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Travel with purpose at Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio resorts in Maldives

Published

4 years ago

October 31, 2022

The last Wednesday of October is marked as Sustainability Day to remind the community of the importance of caring for the environment and the steps to do so. Studies have shown that travellers are increasingly more concerned about their impact on the world and there has been an increase in awareness of environmental and social issues. Apart from eco-conscious accommodation, travellers are also looking for meaningful travel initiatives. In 2021, Marriott International launched the Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy programme which aspires to shift the way vacations are perceived – from pure leisure to a value-adding opportunity that allows travellers to explore and build deeper connections in local communities.

Conscientious travellers to the Maldives can look forward to include initiatives to continue to eliminate single-use plastics, implementation of re-usable glass bottles for water and juices, usage of paper products around the resorts and initiating monthly dives against debris and clean-up days along with various other initiatives to promote the conservation of marine life and awareness of the same.

These four resorts from Marriott Bonvoy’ portfolio in the Maldives are taking new and enhanced initiatives to do their bit for the environment, oceans and community:

JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

Sustainability is at the heart of the multi-generational JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa’s ethos and the island haven offers interactive activities for the entire family to enjoy whilst keeping a sustainable approach in place. The resort’s marine biologist leads fun and interactive chats for all ages at ‘Marine Talk’ where guests can learn about the importance of coral, how the resort is preserving it and delving into the wonderful wildlife which inhabits Vagaru Island. Through the FAMiLY by JW Little Griffins Kids Club, arts and crafts sessions aim at reducing waste and providing kids with tangible knowledge and experience on recycling and sustainability. Children can use a plethora of day-to-day items from plastic bottles to paper cups and toilet paper, or even leaves from around the beautiful resort, to create art and celebrate this idyllic island while understanding the impact of waste. The Kids Club facilitators teach children through interactive and fun activities, how each one of us can play a part to support climate change and sustainability.

“Supporting local” is not just a trend, but an important undertaking for travellers who directly contribute to empowering the local economy. The pandemic has underscored, for many travellers that everyone is in it together. Marriott International is committed to supporting local communities and embracing local businesses for sustainability. JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa uses Island Apothecary products – made from local natural ingredients, in some of the signature couple treatments at Spa by JW. This initiative supports women run businesses in the community as each bottle is mixed, bottled and shipped straight from the island homes. The resort also uses locally sourced fresh catch in their restaurants and handmade tipi tents to bring to life the FAMiLY by JW experience in villas for kids.

W Maldives

Whether you’re looking to follow your dietary discipline, or experience what sustainable dining entails even while you’re in the middle of the ocean – look no further! W Maldives is elevating it’s culinary offerings by collaborating with celebrity vegan chef & sustainable cuisine champion, Chef Priyanka Naik, who has created a pop-up menu that would be available exclusively at the resort until October 2023. With a focus on local and sustainably sourced ingredients while maintaining stylish presentation and bold flavors true to the brand, the menu is sure to entice not just vegans but also the non-vegans to give it a try.

The luxury playground in North Ari Atoll has also partnered with cutting-edge Hong Kong swimwear label Mazu Resortwear to create exclusive prints with a bold message in mind. Made out of salvaged plastic bottles, the limited edition swimwear collection is stealing the scene in style and is inspired by the team’s commitment to save the ocean since 2021.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

The Adopt a Coral initiativeat Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spainvites guests to participate in the fun and interactive coral-fragment plantation activity in an effort to promote reef habitats and generate new coral. The resort has teamed up with Reefscapers, a coral propagation organisation appointed by the Maldivian Government as custodians of the coral colonies in the Gulhi Falhu lagoon which was slated to be destroyed as part of a reclamation project. The activity is led by experts and offers a hands-on experience to participants while also providing an alternative business to the 250 inhabitants whose sole previous source of employment was fishing. The resort witnessed coral spawning, a milestone in the resort’s coral propagation initiative that started in February 2020. To date, over 6,000 coral fragments from 15 different species of corals have been transplanted.

The resort also runs its own ‘water bottling plant initiative’ as part of the resort’s sustainability programme that is dedicated to removing large amounts of plastic bottles from the resort. This initiative is an important aspect of the property’s commitment to protecting and preserving their environment through day-to-day operation, encompassing Marriott International’s wider “Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction” campaign.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort

As part of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy™, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort offers guests an experience to be able to contribute meaningfully to the community by promoting the traditional art of lacquer to travellers coming to Maldives, making it profitable and helping to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Liyelaa Jehun for future generations. Lacquer work, known locally as Liyelaa Jehun, is a traditional art believed to have come to the Maldives centuries ago from Chinese traders and settlers. It is now only practiced by a few locals and is at risk of being lost forever. At The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort guests are invited to join the interactive workshop with local lacquer workers, to learn the art and help preserve one of the oldest traditional crafts in the Maldives. Guests can learn and mold the intricate craft themselves with local artisans guiding them. Guests participating in the experience play a key role in supporting the local artisans and the industry. The workshops not only give guests the chance to create something of their own, but also to help keep the art alive. By buying crafts directly from the producers, they directly support the local economy, and by taking pieces of the art back home, guests are helping to preserve the traditional craft and heritage and spread awareness about it too.

The resort has also launched a new project to protect and restore coral reefs. The team at AQUA, the watersports centre at the resort, leads this exciting project, one of the biggest of its kind in the Baa Atoll area. It is specific to the local reef topography and will focus on restoring the reefs from top to bottom. Trial nurseries have been set up to see if this method will be successful and healthy coral colonies can be transplanted back onto the reefs.

To know more about the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of resorts in Maldives click here. For more information, please visit www.marriott.com

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ananea Madivaru Maldives to host international padel player Cornelia Lister

Published

6 hours ago

November 6, 2026

m@ldives

ananea Madivaru Maldives will welcome Cornelia Lister, international padel player and Captain of the Swedish National Junior Padel Team, from 7 to 14 November 2026. Bringing experience from both professional tennis and international padel, she will host two afternoons of padel sessions, inviting guests to refine their game and enjoy friendly competition in an intimate group setting.

With a tennis career spanning appearances at Wimbledon, the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open, Lister brings a distinguished sporting background to the experience. A WTA doubles titleholder who reached a career-high world doubles ranking of No. 72, she combines experience at the highest levels of tennis with a passion for developing players on the padel court.

With the growing appeal of padel inspiring new ways to spend time together on holiday, ananea Madivaru offers a setting where a love of sport finds its place within the ease of island life. Its padel and pickleball courts, overwater gym and Kandu Spa allow guests to move between spirited play and quieter moments at their own pace. Lister’s visit lends a distinctive touch to this experience, bringing the insight and warmth of an accomplished player to afternoons shared on court.

Pierre Edlund, General Manager of ananea Madivaru Maldives, says: “Having worked with Cornelia before, I know firsthand the incredible energy and passion she brings, not only to the sport but also to the people around her. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and for me, it was an obvious choice to welcome her to ananea Madivaru Maldives. She brings exactly the kind of personality and spirit we love, adding a little extra sporty glamour, fun and unforgettable moments to our guests’ island experience.”

Padel sessions with Cornelia Lister are exclusively available to in-house guests on a complimentary basis, adding a fun, active and memorable moment to their Slow Glamour holiday.

Opened in July 2025, ananea Madivaru is a luxury twin-island resort set in the heart of the Maldives’ North Ari Atoll. Rooted in the philosophy of slow glamour, the resort invites guests to embrace life’s unhurried rhythms while immersed in timeless beauty and refined simplicity. With 111 elegantly designed villas, nine distinct dining destinations, a private lagoon, serene spa, immersive experiences, and a dedicated kids’ club, ananea Madivaru blends contemporary sophistication with the traditions and natural splendour of its surroundings. Every element has been carefully curated to offer meaningful, memorable escapes that resonate long after departure.

For more information and bookings, please visit the resort’s official website.

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Avani+ Fares Maldives offers young guests football training with Martin Kelly

Published

2 days ago

November 4, 2026

m@ldives

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort will host an Exclusive Kids’ Football Camp featuring former Liverpool FC defender Martin Kelly from 15 to 18 November 2026, offering young football enthusiasts an opportunity to train with a former Premier League player.

The four-day programme is open to children aged five to 13 of all skill levels and will combine professional football coaching with recreational activities at the resort in Baa Atoll.

The event follows three football camps previously hosted by Avani+ Fares Maldives with former England and Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen, as the resort continues to develop sporting experiences for younger guests.

The upcoming camp will feature daily afternoon training sessions led by Kelly, alongside a welcome meet-and-greet, beach games, pool parties, FIFA tournaments and other recreational activities.

Each participant will receive an official football camp kit comprising two customised jerseys, shorts and socks. The programme will conclude with a closing ceremony, during which participants will receive medals and certificates.

“A football camp is about so much more than what happens on the pitch. It’s about helping young players enjoy the game, believe in themselves and learn how much they can achieve as part of a team,” Kelly said.

“I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I’ve learnt throughout my career and, most importantly, having fun with the kids in such an incredible setting.”

Kelly, a graduate of Liverpool FC’s academy, made 62 senior appearances for the club and was part of the squad that won the League Cup in 2012. He later continued his Premier League career with Crystal Palace, where he spent several seasons.

The football camp comes in a year when Avani+ Fares Maldives was recognised as Best Family Resort at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026.

Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, the resort offers a range of accommodation options for families, including Overwater Villas, Two-Bedroom Ocean View Pavilions and Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villas.

In addition to the football camp, guests can participate in activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset fishing, watersports and beach recreation. The resort also offers activities for younger guests at AvaniKids, while wellness treatments are available at AvaniSpa.

The Exclusive Kids’ Football Camp will take place from 15 to 18 November 2026, with a participation fee of USD 399 per child.

A five-night accommodation package starts from USD 3,784 per room for two adults and one child staying in a Premium Ocean View Room.

The package includes accommodation, half-board dining, football camp participation for one child, seaplane transfers, and applicable taxes and service charges.

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CROSSROADS Maldives welcomes international padel stars for historic women’s tournament

Published

5 days ago

November 1, 2026

m@ldives

The Maldives is set for an electrifying sporting spectacle as CROSSROADS Maldives welcomes the country’s first FIP Silver Women’s Padel tournament, taking place from 5–8 November 2026 at SAii Lagoon Maldives. Organised in collaboration Asia Padel Events, the event brings international sporting excellence to paradise, with professional competition, exclusive masterclasses, and exciting opportunities for the public to experience the game firsthand.

The tournament will feature 26 international professional players, including eight athletes ranked among the world’s Top 100. Headlining the competition are Spanish padel stars Nuria Rodriguez (World No. 24) and Marta Talavan (World No. 36), alongside an impressive line-up featuring Finland’s No. 1 player Martina Minetti, UK’s No. 3 Rosie Pooley, an Italian national champion, European champions, Malaysia’s No. 1 player, and national team representatives from multiple countries.

Beyond the championship, CROSSROADS Maldives is opening the courts to everyone. From 5–8 November, padel enthusiasts can train alongside Nuria Rodriguez and Marta Talavan through exclusive masterclasses, available at USD 450 per day or USD 1,200 for the four-day experience. The programme includes:

Four hours of intensive training and matches daily, divided into two sessions.
An exclusive dinner with the professionals on 5 November.
Access to watch all FIP Silver Women’s Padel tournament matches.

For those seeking a personalised experience, exclusive training sessions with Finland’s No. 1 Martina Minetti and UK’s No. 3 Rosie Pooley will also be available from 2–4 November, offering one-on-one private coaching at USD 200 per hour, or an exciting one-hour matchplay session with two professionals at USD 400.

The tournament is open for everyone to watch, welcoming resort guests, Maldivian residents, expatriates, and visitors to witness world-class padel against the spectacular backdrop of the Indian Ocean. Masterclasses and private coaching sessions are likewise open to the public, with limited slots available.

As a multi-island lifestyle destination, CROSSROADS Maldives, home to SO/ Maldives, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, and The Marina at CROSSROADS, continues to elevate the island experience through international sporting events, entertainment, and lifestyle programming that connect travellers with the local community.

This November, the CROSSROADS Maldives isn’t just one destination. It’s centre court.

Event Details

2–4 November | Private Training & Matchplay:

One-on-one training with international professionals: USD 200 per hour
One-hour matchplay with two professionals: USD 400

5–8 November | Padel Masterclasses:

Daily Pass: USD 450 per person
Four-Day Pass: USD 1,200 per person
Includes four hours of daily training and matches across two sessions, dinner with the professionals on 5 November, and access to watch tournament matches.

5–8 November | FIP Silver Women’s Padel Tournament (Open to spectators):

5 November: Round of 16
6 November: Quarterfinals
7 November: Semifinals
8 November: Championship Final

Venue: SAii Lagoon Maldives, CROSSROADS Maldives

Bookings & Enquiries: KoimalaandMaalimi@crossroadsmaldives.com

Masterclass packages exclude food and beverages beyond the stated dinner inclusion, accommodation, and transfers. Public access and participation are subject to event arrangements and availability.