Featured
Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences: Leading the way in sustainable tourism
Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences, nestled in the midst of the beautiful Baa Atoll, is a pioneer resort in sustainability.
Nestled in the heart of the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, lies the Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences, a pioneer in sustainable tourism. Over the past three years, the resort has embarked on an eco-journey that has seen it implement over 35 concurrent sustainability initiatives, including solar energy, coral propagation, recycling, and reducing packaging waste through its Homegrown@Amilla and Homemade@Amilla programs.
Amilla has a number of sustainability initiatives in place, including:
- Solar energy: The resort is powered by solar energy, which helps to reduce its carbon footprint.
- Coral propagation: The resort has a coral propagation program that helps to restore damaged coral reefs.
- Homegrown & Homemade@Amilla programs: The resort grows its own fruits and vegetables, and makes its own products, such as jams, pickles, and yogurt. This helps to reduce the resort’s reliance on imported goods and packaging.
- Sea turtle conservation: The resort works with the Olive Ridley Project to monitor and conserve sea turtles.
- Manta ray conservation: The resort works with the Manta Trust to protect manta rays.
- White tailed tropic bird conservation: The resort is home to a number of rare white tailed tropic birds, and the resort is working to protect these birds.
As an EarthCheck Silver certified property for the second year running, Amilla meets the highest sustainability standards in the hotel industry. The resort is committed to sustainability in every aspect of its operations, from its natural jungle surroundings and extensive gardens that grow fresh produce to its waste management program that sorts and processes its waste materials accordingly.
At the heart of Amilla’s sustainability efforts is the Homegrown@Amilla program, which helps the resort reduce its impact on the environment and lower its carbon footprint by growing fresh produce in the gardens. The resort’s Mystique Garden is located in the center of the island, where guests can wander and explore the lush greenery. The banana plantation, “Sweet Spot,” sweet potato garden, and mushroom hut, as well as the hydroponics garden, all provide fresh produce for the resort’s kitchen.

Meanwhile, the Homemade@Amilla program helps Amilla reach its sustainability goals by dramatically reducing food packaging waste. The program includes spa products made from the resort’s coconut oil and native plants, as well as a range of food items like yogurt, jams, and pickles. With wellness in mind, Amilla also makes a range of probiotic sodas, including 8 flavors of Kombucha and plant-based milks.
The resort’s commitment to sustainable tourism also extends to its marine ecosystem. Amilla’s resident marine biologist offers unsurpassable insight into the incredible Biosphere Reserve in which the island is located. Guests who stay at the resort can learn about the ocean, pursue adventures, experience the coral reef, and participate in ongoing research to personally make a difference to our fragile environment.
Amilla’s coral propagation program allows corals to regenerate and thrive by attaching coral fragments to metal frames and placing them in an ocean nursery, an ideal location for growth and regular monitoring and maintenance. The resort has also teamed up with the Manta Trust, an NGO dedicated to protecting manta rays and the marine ecosystems they inhabit, and the turtle conservation organization, the Olive Ridley Project, to monitor and conserve local turtles.
Amilla’s sustainability initiatives go beyond environmental protection. The resort has launched its first-ever Sustainability Series on YouTube, a carefully curated visual depiction of its various sustainability actions. Amilla also purchases items for villas made from recycled ocean-bound plastic, such as wet bags for damp swimwear, and protects rare white-tailed tropic birds, which now nest on the island due to the extensive jungle and abundance of undeveloped spaces.
Amilla Maldives Resort & Residences is a shining example of sustainable tourism. With its commitment to environmental protection, waste reduction, fresh produce, marine conservation, and educational outreach, the resort is leading the way in sustainable tourism in the Maldives and beyond.
Featured
Villa Nautica’s festive glow: Yoga at sunrise, fireworks at midnight
Villa Nautica will embrace the festive spirit from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026, offering guests an easy island rhythm that flows from bright mornings by the water to music-filled evenings on the sand. The season begins with illuminated beaches and relaxed barbecues, gradually building through creative afternoons and live performances. Christmas Eve will feature a gala dinner, followed by Santa’s arrival on 25 December. The celebrations will culminate in a vibrant New Year’s Eve countdown with fireworks, before settling into a calm reset on New Year’s Day and concluding with Orthodox Christmas.
The programme balances practicality with a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. Mornings will bring sunrise yoga, family pool activities, and interactive cooking sessions, while evenings will feature poolside soirées, wine-paired dinners, and sunset cruises. With simple yet photogenic settings, the lagoon and sky take centre stage in shaping the mood. Guests—whether couples, friends, or families—can participate freely without losing the island’s easy pace.
For younger visitors, the festivities will centre around the kids’ club, where cookie and cupcake decorating, beach games, origami and craft sessions, storytelling, and cosy movie nights will take place. Small groups and attentive care ensure that creativity and play remain the focus, allowing parents to enjoy uninterrupted moments around the island.
A highlight of the season will be the Champagne Lucky Draw & Disco. From 1 to 31 December, each bottle of champagne purchased at resort bars or restaurants will serve as an entry to the draw. Guests are advised to keep their entry stubs for the live draw, held at 01:00 during the New Year’s celebration, where the prize will be a seven-night stay in a Water Villa for two.
Throughout the festive period, private experiences will feel as memorable as the larger celebrations. Guests may enjoy candlelit dinners on the sand, floating breakfasts, or early morning snorkelling sessions to begin the year anew. Whether seeking a lively shoreline celebration or a quiet evening stroll beneath lanterns and palms, Villa Nautica offers an atmosphere where every festive moment can glow in its own way.
Featured
JOALI BEING launches global campaign ‘Joyful Journeys of Well-Living’
JOALI BEING, the world’s first well-being island, has announced the launch of its new global brand campaign titled “Joyful Journeys of Well-Living.” The campaign celebrates the art of self-discovery, inviting travellers to reconnect with their inner selves through bespoke and transformative experiences.
Building upon JOALI BEING’s core philosophy of the “Joy of Weightlessness,” the campaign embodies the essence of harmony between mind, body, and spirit. It encourages guests to explore holistic pathways designed to restore balance and inspire personal growth.
Joyful Journeys of Well-Living serves as an invitation to travellers seeking meaningful change and renewal. The campaign narrates stories of individuals discovering joy through purposeful living, mindful connection, and immersive well-being experiences at JOALI BEING.
The visuals capture the island’s tranquil landscapes and nurturing spaces — from oceanfront sanctuaries to treetop villas and transformative healing sessions led by resident experts. The campaign presents JOALI BEING as more than a destination; it is a journey towards well-being, creativity, and self-transformation.
Each guest journey at JOALI BEING is founded on the resort’s Four Pillars of Well-Being — Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Through tailored programmes, guests can embark on integrative wellness experiences encompassing sound therapy, movement and fitness, hydrotherapy, nutritional guidance, and energy-healing sessions curated by specialists.
The island features a series of advanced well-being spaces, including:
- CORE: a movement and fitness zone
- AREKA: a transformative treatment centre
- KAASHI: a hydrotherapy hall
- SEDA: a sound-healing room
- Ocean Sala: an open-air meditation and relaxation deck
Each space is designed to nurture a profound connection with nature and the self.
The Joyful Journeys of Well-Living campaign has been conceptualised and produced by JOALI BEING’s in-house team in collaboration with creative partners and visual storytellers from across the globe. The multi-platform campaign integrates film, digital, and print media to convey JOALI BEING’s ethos — a celebration of joy, transformation, and harmony.
The visual narrative draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the Maldives, reflecting JOALI BEING’s immersive design philosophy. The imagery captures the rhythm of the ocean, the play of light, and the flow of energy that define the spirit of the island.
Awards
Coco Bodu Hithi wins Best Waterside Hotel at Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2026
Coco Bodu Hithi has been recognised on the global stage, winning Best Waterside Hotel (Riverside, Lakeside, Seaside) at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2026, held on 3 November 2025 in the UK. It is the second consecutive year the resort has been honoured by the publication, following last year’s win for Best Service, reaffirming its focus on heartfelt Maldivian hospitality and refined island living.
Described by Condé Nast Johansens as an “over-water, over-indulgent Maldivian island outpost,” Coco Bodu Hithi offers an intimate retreat of comfort and calm. The resort’s 32 Water Villas and 24 Coco Residences, each measuring 184 square metres and featuring private pools, provide secluded spaces set above the lagoon, where nature, design, and comfort come together to reflect the island’s romantic ambience.
Known for contemporary design infused with Maldivian heritage, the resort continues to welcome travellers seeking time by the sea, complemented by culinary collaborations with celebrity and Michelin-starred chefs. The experience balances privacy and comfort throughout a guest’s stay. With turquoise waters, quiet spaces, and experiences designed for connection and shared discovery, the resort presents a considered take on island living.
Located 35 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the island combines accessibility with seclusion—close enough for convenience, yet removed for privacy and serenity. As part of Coco Collection, the resort offers bespoke experiences, attentive service, and sustainable practices, shaping stays that feel personal and reflective of relaxed, authentic island life.
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