Featured
Hideaway Beach Resort appoints Amir Badr as Resident Manager
Lily Hotels has announced the appointment of Amir Badr as the Resident Manager of Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa and its new elevated luxury collection, The Signature Collection by Hideaway in the Maldives.
Born to Russian-Palestinian parents and raised in Oman, Amir comes with a diverse background within the hospitality industry with a career in the industry in locations such as Malaysia, Australia, Oman, and Thailand. He joins the operations team at the resort with over 12 years of experience in hotel management.
Amir is a leader with a genuine passion for the hospitality industry and ready to challenge himself and his team by constantly delivering immaculate luxury service to guests and leading the team to success in this endeavour. His career so far is a testament of his drive to build a team that is consistently motivated to go above and beyond to exceed guest expectations in the luxury servicescape. With a solid educational base formed in renowned hospitality schools such as Les Roches and experience earned by the challenge of being a founder/managing director of a hospitality management firm based in Thailand, and by working with renowned brands such as Six Senses in the past, he brings a well-rounded leadership ability to the local owner-operator in a very challenging and epoch time of the organisation and the industry as whole.
Amir mentioned, “Our aim is to create a motivated, hard-working, loyal family who will be proud to represent Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa as well as The Signature Collection. Creating a positive working environment influences the experience guests to receive. Supporting our team, listening to their side of the story, motivating them when times are busy, working on their weaknesses, and appreciating their point of view on our decisions will create such an environment. As a result, we are creating a solid foundation upon which we can build and also ensure that we can offer our guests memorable experiences that will enhance our reputation in the future. Plus, we look forward to providing our guests with extraordinary offers and added value ranging from different experiences on this beautiful natural island”.
Together with General Manager Christophe Adam, this well powered team aims to achieve some exciting milestones in the coming months, especially in running a tight ship in unfamiliar waters to get the bespoke luxury experience over at The Signature Collection with expansive multi-bedroom villas and fine-dining restaurant, bar, and lounge at the Oasis. They are looking to raise the bar in hospitality excellence especially in a heavily competitive industry in the Maldives.
The General Manager Christophe Adam has this to say about his peer’s appointment, “We are delighted to welcome Amir to our team, and we are confident that Amir’s strong attention for detail, passion for luxury service, and appreciation for an authentic sense of place will be a great asset to lead our amazing team members in delivering memorable experiences to our valued guests”.
Amir noted that there are some new and exciting features coming soon to the resort that he is working on with the GM and the team to get them released this year to their guests. These include some new sports and recreation facilities and possibly a new marine experience as well. He also stated that they will be releasing a brand-new menu for the Oasis to showcase the culinary experiences that await the Signature Guests coming to enjoy the brand-new collection’s experience at the resort. In addition to that, he hopes to get a key unique feature of the resort – the Marina – up and running as soon as possible.
With exciting new features and the new collection at the resort, its no doubt that Amir will set a high-performance standards for himself and his team so that to ensure that they maintain a high level of service to delight their discerning guests and to truly offer luxury as expected and beyond in the Maldives.
Featured
Four Seasons Resorts Maldives blend family travel with marine discovery
As family travel patterns continue to evolve, with multigenerational holidays and “schoolcations” becoming a growing part of the market, Four Seasons is positioning its Maldives resorts as destinations where families can combine leisure with learning, exploration and shared experiences. Through programmes at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru and Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the brand is offering a Maldives-based approach to family travel that extends beyond the traditional resort stay.
In the Maldives, the focus is placed on experiences that allow families to spend time together while engaging with the natural environment in direct and practical ways. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, marine education forms a central part of the family offering. Children and teenagers can take part in hands-on initiatives alongside experts from The Manta Trust, learning about coral restoration, manta ray research and ocean conservation. The programme gives younger guests an opportunity to understand the marine ecosystems that define the Maldives while participating in activities linked to ongoing conservation work.
At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the family experience is also shaped by the surrounding lagoon and reef environment. Younger guests can take part in introductory diving, surfing and marine conservation activities designed to build early awareness of the ocean and its ecosystems. These experiences place the Maldives’ natural setting at the centre of the stay, allowing families to engage with the destination through activity as well as observation.
This emphasis on learning through travel reflects wider changes in family tourism, where parents are increasingly looking for holidays that combine recreation with educational value. In the Maldives, that approach has particular relevance, given the country’s dependence on marine ecosystems and its reputation as one of the world’s leading island destinations. By integrating conservation-focused experiences into resort programming, Four Seasons is presenting family travel not only as a period of rest, but also as an opportunity for younger travellers to develop a closer understanding of the environment around them.
The Maldives setting also supports multigenerational travel in practical terms. Resorts such as Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa are well suited to families travelling across age groups, where grandparents, parents and children may all be sharing the same holiday but looking for different forms of engagement. Accommodation, marine activities and wellness offerings can be structured in ways that allow families to spend time together while also catering to different interests and energy levels.
The family proposition is strengthened by the Maldives’ ability to combine relaxation with activities that are tied closely to place. Lagoon-based discovery, reef experiences and conservation work provide a clear alternative to more conventional beach holiday programming. Rather than limiting the stay to accommodation and dining, these activities allow the destination itself to shape the guest experience.
In this context, Four Seasons’ Maldives resorts reflect a broader shift in how luxury family travel is being positioned. The emphasis is no longer only on privacy and comfort, but also on engagement, shared discovery and experiences that carry value beyond the holiday itself. In the Maldives, where marine life and island environments remain central to the visitor experience, that model gives families a way to connect both with each other and with the destination.
Through Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons is therefore presenting a Maldives offering that responds to changing family travel expectations. By combining marine education, outdoor activity and resort-based comfort, the brand is aligning its family travel strategy with the qualities that continue to set the Maldives apart. The result is a version of family travel that is shaped not only by where guests stay, but by what they are able to learn and experience together while they are there.
Drink
Sirru Fen Fushi hosts Flor de Caña mixology event with Dinesh Mondkar
The Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series recently hosted a mixology event at Sirru Fen Fushi Private Lagoon Resort, featuring Dinesh Mondkar, Flor de Caña’s brand ambassador for India.
The event gave guests an opportunity to explore a selection of rum cocktails while learning more about the craftsmanship and heritage behind the Flor de Caña brand. Set against a sunset backdrop over the ocean, the session combined cocktail-making techniques, brand storytelling and a relaxed island setting.
Guests were introduced to a range of cocktails that highlighted bold flavours and the versatility of rum in contemporary mixology. The evening also offered insight into the methods and presentation behind premium cocktail service, adding an interactive element to the experience.
The event formed part of the resort’s ongoing Behind The Bar Sirru Icon series, which continues to bring recognised figures from the international spirits industry to the Maldives. Through the series, the resort aims to expand its food and beverage offering with curated events that connect guests with global brands and industry expertise.
Such experiences are designed to complement the wider guest programme by combining destination dining and beverage concepts with the setting of the Maldives, while offering visitors a more immersive way to engage with the resort’s hospitality offerings.
Featured
Angsana Velavaru marks reopening of upgraded futsal ground
Angsana Velavaru has reopened its futsal facility as part of efforts to enhance guest experiences and staff engagement through sport and community activities.
The reopening ceremony was officiated by Dhaalu Atoll Council president Ahmed Shafiu and the resort’s general manager, Ahmed Zahir, who jointly cut the ribbon to mark the occasion.
Located within the island grounds, the futsal court measures 57 metres by 38 metres and is intended to serve as a space for both recreational use and organised activities for guests and resort associates.
The resort said the facility would form part of its wider recreational offering and would host workshops and expert-led collaborations aimed at providing guests with sports-based experiences while also supporting skill development and interaction. It added that the initiative also reflects its focus on staff wellbeing, teamwork and active living.
The opening event included friendly matches between the Angsana Velavaru men’s and women’s teams, as well as an inter-resort match between the Angsana Velavaru Orange Army and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru.
Adjacent to the futsal court is the resort’s upgraded watersports centre, which now includes updated guest facilities such as shower and changing areas.
Ahmed Zahir said the reopening of the futsal ground represented more than a recreational upgrade and reflected the resort’s commitment to creating meaningful experiences for both guests and associates. He said the facility would support active living, connection and wellbeing, while also serving as a space for learning and collaboration.
Angsana Velavaru, located in South Nilandhe Atoll, said the reopening of the futsal facility forms part of its wider efforts to expand its lifestyle and community-focused offerings.
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