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The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort presents exclusive Marriott Bonvoy moment: Manta rays with US Paralympic gold medalist Gregory Burns

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, situated in Baa Atoll, the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site in the Maldives, has announced an extraordinary opportunity for Marriott Bonvoy members to embark on an unparalleled adventure through the specially curated Marriott Bonvoy Moment. From September 14-18, 2023, lucky bidders will have the rare privilege of snorkelling with majestic manta rays in Hanifaru Bay, the world’s most concentrated area of manta rays, accompanied by the illustrious Paralympic swimmer and artist Gregory Burns.
Gregory Burns, is a highly accomplished athlete and internationally renowned fine artist. Known for winning gold medals and setting world record in swimming at three Paralympic games, Gregory inspires many with his discipline and perseverance. For over three decades, he has painted professionally across 60 countries, and received the prestigious 2016 Sports Artist of the Year Award and a commission from the International Olympic Foundation to create paintings for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. Polio, which Gregory contracted as a child, stimulated him to prioritise mobility and to express himself through sports and arts.
The unparalleled Marriott Bonvoy Moments package includes a four-night stay in one of the wellness resort’s overwater villas with a private pool—promising an unforgettable and rejuvenating retreat for the guests from September 14 to 18, 2023 to experience and embrace Westin’s wellbeing pillars. Refreshing welcome drinks prepared at the Westin Fresh from the Juicery corner await upon arrival, and at Island Kitchen guests may savour well-balanced daily breakfast to boost their energy for the day.
Prior to the snorkelling trip with Gregory Burns on September 15, guests are invited to join the Move Well stretching session, an important element to increase flexibility which will help them to accomplish the range of motion required before swimming along with the champion as well as the gentle manta rays. As part of Westin Hotels & Resorts WestinWORKOUT Gear Lending program, guests may make use of the Recharge and Recovery kit by Hyperice, a wellness gear to soothe and recover tense muscles post snorkel, before refuelling their body and mind with restorative sleep in the award-winning Heavenly Bed.
Upon day three, bid winners of the Marriott Bonvoy Moments will get in touch with their artistic flair while joining an underwater sketching session with Gregory and Maldivian artist Shameen Moosa. Art can be a different and fun way to calm and restore one’s mind and mood, to boost confidence and make people feel more engaged and resilient. For those who prefer to indulge their creative instincts on land, the Masterclass will be held at the Art Gallery. As the experience comes to an end, guests are treated to a remarkable sunset fishing trip to be part of the rich Maldivian tradition followed by a romantic barbecue by the beach.
The General Manager of The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, Vijay Kumar, expressed his delight at this exclusive opportunity, remarking, “We are thrilled to present this unique experience to our valued Marriott Bonvoy members. The Maldives is renowned for its natural beauty, and we are honoured to partner with Gregory Burns, a true Paralympic athlete and artist, to bring The Westin brand pillars alive, presenting the Move Well, Play Well, Feel Well, Eat Well, and Sleep Well elements, and make this exciting event more extraordinary. We invite our guests to embark on this unique journey, and create cherished memories that will be treasured for years to come.”
In anticipation of this exceptional collaboration, Gregory Burns shared his enthusiasm, stating, “I am thrilled to be part of this extraordinary moment with The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort. Swimming with manta rays in Hanifaru Bay is a truly awe-inspiring experience, and I cannot wait to share this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity as we encounter these magnificent creatures, followed by a unique art experience in the beauty of the Indian Ocean.”
Marriott Bonvoy members are invited to bid for a chance to be part of this extraordinary experience at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort by visiting the Marriott Bonvoy Moments site at https://moments.marriottbonvoy.com/en-us/moments/15049.
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Experience tennis excellence amid tropical luxury: Hideaway Beach Resort’s exclusive tennis camp with WTA Coach Carlos Martinez Comet

Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, the epitome of luxury in the Maldives, has announced an extraordinary tennis camp experience featuring renowned WTA tennis coach, Carlos Martinez Comet.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldivian paradise, this exclusive event promises to elevate your tennis skills while indulging in the lap of luxury. The camp is to be held during this October for five days.
Carlos Martinez Comet is the driving force behind acclaimed tennis academy based in Spain – CMC Competition. He is a tennis visionary known for his commitment to shaping the future of women’s tennis. With an unwavering passion for the sport, his coaching philosophy emphasises technique, mental strength, and hard work, fostering a new generation of tennis stars. His students, mentored under his expertise, have risen through the ranks of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and currently is coaching the rising star – Daria Kasatkina – who reached to the top 8 in the World WTA rankings last year.
From October 16th to 20th, 2023, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa will transform into a tennis enthusiast’s haven as it welcomes acclaimed Coach Carlos Martinez Comet. With a track record of coaching some of the world’s greatest players, Coach Comet will lead an immersive tennis camp that promises to refine your game, perfect your strokes, and elevate your serve.
In collaboration with RTC Sport (Royal, Timeless & Challenging), Hideaway’s resident tennis pro and also the resort’s resident Sports Master, Ameen, will guide participants of all experience levels through a series of comprehensive tennis lessons. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a competitive player, this five-day intensive course will cater to your individual needs.
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ROBINSON NOONU offers exciting sports, well-being events for guests

ROBINSON NOONU, the premium resort on the Maldivian island Orivaru, is offering guests the chance to experience innovative concepts and practice them with experienced coaches and experts. The resort’s upcoming event weeks include the HOT IRON Event Week, Mindful METIME Event-Week, “BODY POSITIVITY”-Event, and “Your timeout” Yoga-Event.
From October 16th to 21st, 2023, guests can participate in the HOT IRON Event Week “Strength meets mobility”, led by Sebastian Prahl. This strength-endurance training with the barbell is suitable for all levels and focuses on body toning and fat reduction.
From October 16th to 21st, 2023, guests can participate in the HOT IRON Event Week “Strength meets mobility”, led by Sebastian Prahl. This strength-endurance training with the barbell is suitable for all levels and focuses on body toning and fat reduction.
The Mindful METIME Event Week, led by Peter Praunsmändtl, takes place from November 7th to 19th, 2023. Guests can find their inner strength through meditations, breathing exercises, and workout classes, including Pilates and mobility sessions.
From December 22nd, 2023, to January 13th, 2024, guests can participate in the “BODY POSITIVITY” Event with Sava Assenov. This event includes core training, Pilates, and yoga flows, as well as early bird workouts and intensive whole-body workouts.
For those looking for a yoga-focused event, the “Your timeout” Yoga Event with Anja Bölitz takes place from January 13th to 27th, 2024. Bölitz, founder of emBODYMINDing®, focuses on healthy alignment for the body and mind, combining yoga and fascia training with meditation and mindfulness.
“Many of our guests come to our island not only to relax and enjoy the dreamlike scenery, but also to benefit their body and mind during their holiday,” said Jan-Hendrik Karliczek, General Manager of ROBINSON NOONU. “With our sport and well-being event weeks, we offer them the opportunity to get to know new innovative concepts and to practice them with experienced coaches and experts.”
In addition to the special event weeks, the resort offers a wide range of activities for all guests to enjoy, including volleyball, badminton, football, water polo, table tennis, billiards, snorkelling, diving, fishing, sailing, boat tours, and wakeboarding.
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Inaugural Kandooma Manta Week kicks off on World Manta Day 2023

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives celebrates the annual World Manta Day (17 Sept) with the naming of a recently rescued Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, an award and a variety of guest activities for the resort’s inaugural Kandooma Manta Week. World Manta Day has been created to celebrate manta rays and to raise awareness of the threats that these beautiful, mysterious, ocean giants face.
Last month divers from Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives led by Japanese PADI-certified Dive Instructor Tomoyo, freed a Giant Oceanic Manta Ray tangled in ghost nets, at a site nearby to the island resort. The Manta Trust through its identification process has now confirmed the Manta is an adult male and is the 915th Oceanic Manta Ray to be spotted in Maldivian waters. As part of the identification process the Manta was named ‘Kandooma’ in honour of where it was seen and the dive team who freed it from tangled nets.
“We are delighted to have the Manta named after our natural island, Kandooma. When the Manta Trust shared confirmation of the name with us, I was absolutely thrilled,” said Mark Eletr, General Manager, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, who was one of the divers who freed the Manta.
As part of the Kandooma Manta Week activities at the resort, the team at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives will host a naming ceremony for Kandooma the Manta and will honour the Dive Instructor, Tomoyo from the Kandooma Dive Centre for her bravery, seizing the opportunity to cut ‘Kandooma’ the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray free. Other activities for the week long celebration of Manta Rays includes special scuba dives and snorkelling excursions to observe these giants in their natural environment and learn about their behaviours, the threats to their survival and share the story of the freeing of ‘Kandooma’.
“Tomoyo showed no hesitation on the dive. First ensuring the group of accompanying divers were all safe before proceeding. Fortunately they were all experienced and each had enough air remaining for her to do this. In all it took about three and a half minutes to free Kandooma. I was so proud of her for the way she conducted herself and took positive action. I think also the other divers need to be acknowledged as well, they remained calm, kept their distance, didn’t interfere with what Tomoyo was doing and recorded the entire encounter,” added Mark.
The newly named Manta, ’Kandooma’, is estimated to be 4 metres in size. While confirmed origin of the fishing net is yet to be confirmed, it is understood it is not Maldivian and has drifted with the tide from another country, reinforcing the importance of education and responsible disposal of nets and fishing line.
The theme of World Manta Day 2023 is Tourism. Tourism plays a pivotal role in Manta Ray conservation, as it helps to raise awareness, generates funding for research, and contributes to efforts to protect Manta Ray habitats and prevents their exploitation.
Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma is on the doorstep to some of the Maldives Top Ten Dive Sites and the wellbeing of the ocean and all the life within it, is important to guests and hotel staff alike. The resort aligns its efforts with IHG’s purpose True Hospitality for Good, through their sustainability programme ‘Journey to Tomorrow’ which is the hotel group’s response to helping achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Recent events with Kandooma the Manta have inspired the resort’s management to add two free Scuba Dives per day for certified divers staying at the resort for 3 nights or more.
Located in the South Male atoll just 40 mins from the airport by boat, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is a beautiful island paradise. White sandy beaches, swaying coconut palms and turquoise waters form the backdrop for various leisure pursuits and some of the best diving in the Maldives. Guests can choose from Garden and Beach Villas, two-storey Beach Houses and the popular Overwater Villas. Families are well catered for with a choice of 2- and 3-bed villas, the Kandoo Kids’ Club, and its complete activities programme. Six food and beverage outlets ensure healthy appetites are satisfied and the flavours of the Maldives are explored. For guests who desire the ultimate relaxation, sun loungers and hammocks are located around the island. The Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala offers the ultimate tranquility and escape for body and mind.
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