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The Westin Maldives joins Westin Hotels’ Global Running Day celebrations

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The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, situated on BAA Atoll, the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site in the Maldives, along with four sister properties around the world – The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali, The Westin Singapore, The Westin Hamburg and The Westin London City collaborate on amplifying their Global Running Day activation across the five properties’ social media platforms.

As the preeminent well-being brand in hospitality, Westin has consistently supported Global Running Day for more than five years as a means to further encourage guests to stay active while on the road. Westin empowers guests to transcend the rigours of travel through its Six Pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well.

Guests staying at any of these five Westin properties can look forward to a series of renewing activities on June 1, 2022 to celebrate the Global Running Day, from a morning race with an Olympian athlete and evening runs through vibrant cities, to healthy breakfast by the beach and gathering at The Westin London City’s Blooming summer pop-up bar to celebrate the end of their daily workout with a glass of champagne.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort will be marking the Global Running Day by inviting guests and associates to participate in a curated 5-km morning run. Estalitaa Pinto, the resort’s fitness curator, will kick off the programme with a stretching session before leading the participants to run around the lush green island, while Executive Chef Gaurav Chakraborty prepares a wellness breakfast featuring a special balanced menu using the freshest ingredients with distinctive flavours such as salmon avocado multigrain toast with kale and pineapple smoothies, ready to welcome the participants after the run.

For a post-workout renewing session, guests can make their way to the Heavenly Spa by Westin for the Deep Tissue Uplift massage to eliminate muscle tension and find balance between body and mind.

The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali is organising ‘Maintain Your Wellness’, a running session in collaboration with the well-known Indonesian Olympian / Triathlete and Triathlon coach Andy Wibowo, where guests will get the opportunity to run around Ubud side by side with the coach.

The Westin Singapore will take guests on a scenic group run hosted by the runWESTIN Concierge Eddie through some of the city’s most iconic sights including the Art Science Museum, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Marina Bay, and Gardens by the Bay, allowing participants to explore the local in an energetic manner while taking in what the garden city has to offer.

Guests will be invited to the hotel’s outdoor infinity pool, located on Level 35, after the race for a selection of energising snacks and treats specially curated by the Executive Chef Glen Cooper. This menu will be based on refreshing treats packed with nutrients and antioxidants to speed up the recovery after exercising.

The Westin Hamburg has invited guests, local personalities and associates to join together in the thematic race in favour of inclusion, diversity, and acceptance of society margins. Thi Minh Huyen Nguyen and Daniel Marin Medina will participate in the run, who after having become immersed in the running scene in NYC, once in Berlin, decided to extend more sport access to marginalised people. Till date, their team has organised several half and full marathons, traveled internationally, and are continuing to bring running to underrepresented people. All participants are invited to enjoy a healthy breakfast at the hotel at the end of the programme.

The Westin London City is planning to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in conjunction with Global Running Day. A brand-new circular 7.5K route conducted by its Rise & Run ambassador Charlie Watson, AKA @TheRunnerBeans and The Westin London City’s Run Concierge, will take guests for an invigorating run along the River Thames until Buckingham Palace. A post-run gathering with drinks will take place at the Westin Blooming summer pop-up bar to kick off the bank holiday weekend.

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Noku Maldives strengthens reef protection through coral propagation

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Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection has announced the launch of its Coral Propagation Programme, a new reef enhancement initiative guided by the brand’s purpose-led pillar, Means for Good.

Set within the tranquil waters of Noonu Atoll, Noku Maldives is home to a naturally vibrant marine environment — and this programme reflects the resort’s long-term commitment to nurturing it with care, intention, and respect for the ocean that surrounds the island.

Supporting Natural Growth, One Fragment at a Time

At the heart of the initiative is a gentle and nature-led method using “fragments of opportunity” — naturally broken coral fragments that are collected and carefully secured onto coral frames to encourage healthy regrowth. These fragments are stabilised in an environment that supports their development, allowing new coral to establish and flourish over time.

Designed with both short-term progress and lasting impact in mind, the Coral Propagation Programme will monitor key indicators of success within its first year, including stronger, healthier coral growth and increased fish activity around the coral frames — a positive sign that biodiversity is thriving and marine life is naturally gathering around these new habitats.

Over time, the initiative aims to support the natural expansion of reef habitats by creating structured micro-environments that encourage marine life and contribute to the long-term resilience of the surrounding reef ecosystem.

A Wider Commitment to Ocean Stewardship

The Coral Propagation Programme forms part of Noku Maldives’ broader conservation focus — including the protection of one of the island’s most distinctive natural features: its lush and thriving seagrass meadows.

Unlike many destinations where seagrass is removed or covered, Noku Maldives has chosen to protect and celebrate this important ecosystem. As part of its participation in the Maldives Resilient Reef Industry Circle, the resort has pledged to safeguard at least 80% of its seagrass area, recognising its vital role in supporting marine biodiversity and strengthening environmental resilience.

Seagrass meadows are essential to the lagoon’s natural balance. They provide a nursery habitat for juvenile fish species, help stabilise sediment and reduce beach erosion, and are widely recognised as powerful natural carbon sinks — absorbing CO₂ up to 35 times faster than rainforests. Seagrass also plays a key role in supporting green sea turtles, who rely on it as a primary food source and can graze up to 2 kilograms per day.

Noku Maldives will continue ongoing seagrass monitoring through regular assessments of species composition, blade height, algae content, and ecosystem health markers measured across set quadrats. Of the eight seagrass species found in the Maldives, four have already been identified within the resort’s lagoon — a promising indicator of biodiversity and habitat richness.

A Stay That Leaves Something Behind

Through Means for Good, Noku Maldives, Vignette Collection invites guests to connect with the destination in a way that feels meaningful — where luxury is not only experienced, but thoughtfully shared with the place that makes it possible.

The Coral Propagation Programme is a step forward in ensuring that the island’s reefs, lagoon life, and underwater landscapes remain protected for generations to come — a living symbol of what happens when nature is given the space, care, and time to return.

For more information and reservations, please visit the hotel website or email us at noku.reservations@ihg.com.

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Siyam World hosts Fernando Torres and Mark Noble for festive football camps

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Siyam World Maldives created the setting for two memorable football experiences during the festive season, as Fernando Torres and Mark Noble led a series of camps that transformed the holidays into shared moments of play, discovery and connection. With phones set aside and screens forgotten, more than fifty young players became fully absorbed in movement, laughter and island life.

Over two days, former World Cup winner Fernando Torres hosted an exclusive children’s football camp for resort guests, welcoming more than fifty players aged between four and fourteen. Mornings that began by the lagoon gradually shifted to the football pitch, as relaxed holiday routines evolved into informal training sessions filled with energy and enjoyment.

Torres, widely known as El Niño, brought the same enthusiasm that defined his career with Spain and Chelsea, tempered with humour and an easygoing approach suited to the island setting. He played alongside the children, encouraged the youngest participants and offered guidance without interrupting the sense of fun. One moment captured the tone of the camp when a four-year-old attempted to nutmeg him. The attempt failed, but the laughter that followed set the mood for the sessions that continued into the afternoon.

Torres remarked that children are less concerned with reputation than with the simple pleasure of playing the game, noting that this was when the experience felt most genuine. Parents observed from the sidelines as the sessions unfolded, gradually realising that the camp had become a highlight of their family holiday.

One guest, visiting from London, said the family had arrived for the sunshine and water park, and had not expected their eight-year-old to be playing football with a former World Cup winner. She added that her son had not removed his signed jersey since.

Earlier in December, Siyam World welcomed former West Ham United captain Mark Noble for a five-day football programme. Known for his long career and leadership at the club, Noble led daily sessions that focused on teamwork, simple technique and encouragement, exchanging formal settings for cones, drills and steady guidance.

By the end of the programme, the camp had taken on the character of an informal family memory rather than a structured course. For the children, it was several days of football. For parents, it became a defining moment of their stay, remembered through shared photographs, stories and moments that lingered beyond the holiday.

Together, the two camps reflected Siyam World Maldives’ growing emphasis on immersive, sport-led experiences, where internationally recognised athletes meet the informal rhythm of island life. The approach aims to create opportunities for families to connect through experiences that feel natural, joyful and quietly distinctive, adding another dimension to the resort’s family offering.

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Discover Raa Atoll: Ifuru Island Maldives adds new dive packages for 2026

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Ifuru Island Maldives has introduced a new collection of curated dive packages, inviting guests to explore the exceptional underwater world of the Maldives through programmes designed for beginners, aspiring divers and certified enthusiasts alike.

Located in the pristine waters of Raa Atoll, Ifuru Island Maldives provides access to vibrant house reefs, calm lagoon conditions and several of the region’s most celebrated dive sites, including the renowned Ifuru Thila. The newly launched dive packages are crafted to combine professional training, guided exploration and the convenience of a premium island stay.

The collection begins with an introductory diving experience tailored for first-time divers seeking to discover the underwater world in a safe and relaxed setting. Guests undergo lagoon-based training before progressing to the house reef, offering an ideal entry point into scuba diving with no prior experience required.

For guests ready to advance further, the resort offers a globally recognised scuba certification course. Designed for confident swimmers and snorkellers, the programme includes professional instruction, open water dives and an internationally valid certification, opening access to dive destinations worldwide.

Certified divers can choose a three-day dive escape that highlights the best sites in Raa Atoll. Featuring guided morning dives across renowned locations, the experience showcases the atoll’s rich marine biodiversity, striking reef structures and clear waters.

“Diving is an essential part of the Maldivian experience, and we wanted to create a collection that feels both accessible and exceptional,” said Marcel Sawyer, General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives. “Whether it marks a guest’s first dive or their next significant underwater journey, these packages are crafted to offer confidence, comfort and memorable experiences beneath the surface.”

All dive packages may be booked alongside the resort’s premium accommodation offerings, including the Exclusively Yours Premium All-Inclusive meal plan, daily resort touches, complimentary non-motorised water sports, snorkelling equipment and return domestic flight transfers for qualifying stays.

The dive packages are available for booking and travel throughout 2026 and must be confirmed ahead of arrival. Package rates apply in addition to accommodation and are subject to availability.

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