This festive season, Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives invites guests to step away from the noise of the world and into a more intimate celebration of togetherness, unveiling its 2026/27 festive programme, A Celebration of Light & Lagoon, a season shaped not by spectacle, but by connection.

Running from Thanksgiving through to Orthodox Christmas, the boutique private island resort’s festive offering has been designed for travellers seeking something increasingly rare at this time of year: space to breathe, time to reconnect, and traditions shared in a setting of calm natural beauty. The programme centres around family, friendship, reflection and joyful celebration, all framed by the island’s turquoise lagoon, star-filled skies and the gentle rhythm of Maldivian life.

Unlike the grand fanfare of city festivities or the high-energy extravagance of larger resorts, Grand Park Kodhipparu offers something more personal—a luxury private island escape where festive moments unfold with ease and meaning.

“We wanted to create a festive season that feels both celebratory and restorative,” says Raffaele Solferino, General Manager of Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives.

“At Kodhipparu, luxury is about how you feel. During the festive season especially, guests are looking for quality time—with family, with loved ones, and with themselves. Our programme reflects that: light-filled, thoughtful, and grounded in togetherness.”

At the heart of this year’s storytelling is the resort’s signature Heron protagonist—a whimsical character woven throughout the festive journey, reappearing across illustrations, island moments and guest experiences as a gentle guide through the season. Symbolising grace, patience and connection to the lagoon, the heron brings a playful thread of continuity to the celebration.

The festive calendar begins with a Thanksgiving dinner at Firedoor, the resort’s signature overwater grill restaurant, before moving into December with the island’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony—a warm gathering of festive cocktails, carols and beachside BBQ beneath the stars.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bring a series of intimate traditions including degustation dinners, family brunches, carol singing, children’s festive adventures and the much-loved arrival of Santa by sea, a Kodhipparu tradition that swaps snow for soft white sand and turquoise waters.

For New Year’s Eve, the island transforms into Midnight in White—an elegant lagoon-side celebration inspired by moonlight over the Indian Ocean. Guests dress in white for an evening of live DJ performances, dancing beneath the stars, fireworks over the lagoon and the countdown into 2027.

The season continues into January with a quieter Orthodox Festive programme, embracing wellness, reflection and slower island rhythms—extending the celebration for those who seek a more peaceful beginning to the new year.

Beyond the festivities, guests can immerse themselves in the resort’s award-winning house reef, guided snorkelling with the marine biologist, overwater spa rituals, lantern-lit pathways, sunset dhoni cruises and private dining experiences designed for couples and families alike.

As Grand Park Kodhipparu approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, this festive season reflects the essence of what has made it a favourite among returning guests: a boutique island resort where luxury is not about excess, but about feeling deeply connected—to nature, to loved ones, and to the moment itself.

Festive season stays are now open for booking. For more information on the festive programme and to download the full brochure, please visit the resort’s website.

Ralu Overwater Restaurant and Baani at Heritance Aarah have both earned Wine Spectator’s 2026 Award of Excellence, recognising the strength, quality and depth of their wine programmes.

The Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, launched in 1981, celebrate excellence in restaurant wine service across three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award. In 2026, a total of 4,012 restaurants around the world were recognised, with 2,083 receiving the Award of Excellence.

Ralu Overwater Restaurant and Baani received the Award of Excellence, which recognises restaurants whose wine lists offer at least 75 selections, with a well-chosen assortment of quality producers and a thoughtful match to the menu in both price and style.

“Congratulations to the restaurants that earned a Restaurant Award and continue to elevate the wine experience for guests around the world,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wine Spectator.

“We are delighted to see Ralu Overwater Restaurant and Baani recognised by Wine Spectator, a global authority in wine,” said Upul Gedarakumbura, General Manager of Heritance Aarah. “These awards reflect the care, knowledge and passion behind our wine programmes, as well as our commitment to creating dining experiences where cuisine, wine and setting come together beautifully. At Ralu, every bottle is selected with purpose, complementing our Mediterranean-inspired menus and the relaxed elegance of our overwater island setting, while at Baani, the wine programme enhances an intimate fine dining experience shaped by modern global gastronomy, personalised service and refined lagoon views.”

Set above the Indian Ocean at Heritance Aarah, Ralu Overwater Restaurant draws inspiration from the relaxed elegance of French and Italian Mediterranean brasseries along the Riviera coast. The restaurant offers an inviting yet refined dining experience, where Mediterranean cuisine, considered wine pairings and panoramic lagoon views come together in an overwater setting.

Baani, located within the resort’s overwater enclave, represents one of the most intimate and refined dining experiences at Heritance Aarah. Designed for guests seeking thoughtful gastronomy and attentive personalised service, Baani presents modern global cuisine through a five-course dinner menu that evolves daily, with each evening offering a singular menu concept shaped by contemporary techniques, clarity of flavour and harmony at the table.

Ralu’s and Baani’s wine programmes feature 175 premium wine labels sourced from 12 leading wine-producing countries, with vintages ranging from 1990 to 2025. The selections have been curated to complement each restaurant’s culinary identity, from Ralu’s Mediterranean classics and contemporary interpretations to Baani’s modern fine dining approach, while offering versatility across styles, regions and guest preferences. The wines are stored in Vinocave and Tecno temperature-controlled cellars and served in Spiegelau crystal, supporting careful preservation, presentation and service.

Highlights at Ralu include Armand de Brignac ‘Ace of Spades’ Gold among its Champagnes, Chavy-Chouet Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes from Burgundy among its whites, and Tenuta San Guido, ‘Sassicaia’, DOC, Super Tuscan, Tuscany Italy among its reds.

At Baani, the cellar includes Louis Roederer Cristal Millésime Brut among its Champagnes, Chavy-Chouet Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseignières among its whites, and Château Mouton Rothschild Grand Cru Classé among its reds.

Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue will be available on newsstands on July 21. This year’s winners will also be featured through Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Search and Restaurant Awards app, where restaurants can be explored by name, location, award level, cuisine, wine specialties and pricing.

Dusit Thani Maldives has entered a fresh chapter with a resort-wide refresh focused on newly refurbished villas, updated lifestyle imagery, a new Dusit 3.0 website experience and refreshed resort collateral, creating a more polished and seamless journey for guests and partners.

Set on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Dusit Thani Maldives continues to celebrate the natural beauty of the Maldives with its lush island setting, 360-degree house reef, Thai-inspired hospitality and spacious villas designed for privacy, comfort and connection to nature.

The villa refresh covers selected categories including Overwater Pool Villas, Overwater Pavilions, Beach Residences, Two-Bedroom Beach Pool Villas, Beachfront Pool Villas and Beach Plunge Pool Villas. The updated spaces bring a brighter and more refined island living experience, while preserving the sense of space, privacy and tropical warmth that has long defined the resort.

“This refresh marks an important moment for Dusit Thani Maldives,” said Jean-Louis Ripoche, Area General Manager, Maldives. “The resort has always been loved for its natural beauty, generous space and warm Thai-inspired hospitality. With these enhancements, we are building on that foundation and creating an even more refined experience for our guests, while staying true to the spirit of the island.”

To support the refreshed guest journey, the resort has also introduced new lifestyle imagery, capturing the renewed villa experiences, island living, dining moments and the natural setting of Mudhdhoo Island. The launch also includes the resort’s new Dusit 3.0 website experience, offering guests a smoother and clearer way to explore the resort, discover experiences and plan their stay. Alongside the website update, Dusit Thani Maldives has rolled out refreshed collateral across guest-facing and partner materials, creating a more consistent presentation across every touchpoint.

“For us, this is not about changing who we are,” added Jean-Louis Ripoche. “It is about presenting Dusit Thani Maldives in a fresher and more complete way. From the villas and imagery to the website and guest materials, every update has been made to support a better experience before, during and after the stay.”

The resort will also continue its refresh journey with planned enhancements to its dining outlets. These future updates form part of the wider plan to uplift the guest experience across the resort, while continuing to celebrate the familiar dining venues and island atmosphere that guests know and enjoy.

Located just a short journey from Malé by seaplane or domestic flight and speedboat, Dusit Thani Maldives offers a blend of natural beauty, wellness, dining and meaningful island experiences. Guests can snorkel directly from the island’s house reef, explore the rich marine life of Baa Atoll, enjoy treetop wellness journeys at Devarana Wellness, and discover a variety of curated experiences across the resort.

With this resort-wide refresh, Dusit Thani Maldives strengthens its position as one of Maldives’ leading luxury island resorts, offering a renewed experience for returning guests and a fresh discovery for new travellers.