Featured
LUX* South Ari Atoll: #BreakTheBias everyday
LUX* South Ari Atoll is proud to celebrate women’s achievements and highlight its commitment to promote gender equality by raising awareness against bias and stereotypes.
This year, LUX* South Ari Atoll celebrates all the powerful and influential women throughout the month of March by recognising female leaders among its team members and across the country while sharing their uplifting stories, cheering together for their achievements, and supporting them along the way.
The Ladies Power behind LUX* South Ari Atoll includes 56 inspiring women of 14 different nationalities working together hand in hand, holding positions in various departments to help people Celebrate Life every day. Their dedication and passion add great value and a heartwarming touch to the guests’ journey at LUX* South Ari Atoll.
Female leadership is not new to LUX* South Ari Atoll and is represented by women from various backgrounds. Mirella Veder is the talented Director of Sales, born in the island settings of Mauritius and now developing tourism in the sunny Maldives.
Sindy Lagare is another Mauritian colleague who joined LUX* South Ari family about eight years ago and now leads the wellness department as the Director of Spa & Wellness. A new joiner from Ukraine Anastasiya Babenko is the PR & Marketing Manager, developing creative strategies and hunting for new ideas.

The resort’s Housekeeping Supervisor, Sathuna Hamza, is coming from the North of the Maldives and arrived at the island as a coordinator back in 2014.
Another Maldivian talent is Aminath Shamheeda, whose passion for childcare brought her to the Assistant Kids Club Manager position.

In support of the main International Women’s Day mission – ‘To celebrate the work of women creatives and elevate visibility for commercial projects and commissions’ – LUX* South Ari Atoll also called on creative spirits of the Maldives for a special Ladies Power Day. Artists, content creators, designers, fitness leaders, entrepreneurs gathered on the idyllic tropical island, to share their own stories on how they continue to #BreakTheBias on the way to success during the special Ladies Power Lunch and enjoyed a full day exploring the resort.
The invitees included fitness enthusiasts: Kai, a famous Maldivian coach and founder of Train with Kai, and Imna Maryam, Marketing Director of Tropical Fitness who actively promotes female empowerment in the corporate setting. The creative story tellers around the table were Naj, a photographer and videographer, founder of Two Thousand Isles, Naza Nazeem, the content creator at Hotelier Maldives, and Aishath Aima Musthafa, a renowned artist and one of the founders of the Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperative Society.
Aishath Shabana, the Partnerships Manager of the Maldives Ocean Plastic Alliance, and Viktoriia Narozhna, the Reservation Manager of Resort Life Maldives, are the passionate supporters of local sustainable development and tourism.
Guests of the resort are also included in the celebration and are welcome to enjoy special offers during their stay. One of the highlights is the ‘Mother and Daughter’ pampering experience in the LUX* ME Spa, with beauty treatments and fitness activities designed for ladies of all ages.
For more information on the resort’s Corporate Social Responsibility activities, please visit www.luxresorts.com or the @luxsouthari Instagram page.
Featured
Villa Nautica’s festive glow: Yoga at sunrise, fireworks at midnight
Villa Nautica will embrace the festive spirit from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, offering guests an easy island rhythm that flows from bright mornings by the water to music-filled evenings on the sand. The season begins with illuminated beaches and relaxed barbecues, gradually building through creative afternoons and live performances. Christmas Eve will feature a gala dinner, followed by Santa’s arrival on 25 December. The celebrations will culminate in a vibrant New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks, before settling into a calm reset on New Year’s Day and concluding with Orthodox Christmas.
The programme balances practicality with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Mornings will bring sunrise yoga, family pool activities, and interactive cooking sessions, while evenings will feature poolside soirées, wine-paired dinners, and sunset cruises. With simple yet photogenic settings, the lagoon and sky take centre stage in shaping the mood. Guests—whether couples, friends, or families—can participate freely without losing the island’s easy pace.
For younger visitors, the festivities will centre around the kids’ club, where cookie and cupcake decorating, beach games, origami and craft sessions, storytelling, and cosy movie nights will take place. Small groups and attentive care ensure that creativity and play remain the focus, allowing parents to enjoy uninterrupted moments around the island.
A highlight of the season will be the Champagne Lucky Draw & Disco. From 1 to 31 December, each bottle of champagne purchased at resort bars or restaurants will serve as an entry to the draw. Guests are advised to keep their entry stubs for the live draw, held at 01:00 during the New Year’s celebration, where the prize will be a seven-night stay in a Water Villa for two.
Throughout the festive period, private experiences will feel as memorable as the larger celebrations. Guests may enjoy candlelit dinners on the sand, floating breakfasts, or early morning snorkelling sessions to begin the year anew. Whether seeking a lively shoreline celebration or a quiet evening stroll beneath lanterns and palms, Villa Nautica offers an atmosphere where every festive moment can glow in its own way.
Featured
JOALI BEING launches global campaign ‘Joyful Journeys of Well-Living’
JOALI BEING, the world’s first well-being island, has announced the launch of its new global brand campaign titled “Joyful Journeys of Well-Living.” The campaign celebrates the art of self-discovery, inviting travellers to reconnect with their inner selves through bespoke and transformative experiences.
Building upon JOALI BEING’s core philosophy of the “Joy of Weightlessness,” the campaign embodies the essence of harmony between mind, body, and spirit. It encourages guests to explore holistic pathways designed to restore balance and inspire personal growth.
Joyful Journeys of Well-Living serves as an invitation to travellers seeking meaningful change and renewal. The campaign narrates stories of individuals discovering joy through purposeful living, mindful connection, and immersive well-being experiences at JOALI BEING.
The visuals capture the island’s tranquil landscapes and nurturing spaces — from oceanfront sanctuaries to treetop villas and transformative healing sessions led by resident experts. The campaign presents JOALI BEING as more than a destination; it is a journey towards well-being, creativity, and self-transformation.
Each guest journey at JOALI BEING is founded on the resort’s Four Pillars of Well-Being — Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Through tailored programmes, guests can embark on integrative wellness experiences encompassing sound therapy, movement and fitness, hydrotherapy, nutritional guidance, and energy-healing sessions curated by specialists.
The island features a series of advanced well-being spaces, including:
- CORE: a movement and fitness zone
- AREKA: a transformative treatment centre
- KAASHI: a hydrotherapy hall
- SEDA: a sound-healing room
- Ocean Sala: an open-air meditation and relaxation deck
Each space is designed to nurture a profound connection with nature and the self.
The Joyful Journeys of Well-Living campaign has been conceptualised and produced by JOALI BEING’s in-house team in collaboration with creative partners and visual storytellers from across the globe. The multi-platform campaign integrates film, digital, and print media to convey JOALI BEING’s ethos — a celebration of joy, transformation, and harmony.
The visual narrative draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the Maldives, reflecting JOALI BEING’s immersive design philosophy. The imagery captures the rhythm of the ocean, the play of light, and the flow of energy that define the spirit of the island.
Awards
Coco Bodu Hithi wins Best Waterside Hotel at Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2026
Coco Bodu Hithi has been recognised on the global stage, winning Best Waterside Hotel (Riverside, Lakeside, Seaside) at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2026, held on 3 November 2025 in the UK. It is the second consecutive year the resort has been honoured by the publication, following last year’s win for Best Service, reaffirming its focus on heartfelt Maldivian hospitality and refined island living.
Described by Condé Nast Johansens as an “over-water, over-indulgent Maldivian island outpost,” Coco Bodu Hithi offers an intimate retreat of comfort and calm. The resort’s 32 Water Villas and 24 Coco Residences, each measuring 184 square metres and featuring private pools, provide secluded spaces set above the lagoon, where nature, design, and comfort come together to reflect the island’s romantic ambience.
Known for contemporary design infused with Maldivian heritage, the resort continues to welcome travellers seeking time by the sea, complemented by culinary collaborations with celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs. The experience balances privacy and comfort throughout a guest’s stay. With turquoise waters, quiet spaces, and experiences designed for connection and shared discovery, the resort presents a considered take on island living.
Located 35 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the island combines accessibility with seclusion—close enough for convenience, yet removed for privacy and serenity. As part of Coco Collection, the resort offers bespoke experiences, attentive service, and sustainable practices, shaping stays that feel personal and reflective of relaxed, authentic island life.
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