News
JOALI Maldives, JOALI BEING to feature in BBC’s Series Five of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby
BBC Viewers will be taken behind the scenes of JOALI Maldives and JOALI BEING , airing later this month on 13 August 2023. It’s the first time the popular BBC show will go behind the scenes at a luxury resort in the Maldivian Archipelago, known for its picturesque location.
In series five, viewers can expect the usual mix of awe-inspiring location and innovative facilities taking a closer look at the day-to-day running of the resorts, as presenters Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder work alongside the teams on hand to discover the everyday running of the two exclusive resorts which are accessible by boat, a short 20-minutes apart.
In addition to exploring the accommodation options at both resorts, no episode of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby would be complete without a closer look at the dining experiences on offer. JOALI BEING, the focus remains firmly on cuisine aimed at improving wellbeing with earth-to-table concepts throughout its restaurants with emphasis on eating seasonally, where possible. JOALI Maldives offers menus curated by world-renowned Michelin chefs.
“We’re thrilled to be the focus of one of the episodes of the new BBC series. We have been huge fans for a while and we’re in good company, as they’ve featured so many incredible locations from around the world over the years. And we really loved having the team here getting to grips with the day-to-day running of each resort,” Hakan Öztürk, Tourism Group Managing Director of Gurok Group, parent company of JOALI.
“In addition to our beautiful surroundings and incredible facilities and experiences, we hope viewers also enjoy seeing the community aspect of our resorts which is at the heart of everything that we do. We are a working family and that helps us deliver incredible service. A brand that supports and uplifts its community, breeds longevity and trust.”
The Amazing Hotel’s team also visited local neighbouring islands to get a feel for the region and its communities which ties in well with JOALI’s commitment to the environment and community. JOALI’s Joy of Caring programme is their dedication to the local community. These include dedicated grant schemes with added focus on safeguarding the planet, fostering community wellbeing through education around food and sustainability (and farming) along with additional initiatives with local schools; plus helping to create platforms for women with focus on empowerment through education, training and work equality plus nurturing ethical consumption through green farming on land and sea.
The JOALI Reef Restoration programme is crucial to the rehabilitation of the coral reef following the devastating coral bleaching that occurred back in 2016 where 85% of the Maldives’ corals died. Using a two-step gardening concept, the resort is growing corals in a mid-water nursery before planting back in the reef. The environmentally conscious resort’s design was built around the natural landscape preserving over 1,000 trees in the process of rebuilding. Single-use plastic is also banned from the island.
News
Dr Hetalkumar Doshi returns to Sirru Fen Fushi for extended wellness residency
Sirru Fen Fushi–Private Lagoon Resort has announced the return of internationally recognised holistic wellness consultant and founder of Energy Masters, Dr Hetalkumar Doshi, for an exclusive wellness residency from 1 August to 31 October 2026 and from 1 December 2026 to 28 February 2027.
Renowned for his expertise across more than 60 holistic healing modalities, Dr Doshi brings a unique integrative approach that combines ancient healing traditions with modern wellness practices. As a naturopath, acupuncturist, Reiki Grand Master, energy healer, and wellness educator, he has guided individuals around the world towards greater wellbeing, balance, and personal transformation.

During his residency at Sirru Fen Fushi, guests will have the opportunity to experience Dr Doshi’s signature Four-Dimensional Healing Journey, which explores wellness through the Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual dimensions. Each treatment is tailored to individual needs and designed to identify and restore energetic imbalances affecting the body, mind, emotions, and soul.
At the heart of Dr Doshi’s philosophy lies the wisdom of the Five Elements–Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, whose harmonious balance is believed to support vitality, emotional resilience, mental clarity, and spiritual alignment.

Guests may choose from a variety of personalised healing experiences incorporating modalities such as acupuncture, acupressure, Reiki, chakra balancing, sound healing, breathwork, meditation, cupping therapy, and energy healing. Signature experiences are available in 30, 60, 90, and 120-minute sessions.
To introduce guests to his transformative approach, Sirru Fen Fushi is also offering a complimentary 15-minute wellbeing consultation during the residency period.
Set within one of the Maldives’ most naturally captivating island destinations, Sirru Fen Fushi offers travellers a unique opportunity to reconnect, rebalance and rediscover wellbeing in a serene oceanfront setting.
For further information and reservations, please visit the resort’s website or contact reservations@sirrufenfushi.com.
Action
Coco Bodu Hithi celebrates Women’s Dive Day with marine conservation experience
In celebration of PADI Women’s Dive Day on 18 July 2026, Coco Bodu Hithi invites certified women divers to come together for a meaningful morning beneath the surface, combining marine conservation with the joy of exploring the ocean in one of the Maldives’ most vibrant natural environments.
Inspired by this year’s global theme, “Celebrate Community. Create Change.”, the resort’s Women of the Ocean Reef Clean-Up Dive encourages to connect through shared passion for the underwater world while making a positive impact on the environment. Designed exclusively for certified women divers, the guided reef clean-up dive offers the opportunity to explore Coco Bodu Hithi’s biodiverse house reef while helping remove debris and protect its delicate ecosystem.
At the heart of it all is Coco Dive, the resort’s PADI-certified dive centre, where guests can discover the beauty and wonders of the Maldives through safe, personalised and memorable underwater adventures. Whether taking their very first breath below the surface or exploring advanced dive sites, guests are guided by an experienced, multilingual team of instructors dedicated to creating unforgettable diving experiences.
Just minutes from the resort, divers can access almost 30 renowned dive sites, home to vibrant coral reefs and an abundance of marine life, including hawksbill turtles, white-tip and grey reef sharks, eagle rays, barracuda, Napoleon fish, schools of blue-striped snappers, batfish and fusiliers. Guests looking to begin their marine adventures can also start their certification before arrival through PADI eLearning, allowing them to spend more time exploring the ocean once they reach the Maldives.
“At Coco Bodu Hithi, we believe every dive is an opportunity to build a deeper connection with the ocean,” said Jinn Hui, Dive Base Leader for Coco Bodu Hithi. “PADI Women’s Dive Day celebrates the growing community of women in diving while reminding us that small actions, such as removing debris, can make a meaningful difference to the health of our reefs.”
The activity is available at the resort’s standard single-dive rate and includes a personalised certificate of participation and a complimentary dive video, allowing guests to take home lasting memories of a meaningful day beneath the surface.
Rooted in Coco Collection’s truly Maldivian heritage, Coco Bodu Hithi continues to bring guests closer to nature through experiences that inspire a deeper appreciation for the Maldives and its fragile marine habitat.
Located in North Malé Atoll, just 35 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Coco Bodu Hithi invites guests to unwind in spacious villas with up to 30% savings through the Discover Coco offer or enjoy exclusive benefits with the Local & Expat Exclusives package. Visit cococollection.com or contact reservations@cococollection.com for further enquiries.
Awards
Baros Maldives ranked world’s no. 2 resort in Travel + Leisure Awards
Baros Maldives has been named the No. 2 Resort in the World and No. 1 Resort in Asia in the 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, as voted by readers of one of the world’s most respected travel publications.
Now in its 31st year, the World’s Best Awards is one of the travel industry’s most respected accolades, with hundreds of thousands of well-travelled readers sharing their views on the world’s leading hotels, resorts, destinations and tour operators.
For Baros, the recognition is the latest milestone in a story that began over five decades ago. Since opening in 1973, the island has built its reputation through consistency and staying true to what guests value most: impeccable service that the island has never felt the need to reinvent and a natural setting of mature jungle, powder-soft sand and one of the Maldives’ most celebrated house reefs. Nearly 30% of bookings come from returning guests, most of whom feel like Baros is a second home.
Ibrahim Shijah, General Manager of Baros Maldives, commented: “To be recognised as the No. 2 resort in the world and the No. 1 resort in Asia by Travel + Leisure readers is an extraordinary honour. Baros has never chased trends, and we don’t intend to start now. What we’ve built over five decades is something more durable than that – a relationship with this island and with the guests who keep returning to it. This recognition is a reflection of that relationship, and we share it with our entire team and our guests.”
The award places Baros among an elite group of properties recognised globally and reinforces its position within the Versa Hospitality collection as the Maldives’ original luxury icon.
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