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Sun Siyam Iru Veli welcomes Sky Sports Journalist and Chef Manuele Baiocchini this April

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As part of the resorts’ ongoing exclusive celebrity chef residencies, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Maldives welcomes Italian Sky Sports TV journalist and host of Casa Baio on the Food Network in Italy, Manuele Baiocchini, to its culinary shores from 22nd to 28th of April, 2023.

Guests at Sun Siyam Iru Veli will be able to indulge in several specialty dishes freshly prepared by Manuele during various exclusive dinner show cooking events throughout his stay. He will also present his dishes at an exceptional management cocktail by the beach where all island foodies can sample his elegant but simply-tasty Italian dishes while gazing into the sunset.

Featured dishes include ravioli with lobster, cherry tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, fruit salad and catch of the day, pastry custard with tropical fruit and chocolate chips.

His love for cooking is only one of the many ardent bents Manuele comes with, as he is also a passionate sports journalist at Sky Sports in Italy and is therefore teaming up with islanders and guests alike to play a couple of fun but friendly football matches between Sun Siyam Vilu Reef and Sun Siyam Iru Veli during his stay.

Manuele Baiocchini, Sky Sport journalist, combines two great Italian passions: football and cooking.

Sports reporting and presenting football news are his daily passion, but he expresses his imagination in creativity in the kitchen at Casa Baio, the only format, broadcasted on Discovery Food Network, where he cooks and plays… football, what else!?

Born in 1982, Manuele Baiocchini was always a very determined boy: he studied, delivered pizzas, played football, and worked on the radio. When he set aside his dream of being a footballer, he pursued the aspiration of becoming a sports journalist. It was a long road traveled to get to Sky Sports, where he now is an integral part of the team, and is clearly the result of authentic passion and curiosity, as well as hard work. He joined Sky in 2007, and over the years he has held various roles at the channel, such as editorial staff, correspondent and expert on the transfer market, sideline during matches, as well as interviewer/ host after the matches.

The kitchen holds a long-standing devotion for Manuele Baiocchini. Initially a little lost in favour of the demanding work of a sports journalist but never an abandoned passion, the journalist proposes predominantly traditional recipes – with particular regard to the cuisine of the city he was born in, Rome! – sometimes revisited with a touch of originality. The programme is broadcast directly from his home kitchen!

To find out more about the chef’s residencies and news at Sun Siyam Iru Veli or to book your stay, please visit www.sunsiyam.com, or contact us at book@sunsiyam.com.

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The Standard, Maldives brings Lunar New Year energy to Raa Atoll

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The Standard, Maldives will mark the Lunar New Year this February with a week-long celebration that invites guests to swap urban festivities for the turquoise waters of the Raa Atoll. Taking place from 17 to 22 February, the programme will transform the island resort into a festive setting that blends time-honoured traditions with the brand’s playful and contemporary character.

Designed to move beyond a conventional island escape, the celebrations will open with lively visual touches, including jumping stilts and fortune cookies, setting the tone for a week where Maldivian tranquillity meets the spirit of East Asian culture. Throughout the programme, guests will be immersed in a series of experiences that combine culinary creativity, entertainment and cultural expression.

Food takes centre stage in the Lunar New Year offering, with a diverse line-up of dining events curated to engage all the senses. Highlights include an Asian Street Food buffet inspired by classic Chinese motifs, alongside more refined beachfront experiences such as five-course Crab Night and Lobster Night dinners at Kula Beach. Interactive elements are also woven into the programme, with Tangyuan Time at Joos Café inviting families to prepare traditional sweet glutinous rice balls together, while younger guests can participate in a dedicated mocktail-making masterclass.

Evenings at the resort will be defined by high-energy entertainment and cultural performances. Todis Beach will host LED and fire shows, complemented by special Chinese dance performances that illuminate the shoreline after dark. Adding a local dimension to the celebrations, Maldivian Boduberu drumming will feature prominently, creating a rhythmic fusion of regional and international traditions. For guests seeking a more relaxed pace, the programme also includes a Lunar New Year Movie Night at the main pool and a Bingo Night at Todis Bar.

Commenting on the celebrations, Sonika Adlakha, Commercial Director of The Standard, Maldives, said the aim was to create a Lunar New Year experience that feels both authentic and adventurous. She noted that by combining the dynamic energy of street food markets and fire shows with the calm luxury of a Maldivian retreat, the resort is offering guests a distinctive way to welcome the Year of the Horse.

To complement the festivities, the resort is offering a Premium All-Inclusive Package, designed to provide seamless access to the week’s dining and entertainment programme. The package includes the full range of culinary experiences, from Asian Street Food stalls to themed buffets at Kula, as well as a selection of premium spirits, cocktails and refreshments. This offering allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the celebrations while enjoying the freedom to experience the Lunar New Year at The Standard, Maldives without limits.

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Four Seasons Maldives brings Fire Horse energy to Lunar New Year celebrations

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Four Seasons Resorts Maldives will welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with a week of Lunar New Year celebrations across Landaa Giraavaru and Kuda Huraa. Taking place from 16 to 24 February 2026, the programme will see both islands animated by the vibrant energy associated with this rare zodiac year.

Bold and spirited, the Fire Horse symbolises momentum, confidence and fresh beginnings. The celebrations are designed to reflect these qualities through a blend of cultural tradition, island elegance and family-focused experiences, positioning the Maldives as a fitting setting for the festive season.

Marking a first for the Maldives, the resorts will host an exclusive pop-up by Beijing’s Michelin-recognised Baiweiyuan Dumpling Restaurant, operating concurrently at both islands. Long celebrated in Beijing for its handmade dumplings and comforting soups, Baiweiyuan will present a menu featuring signature pork and chive dumplings, beef and onion fillings, and vegetarian options such as egg and tomato. Cold starters, including soy-braised pork trotter, will complement the experience.

Prepared fresh to order, the dumplings introduce an authentic taste of Beijing to the Indian Ocean, offering a culinary highlight that reflects the warmth and generosity associated with the Fire Horse.

Lunar New Year at Kuda Huraa

16–24 February 2026

At Kuda Huraa, Lunar New Year celebrations will unfold throughout the week in a lively, festival-style programme. Events begin with a Reunion Dinner at Café Huraa, followed by themed dining evenings, outdoor cinema screenings, a Pool Party and a Pop-Up Asian Market.

Evenings will include experiences such as a Secret Beach BBQ under the stars, a Mediterranean Market at Reef Club and an Asian Buffet at Café Huraa. Baiweiyuan’s dumpling pop-up will be available daily, allowing guests to enjoy the flavours of Beijing throughout the celebrations.

Kuda Huraa highlights include:

  • Reunion Dinner on 16 February
  • Family Feast Lunch, Seafood Night and Asian Buffet
  • Secret Beach BBQ and Mediterranean Market
  • Pool Party with DJ on 18 February
  • Pop-Up Asian Market and outdoor movie nights
  • Daily Baiweiyuan Dumpling pop-up


The Kuda Mas Kids Club will also host a two-week Fire Horse–inspired festival for younger guests, featuring activities such as lantern painting, snorkelling adventures, arts and crafts, dumpling making, tie-dye workshops, karaoke evenings and beach games. The programme is designed to encourage creativity, confidence and fun.

Lunar New Year at Landaa Giraavaru

16 February 2026

Landaa Giraavaru will welcome the New Year with a poolside celebration from 7.00pm to 10.30pm, featuring a Dragon Dance, live DJ and lantern-lit setting around the main pool. A Yu Sheng prosperity toss will symbolise abundance and good fortune, while live cooking stations will showcase celebratory flavours prepared by the resort’s culinary team.

Landaa Giraavaru highlights include:

  • Poolside Lunar New Year celebration
  • Dragon Dance performance
  • Live DJ and festive ambience
  • Yu Sheng prosperity toss
  • Culture-inspired welcome drinks
  • Baiweiyuan Dumpling pop-up available throughout the week

Across both islands, Lunar New Year at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives is designed to bring families and friends together in the spirit of prosperity, connection and shared celebration. Guests are invited to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse through traditions that honour luck, abundance and meaningful togetherness.

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Love loud and laid-back: Valentine’s Day across CROSSROADS Maldives

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At CROSSROADS Maldives, Valentine’s Day is designed as a full-day celebration that extends beyond a single romantic dinner, unfolding instead as a journey of connection, creativity and shared discovery. Set across two interconnected islands linked by a tranquil lagoon, the destination invites couples to shape their own rhythm of romance, moving fluidly between moments of energy, playfulness and quiet reflection.

Located just 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé, CROSSROADS Maldives offers a multi-island Valentine’s escape that combines barefoot island living with a contemporary sense of togetherness. From sunrise through to starlight, couples are encouraged to explore experiences that engage both body and mind.

At SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, the day begins with a sunrise couple’s fitness run along the shoreline, followed by guided snorkelling experiences and pool-based wellness sessions. As the pace builds, playful activities take centre stage, including aqua zumba, beach and pool volleyball, water polo and a light-hearted couple’s “Amazing Race” around the island.

Creative expression forms an integral part of the programme, with hands-on workshops such as coconut painting, tie-dye art, cocktail and mocktail masterclasses, and relaxed karaoke sessions at the swim-up bar. For couples seeking slower, more intimate moments, SAii Spa offers extended Valentine’s journeys for two, featuring shared rituals, massages, facials and private bathing ceremonies, concluding with champagne and chocolate indulgences.

One of the most personal experiences takes place at the clay studio at The Marina @ CROSSROADS, where couples spend time shaping a single ceramic piece together. The finished item is kiln-fired and, if guests depart before completion, shipped to their home as a lasting keepsake of their time together.

Across the lagoon, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives presents a contrasting atmosphere with its Love Loud, Live Proud Valentine’s programme. Dance-led fitness sessions, couple-focused pool games and sunset partner yoga transition into beachfront dining, live music and Latin-inspired performances beneath the night sky.

As part of the celebrations, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives has introduced the LOVE ROCKS Valentine’s offer, providing couples with the opportunity to extend their stay beyond the day itself. The offer includes savings of up to 35 per cent, with bookings available from 12 January to 10 February 2026 for stays between 10 February and 31 March 2026.

As evening falls, Valentine’s dining experiences unfold across the destination’s beach and open-air venues, ranging from intimate multi-course dinners and relaxed barbecues to DJ-led beach parties at Hard Rock Cafe. Rather than centring on a single moment, Valentine’s Day at CROSSROADS Maldives is defined by a series of experiences chosen by each couple, allowing the celebration to feel personal, flexible and unhurried.

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