Symphony of the Island’ festive celebrations

This festive season, Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, located in Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives, will host an extensive programme of events under the theme Symphony of the Island. Running from 22 December to 7 January, the schedule brings together globally acclaimed performers and specialists, from award-winning musicians and Michelin-starred chefs to a World Cup football champion, wellness practitioners, mixologists, and even a NASA astronaut.
The resort’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will be headlined by Rami Jaffee, Grammy-winning keyboardist of the Foo Fighters, accompanied by violinist, cellist, and vocalist Jessy Greene (formerly Foo Fighters and Pink), and drummer and producer Erik Aldenius of Billy Idol. The All-Star Band will also feature Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from The Offspring, and Bill Reynolds, Grammy-nominated bassist and producer, formerly of Band of Horses, creating a powerful line-up to welcome 2026.
Onu Onu Beach Bar will host award-winning bartenders throughout the festive period. On 30 December, Harrison Kenny, associated with the World’s 50 Best Bars, will present alongside Millie Tang, one of Australia’s leading bartenders. On 3 January, Pham Quoc Dat, Head Mixologist at The Haflington in Vietnam (Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024), will take over the bar with a signature showcase.
Culinary highlights include the arrival of Chef Valentino Cassanelli, Head Chef of Michelin-starred Lux Lucis in Italy, who will collaborate with the resort’s Executive Chef Girish Sharma on 8 and 10 December. Cassanelli will also host his own signature four-course dinner. On 3 January, Jean-Philippe Blondet, Chef Patron of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, will present a four-hands dining experience at Azure alongside Chef Girish.
Sports and wellness sessions will be led by Christoph Kramer, Football World Cup Champion and television football expert, former professional tennis player and coach Alexandra Viktorovitch, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturist and trainer Josiah Ngai, and yoga instructor and sound healer Tamuna Lomidze. Guests will be able to book one-to-one sessions throughout the festive programme.
On 6 January, the resort will present a special performance by Daria Pavlenko, Principal Ballerina of the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg.
NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy officer Dominic Antoneli will share first-hand insights into life in space, recounting stories of exploration and discovery.
The season will begin on 22 December with the island illuminated by festive décor and Christmas Eve sunset drinks at Onu Onu Beach. On Christmas Day, celebrations will include a beach arrival by Santa in Maldivian style, followed by a festive brunch and a lobster and champagne dinner, with entertainment from fire dancers, magicians, and musicians.
The New Year’s programme begins with a sunset journey from Spa Beach to Central Park, before a gala dinner at RAHA Market. The evening will feature the All-Star Band, ballet performances, acrobats, and a fire and laser show, concluding with an after-party to welcome 2026. On 1 January, guests can enjoy a New Year’s brunch accompanied by live jazz and tropical rhythms.
Orthodox Christmas Eve on 6 January will include a gourmet buffet at RAHA Market, seafood dining at Azure, and a performance by ballerina Daria Pavlenko, followed by a beach party with international DJs. On 7 January, celebrations will conclude with a Cristal Champagne golden-hour sunset and beachside à la carte dining.
Featured
Wellness in Pink: Milaidhoo Maldives supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This October, Milaidhoo Maldives will mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Wellness in Pink — a curated series of experiences designed to encourage guests to slow down, reconnect, and explore the deeper dimensions of wellbeing.
Rooted in the island’s philosophy of mindful, barefoot living, the programme reflects Milaidhoo’s approach to quiet luxury and personal wellness. Each experience has been designed to restore the body and nourish the soul, creating opportunities for reflection and reconnection.
Set within the tranquil surroundings of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll, Wellness in Pink invites guests to pause, breathe, and share stories — both lived and unfolding.
Signature Experiences:
- Sunset Serenity: A Couple’s Wellness Ritual: A 90-minute ritual held on the open-air deck of a private villa. The session begins with a calming full-body massage, followed by a refreshing facial, and concludes with a glass of chilled sparkling rosé. USD 380++ per couple | Advance reservation required
- Rose Renewal Ritual: Special Edition: A 120-minute treatment created to support emotional balance and inner strength. The ritual combines an aromatherapy massage with rose essential oil, a rose quartz facial massage, and a grounding foot massage to restore energy flow. USD 240++ per person
On 23 October, guests may take part in a Zumba for Awareness session — a lively group activity celebrating vitality and community spirit.
On 24 October, The Pink Care Routine will be held at Milaidhoo’s overwater yoga pavilion. This guided session combines self-massage techniques, somatic body awareness, and breast health education, offering space for learning and gentle empowerment.
Milaidhoo emphasises that wellbeing is not a checklist but a feeling — of being cared for, of being seen, and of returning to oneself. Through Wellness in Pink, the resort seeks to honour those touched by breast cancer and to create space for healing in all its forms.
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