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Renovated Anantara Veli Maldives Resort reopens with fresh, wellness-centric identity
Offering a reimagined adult-only experience set amid crystalline lagoon waters, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort reopened on 1 December 2022 following nine months of extensive renovations. With revamped accommodations, including the introduction of a new Beach Pool Villa room category, a new Villa Host service for all guests, newly redesigned restaurants and a hammam added to the wellness-focused spa, the 67-villa Maldivian playground is all set to cradle couples into vacation mode.
Set on a stunning natural island in the South Malé Atoll, surrounded by a pristine lagoon, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort boasts an unspoiled setting that inspired New York-based designer Yuji Yamazaki to develop a renovation concept rooted in nature and wellness. To keep guests at one with the environment while giving them a sense of intimate seclusion, Yamazaki added an extra layer of privacy to the entire stay experience – from self-sufficient villa and spa designs to restaurants infused with modern takes on no-walls tropical living.
Meticulously designed to keep the curious eye out, overwater villas at Anantara Veli Maldives are a study in serene functionality. With cool powder tones and organic patterns borrowed from nature, these private cocoons offer long soaks in a standalone tub, blissful outdoor rain showers and Villa Host service. All villas have been fully renovated in traditional-meets-contemporary tropical style, using a natural palette of wood and stone, cool fabrics and rattan finishes and the latest in high-tech comforts.
The resort’s brand-new Beach Pool Villas are set directly on soft white sands and come with sliding glass doors that open onto a private pool flanked by a cushioned daybed, an open-air living and dining space, and an island-style bedroom surrounded by tropical foliage. The most exclusive of Anantara Veli’s villa categories, each of the six new Beach Pool Villas offers 148 square metres of luxurious space, with direct beach access and the utmost in privacy.
The relaunch of Anantara Veli also sees the introduction of a new wellness concept which allows guests to book a personalised Wellness Villa experience. Enhanced with light, sound and scent therapy that changes the ambience from day to night, the villa comes with Ayurvedic spa amenities, an earthing mat for meditation, and a wellness minibar with herbal teas, healthy shakes and wholefood snacks. All stays in a Wellness Villa include a wellness consultation upon arrival, daily yoga or personal training session, a healthy cooking class, and 20% savings on treatments at Balance Wellness by Anantara.
Offering multi-day wellness retreats alongside consultations with the resident naturopath and nutritionist, personal trainer, yoga and lifestyle coach, Balance Wellness by Anantara is an oasis of healing in the tropical heart of the resort. Surrounded by nature, the spa goes beyond the traditional spa experience with wellness options ranging from Ayurvedic and holistic treatments, to the latest in epigenetics, sound healing and IV therapies. The brand new Moroccan hammam offers authentic treatments using marocMaroc products, while its facial and body therapies use exclusive skincare brand 111Skin of Harley Street, London. Balance Wellness by Anantara features five treatment suites, a nail salon, a medical spa, Shirodhara treatment bed, steam room and sauna, indoor and outdoor showers, and a relaxation garden with hot and cold plunge pools.
With numerous dining venues, guests can enjoy the finest cuisines from across the globe while learning about old and new world wines from the resort’s Wine Guru. Cumin offers cuisine from Sri Lanka, India and Maldives, while the stylishly refurbished Origami serves modern Japanese fare including teppanyaki and robatayaki. Poolside, Dhoni Bar specialises in Mediterranean tapas, with coffee and smoothies by day and Champagne and signature cocktails after dark.
Poised over water on the edge of a lagoon and outer reef, Baan Huraa delights with coconut curries from Thailand’s southern provinces and spicy dishes from the north. On neighbouring sister island Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, Sea.Fire.Salt serves expertly grilled meats and fresh fish and seafood from the local waters, whilst Aqua delivers wholesome Italian fare. Breakfast is served a la carte overlooking the ocean at Cumin, with a variety of wellness options included on the menu. Guests also have the freedom to dine outside the restaurants thanks to Anantara’s signature Dining by Design experience with private chef, butler and sommelier.
Whether seeking serenity or reconnection, travellers will find a wide array of water- and land-based activities. Guests can enjoy the thrills of underwater discovery with Aquafanatics, the resort’s resident watersports partner, catch a wave during the surf season with resident experts Tropicsurf, and join the resort in its habitat preservation efforts by adopting a coral as part of Anantara’s sustainability programme with the resident marine biologist.
On land, there is a fully-equipped fitness centre, in addition to an outdoor gym, a tennis court and dedicated spaces for volleyball, badminton, table tennis, chess and Pétanque. Guests can also book fitness sessions with the personal trainer or try their hand in the new boxing ring. Holidaymakers looking for quieter pursuits can book a Spice Spoons cooking class, meditate or practice yoga at the ocean-facing pavilion, or lounge by the infinity-edge swimming pool.
Located 21 kilometres south of Velana International airport, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort is only 30 minutes by speedboat, available 24 hours a day.
Lead in rates from USD 750 per room per night on a half board basis, excluding tax. For more information or to make a reservation, call +960 664 4100, email velimaldives@anantara.com or visit www.anantara.com/en/veli-maldives
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has won three awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, with Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives receiving recognition across three categories.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives secured Gold in the Leading Surf Resort category for the eighth time and fourth consecutive year, while Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives retained Gold in the Leading Beach Resort category for the second consecutive year. Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives also received Silver in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category.
The 10th edition of SATA was held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé on 8 October 2026, recognising achievements across South Asia’s tourism and hospitality industry, including guest experiences, industry leadership and responsible tourism.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is home to the Pasta Point surf break, which attracts surfers from around the world. The resort’s eighth Gold award in the Leading Surf Resort category reflects its position among the Maldives’ surfing destinations. In addition to surfing, the resort offers water sports, wellness activities and other guest experiences.
“We remain committed to delivering memorable surf experiences and holidays in the Maldives,” said Marlon Robert, General Manager of Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives.
Robert also acknowledged the continued support of guests, the international surfing community and the resort team in securing the recognition.
Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives received its second consecutive Gold award as Leading Beach Resort in recognition of its island setting, which features sandy beaches, a lagoon and a selection of beachfront and overwater accommodation. The resort also offers dining, wellness and recreational activities, providing guests with opportunities to explore the surrounding marine environment.
The resort’s Silver award in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category recognised its efforts to provide dive education and career development opportunities for young people from neighbouring island communities.
Implemented in partnership with Dive & Sail, the resort’s PADI-certified dive centre, the six-day programme enabled nine students aged between 16 and 18 from schools in Keyodhoo and Felidhoo to obtain PADI Open Water Diver certification.
The programme combined theoretical lessons, practical training and supervised dives to promote safe diving practices and reef conservation. It also introduced participants to potential career opportunities in marine tourism.
“These accolades reflect the dedication of our teams and the continued support of our guests, whose trust inspires us to keep raising the standard of our experiences,” said Sanjeeva Perera, Area General Manager, Cinnamon Maldives Resorts.
The three awards recognise the tourism experiences offered by Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, as well as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ initiatives in environmental awareness and community engagement across its Maldives properties.
ELE|NA has been named Leading Wellness and Spa Brand at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, recognising the Maldives-based wellness brand’s contributions to the hospitality and wellness industry across the region.
The recognition comes as wellness continues to become an integral part of luxury hospitality, with ELE|NA working alongside resort partners to develop and operate wellness facilities that combine therapeutic experiences, trained professionals and operational expertise.
Guided by its Wellness Your Way™ philosophy, ELE|NA incorporates wellness into different aspects of the guest experience. Its six Pillars of Vitality – TouchFlow, ReFine, BodyFit, SoulVibe, SleepSync and FoodDelight – encompass therapeutic treatments, physical activity, emotional wellbeing, restorative sleep and nutrition. The framework allows individual resorts to develop wellness programmes tailored to their locations and guest preferences.
In addition to providing wellness experiences, ELE|NA works with hospitality partners on concept development, spa operations, therapist training and service delivery. Its operational model combines the individual characteristics of each resort with standardised systems and procedures aimed at maintaining service consistency across its properties.
Sustainability also forms part of the brand’s operations. All ELE|NA properties in the Maldives have received Platinum Sustainable Wellness Accreditation, recognising their approach to responsible spa operations, environmental management and community wellbeing.
The brand also invests in professional development through the ELE|NA Wellness Academy, which provides training programmes for therapists and wellness professionals. The academy combines traditional therapeutic practices, practical training and contemporary wellness knowledge to support professional development and strengthen service standards across the industry.
The recognition at SATA 2026 comes as ELE|NA continues to expand its operations beyond the Maldives, extending its wellness concepts and services into India, Nepal and other emerging hospitality destinations.
With wellness increasingly influencing travellers’ accommodation choices and holiday experiences, ELE|NA continues to focus on integrating wellness services into resort operations while supporting the development of trained professionals and sustainable practices within the hospitality sector.
Milaidhoo Maldives is set to welcome award-winning chef James Knight-Paccheco, widely known as Chef JKP, on 11 and 12 December 2026 for two culinary events focusing on cooking techniques, culinary experiences and the exploration of new flavours.
On 11 December, Chef JKP will conduct a culinary workshop, offering guests the opportunity to cook alongside him, learn professional techniques and exchange ideas in the kitchen. The following evening, he will host a wine-pairing dinner featuring dishes prepared in his signature style, accompanied by wines selected by the resort’s resident sommelier to complement each course.
With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Chef JKP has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels and restaurant projects across the UK and the Middle East. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside renowned chefs including Raymond Blanc, Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines. He is also the creator and host of The Chef JKP Podcast, which has recorded more than 6.5 million downloads.
At Milaidhoo Maldives, the culinary experience draws inspiration from the island’s surroundings, Maldivian flavours and traditional cooking methods, combined with international influences introduced by the resort’s team of chefs. This approach encourages the exchange of culinary knowledge and techniques, allowing guests to explore local dishes, learn new cooking methods and engage with the chefs responsible for their dining experiences.
Located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Milaidhoo offers a setting where dining experiences focus on personalised service and interaction between guests and culinary professionals. Chef JKP’s visit is intended to provide guests with opportunities to engage directly with the visiting chef, gain insights into his approach to cooking and experience his culinary creations.
The culinary workshop will take place on 11 December 2026, followed by the wine-pairing dinner on 12 December 2026.
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