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W Maldives launches year-long pop-up menu on World Vegan Day with Celebrity Chef Priyanka Naik
On the occasion of World Vegan Day, W Maldives announced its year-long Vegan menu curated in collaboration with celebrity vegan chef & sustainable cuisine champion, Chef Priyanka Naik. The “Go W-egan” menu would be available exclusively at the resort until October 2023.

The Food Network champion and Author of “The Modern Tiffin” was recently at W Maldives for a unique Marriott Bonvoy Moments experience that involved a visit to the nearby local farms at Thoddoo island where she hand-picked ingredients and consciously built the dishes in her menu around these readily available sustainably sourced fruits and vegetables. Chef Priyanka also worked closely with Maldivian Chefs at the resort while preparing the menu, including Chef Baka and Chef Rishma, who gave her more insights and helped her add a local touch in all courses of the menu. As part of the 4-day activation, Chef Priyanka Naik held a special sustainable cooking class for guests at the resort, giving them tips and tricks on how to make the best use of leftovers. The highlight of the collaboration was the unveiling of the year-long Go W-egan Menu with a special showcase dinner.

The special menu includes dishes like Spiced-up Watermelon Mint Salad in Tahini Lemon Crema, Double Textured Spicy Blistered Eggplant in Peanut Sauce and Chili Sesame Dressed Charred Sweet Potato with Fresh Coriander & Toasted Almonds among other must-try dishes. The two starters, two main-course and one dessert curated by Chef Priyanka is a special addition to an already vast and varied vegetarian and vegan menu that W Maldives offers and personalises for all guests.

Chef Priyanka Naik is a self-taught Indian American vegan chef, raised in New York. She is an avid traveler who’s been to nearly forty countries, and her globally inspired original recipes, with a focus on sustainability, have been featured on her blog Chef Priyanka and are incorporated into her regular speaking appearances across various shows and events.

Located 25 minutes by seaplane from Male’, W Maldives is a private island playground for those seeking exclusivity and appreciation of a luxury lifestyle brand. The island features 77 private escapes and suites, 27 on the beach and 50 overwater. The resort boasts an overwater specialty restaurant FISH®; all-day dining venue KITCHEN®; BBQ restaurant on the beach FIRE®; sunset and pool bar SIP®; WET® pool bar and deck, and Maldivian pop-up café KADA. Guests visiting W Maldives until October 2023 will be able to ask for the vegan dishes prepared exclusively for the resort by celebrity Chef Priyanka Naik as an additional culinary offering over and above the dining concepts of the resort.

To reserve your stay at W Maldives visit wmaldives.com and for more information on Chef Priyanka Naik visit her website chefpriyanka.com
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JOALI brings England football legend Fara Williams to Maldives
JOALI has announced a partnership with retired footballer Fara Williams, who will visit JOALI Maldives and JOALI BEING this April to lead a series of football-related activities for guests and the local community.
Fara Williams is among the most capped players in English football history, with 172 international appearances for the England women’s national team. Over the course of her career, she represented clubs including Chelsea and Charlton Athletic, and captained Everton to victory in the Premier League Cup in 2008 and the FA Women’s Cup in 2010.
As part of the initiative, Williams will host a football workshop for girls from Dhuvaafaru Island on 11 April 2026. The session is intended to support the development of women’s football in the Maldives and reflects JOALI’s engagement with communities in Raa Atoll.
In addition, family-focused football sessions will be held for resort guests on 13 April at JOALI Maldives and on 17 April at JOALI BEING. These sessions will provide children and families with the opportunity to participate in football activities guided by Williams.
JOALI Maldives offers villas starting from USD 3,256 per night for two guests sharing a Water Villa with Pool on a bed and breakfast basis. At JOALI BEING, villas start from USD 3,162 per night for two guests sharing an Ocean Pool Villa on a bed and breakfast basis.
Featured
Grand Park Kodhipparu to host lunar-themed experiences in May
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has unveiled Moon Over Kodhipparu, a month-long programme of curated lunar-inspired experiences scheduled to take place throughout May 2026. Drawing on the natural rhythm of the moon, the resort invites guests to experience the Maldives through a series of immersive activities designed to foster connection to self, others, and the surrounding island environment.
Set against the Indian Ocean, the programme structures each significant lunar phase as a distinct experiential segment. The Flower Full Moon at the beginning of the month introduces a theme of renewal, with activities including guided sound healing sessions, sunset cruises that extend into moonlit lagoon journeys, and oceanfront dining experiences.
Midway through the month, the Super New Moon presents a contrasting focus on stillness and reflection. Guests are invited to participate in beachside wellness sessions, starlit cruises under dark skies, and night fishing experiences guided by the natural rhythm of the sea.
The programme concludes with the Blue Moon on 31 May, marked by a series of experiences centred on celebration and connection, including couples’ spa treatments, lagoon cruises, and curated dining experiences under moonlight.
In addition to these key lunar events, the programme runs throughout May with a range of experiences integrated into the resort offering. Evening options include private beach lounge settings illuminated by lanterns, alongside a selection of botanical cocktails reflecting the changing tones of the night sky. The resort also offers tailored private dining and proposal arrangements, as well as a Mother’s Day concept that enables guests to arrange personalised experiences for travelling family members.
The programme reflects a broader trend in luxury travel towards experience-led stays. At Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, this is reflected through the integration of wellness, dining, and ocean-based activities into a structured programme designed to create continuity across the guest experience.
Guests are able to access the programme through the resort’s “Night on Us” offer, available for bookings made until 30 April 2026. The offer includes two complimentary nights on a six-night stay, allowing guests additional time to engage with multiple phases of the programme. It is valid for stays through 31 October 2026.
Located approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives offers overwater villas, a house reef, and a range of curated experiences that reflect the natural and cultural setting of the Maldives.
Through Moon Over Kodhipparu, the resort continues to expand its experience offering by aligning guest activities with natural cycles and structured programming.
Awards
Angsana Velavaru achieves 4.8 rating in British Airways Customer Awards
Angsana Velavaru has received the British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award 2025, recognising the resort for consistently high levels of guest satisfaction and service.
The award is based on verified customer feedback and reflects guest experiences at the resort. Angsana Velavaru achieved an overall score of 4.8 out of 5, with recognition given for service delivery, attention to detail and guest care throughout the stay.
Located within a lagoon in South Nilandhe Atoll, the resort offers a range of accommodation options, including beachfront villas with direct beach access and its InOcean Villas, situated approximately one kilometre from the main island. These overwater villas provide a more secluded setting with open ocean views.
The resort caters to a variety of travellers, including families, couples and individual guests. Family-oriented programmes and shared activities are available, while other guests can take part in leisure, wellness and exploration experiences. Through its 101 Things To Do programme, guests can engage in activities such as snorkelling, marine excursions, cultural experiences and wellness sessions.
The surrounding reef environment provides opportunities for marine exploration, while the resort’s service approach focuses on delivering personalised guest experiences. This combination of natural setting and service delivery forms a central part of the resort’s offering.
The British Airways Holidays Customer Excellence Award is presented to hotels that achieve high customer ratings, serving as an indicator of guest satisfaction within the travel sector. For Angsana Velavaru, the recognition reflects its continued focus on maintaining service standards and delivering consistent guest experiences.
The resort continues to position its offering around accessibility to nature, varied experiences and a service model aimed at supporting guest comfort and engagement throughout their stay.
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