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21 ambitious Maldivians set sail for new adventures with Four Seasons Explorer to Palau

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Four Seasons Resorts Maldives takes an international approach to employee career development

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives held a special ceremony on August 22 to mark the send-off of 21 adventurous Maldivians who were preparing to advance their hospitality careers in Palau. Heralding a new chapter for the floating luxury ‘resort’, Four Seasons Explorer set sail for the western Pacific island nation at the end of the month, with these young Maldivians joining the crew as part of ongoing employee initiatives by Four Seasons Resorts Maldives.

The ceremony was attended by guest of honour, His Excellency Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Maldives. He shared inspiring words with the attendees, saying, “Embrace the opportunities that lie beyond the horizon, for it is through venturing into the unknown that we truly discover our potential. As you embark on this journey to advance your hospitality careers in Palau, remember that every experience is a stepping stone towards greatness.”

Gathered from across various departments at both resorts of Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru including F&B, Dive, Recreation and Transport, each of the 21 hospitality heroes has shown not only ambition and talent but a warm willingness to add international experience to their career development.

“It’s important to us to celebrate the ambitions of our adventurous colleagues as they head into the magic of one of the world’s last remaining natural frontiers,” comments Armando Kraenzlin, Regional Vice President & General Manager at Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru. “We’re delighted to be able to give them the opportunity to enhance their careers in this way as they immerse themselves in heartfelt hospitality in a truly incredible environment.”

The hospitality initiative is part of a wider collaboration between the two island nations with the aim of broadening horizons for their young people. The Ministry of Tourism of Maldives was pleased to welcome Palauan apprentices to be trained in Four Seasons hospitality at Landaa Giraavaru, while Palau is looking forward to showing the Maldivian youngsters their customary island warmth as they learn new skills in stunning surrounds.

Hidden in a remote part of the Pacific, Palau is an untouched wilderness of over 340 emerald islands, half a million square kilometres (193,000 square miles) of protected marine territory, and a 4,000-year-old culture. 39-metre (128 foot) luxury catamaran, Four Seasons Explorer combines three decks, 10 staterooms, a PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, restaurant, bar, lounge, library  and  more  with  a  dedicated  team  ready  to  create  unforgettable  experiences.

Love

Valentine’s every day: Month of Love at Kandooma Maldives

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This February, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives invites couples to celebrate romance as part of its fourth annual Month of Love celebration, where it is Valentine’s Day every day. A thoughtful combination of romantic dining, wellness experiences, proposals and adventures set against the natural beauty of the Maldives awaits. Island Romance packages are available from US$548++ per villa per night for two.

At Kandooma, romance is approached in a modern and personal way. Whether marking a proposal, renewing vows, or simply taking time to reconnect, February’s Month of Love offers couples the freedom to shape their experience according to what matters most to them. From intimate beachside moments to unique underwater proposals (starting from US$3,500++ per couple) and elopements by the sea (from US$950++ per couple), each experience is designed to feel meaningful, unhurried, and true to the couple’s story.

Dining sits at the heart of the Month of Love. Throughout February, couples are invited to enjoy a range of romantic dining experiences, including candlelit beachfront dinners, Chef’s Tasting Menus, sunset wine tastings, and playful cocktail creations crafted for two. Thoughtful details, relaxed settings, and carefully prepared menus transform each meal into an opportunity to slow down, connect, and celebrate time together.

The programme also embraces wellness as a shared journey. Couples can unwind with dedicated spa rituals at Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala created for two, including the Sweetheart Spa Experience (US$275++ per couple), which combines time in the steam bath with restorative massages and private moments to relax together. Beyond the spa, wellness continues through a curated programme of movement and relaxation experiences such as sunrise and sunset yoga, paddleboard yoga sessions, and the immersive Salt & Sound therapy, designed to encourage deep relaxation, balance, and renewal throughout the Month of Love.

True to the spirit of the island, the Month of Love also celebrates connection through movement and adventure. Couples can experience sunset Jet Ski tours, practice yoga on paddleboards at sunrise or sunset, or escape on private boat journeys to explore the surrounding reefs and lagoons. From parasailing above the turquoise waters to secluded sandbank picnics, these shared adventures add a sense of play, freedom, and discovery to the celebration.

Capturing these moments is an integral part of the Month of Love experience. Couples can choose to preserve their time together through professional photography, drone imagery, and underwater videography, including a dedicated couples’ beach photoshoot lasting approximately 45 minutes and captured across selected island locations. Photography experiences are available to book separately, with packages starting from USD 225++ per couple.

Accommodation options cater to couples seeking both privacy and comfort, from the resort’s popular overwater villas set above the lagoon, offering open ocean views, direct access to the water, and signature hammocks suspended above the sea, to beachfront villas and beach houses nestled among the island’s lush greenery. These spaces provide a relaxed and inviting base for couples to enjoy the Month of Love at their own pace, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the island and opportunities for close encounters with the marine environment.

The Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives Island Romance package is designed to offer couples a seamless romantic island escape. The package includes accommodation with daily dining for two at Kandooma Café, the resort’s international buffet restaurant, along with in-villa welcome amenities and a selection of romantic experiences such as a beach picnic lunch, breakfast in bed, and a private beachfront dinner set-up during the stay. For couples who enjoy the ocean, the package also includes dive experiences for certified divers, adding an adventurous element to the celebration. Island Romance packages start from US$548++ per villa per night for two, with a minimum three-night stay. 

Celebrate the Month of Love at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives, where it’s Valentine’s Day every day in February and where romance is expressed through shared experiences, meaningful moments, and the freedom to define love in your own way.

Click here for the online brochure and visit the resort’s website for bookings.

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Ataraxis Grand & Spa hosts integrated work-and-dive corporate retreat in Fuvahmulah

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Ataraxis Grand & Spa recently hosted a week-long, closed corporate offsite in Fuvahmulah for a US-based artificial intelligence company, highlighting the island’s growing suitability for integrated work-and-experience retreats. The retreat brought a group of 36 international professionals to the property, which was reserved exclusively for the programme.

Designed as a private company offsite, the stay combined structured daily work sessions with guided diving and beginner-friendly surf experiences, creating a balanced format that blended focused collaboration with physical reset.

A notable component of the programme was dive training and certification. During the retreat, 17 participants completed their Open Water certification, while a further six undertook the Advanced Open Water course, with training and dives scheduled alongside work sessions as part of the integrated itinerary.

Throughout the week, participants worked on-site using dedicated shared spaces supported by reliable high-speed internet, allowing meetings, informal collaboration and scheduled activities to take place within a single, uninterrupted environment. This setup enabled teams to move seamlessly between work periods and organised ocean activities without leaving the property.

Fuvahmulah’s natural and operational advantages formed a key part of the retreat’s appeal. As one of the Maldives’ largest inhabited islands, it offers immediate access to pelagic dive sites, internationally recognised shark diving and surf breaks suitable for instruction, alongside the infrastructure required to support extended group stays.

The offsite reflects a growing preference among technology and knowledge-sector teams for small-scale retreats that prioritise concentrated work environments and team cohesion over traditional conference formats. Such programmes typically involve longer stays and higher per-capita spend, aligning with sustainable, quality-driven tourism models.

The retreat also demonstrates how locally operated properties such as Ataraxis Grand & Spa are supporting this shift by delivering unified environments where accommodation, workspaces, connectivity and curated experiences operate as a single programme rather than separate services.

As organisations continue to explore alternative formats for strategy sessions, team resets and creative offsites, Ataraxis Grand & Spa’s experience positions Fuvahmulah as an increasingly viable destination for integrated corporate retreats.

Ataraxis Grand & Spa offers work-and-dive retreat programmes in Fuvahmulah that combine accommodation, dedicated workspaces, high-speed connectivity and organised diving and surfing.

Further information on retreat formats and dive-inclusive stays is available via the Ataraxis Grand & Spa website.

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Love

Love by the lagoon: Sheraton Maldives presents Valentine’s romantic journeys

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Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa invites couples to celebrate love in its most enchanting form with a collection of thoughtfully curated Valentine’s Romantic Packages. Designed to transform meaningful moments into lifelong memories, these bespoke experiences artfully blend refined dining, serene wellness, marine discovery, and intimate island settings into journeys crafted exclusively for two.

For couples drawn to a timeless expression of romance, Crystal & Candlelight sets an elegant tone with a four-course candlelit dinner at Sea Salt, complemented by a printed keepsake photo and romantic turndown amenities. As gentle waves whisper along the shore and candlelight dances beneath the stars, the evening unfolds into a classic celebration of intimacy and grace.

Those wishing to intertwine wellness, nature, and romance may choose The Enchanted Escape. This beautifully paced experience begins with a rejuvenating couple’s massage at Shine Spa, followed by guided coral planting alongside the resort’s marine biologist. The day then flows into a sunset dolphin cruise, before culminating in a romantic beachfront dinner under the night sky.

For a day devoted entirely to togetherness, Cupid’s Delight offers an immersive journey from morning to evening. Couples awake to a romantic in-villa breakfast with sparkling wine, indulge in a soothing spa ritual, take part in coral restoration, witness dolphins at sunset, and conclude the day with a candlelit beach dinner enhanced by thoughtful romantic touches.

Elevating the celebration further, The Grand Romance introduces a series of refined indulgences. These include a floating breakfast, a hand-tied flower bouquet, a signature couple’s massage, coral planting, a dolphin cruise, and an exclusive five-course private beach dinner paired with sparkling wine. Elegant turndown décor and keepsake memories ensure every detail is orchestrated with care.

For the ultimate expression of love without limits, Endless Love presents the resort’s most luxurious romantic journey. From a Champagne floating breakfast and picturesque lagoon lunch to spa serenity, marine discovery, a dolphin cruise, and a five-course private beach dinner paired with Champagne, this experience is designed for couples seeking to celebrate their connection in the most extraordinary way.

Each package is thoughtfully crafted to combine privacy, luxury, and authentic island experiences, while reflecting the resort’s commitment to marine conservation through guided coral planting, allowing love to leave a lasting imprint.

For couples planning a Valentine’s romantic escape and beyond, the Endless Summer offer is available for booking through February 28, 2026. The offer includes up to USD 150 in resort credit, daily meals at selected restaurants, and special dining credits at signature venues Baan Thai and Sea Salt. Additional privileges include wellness savings at Shine Spa and a selection of recreational experiences, allowing each stay to be personalised with ease, comfort, and meaningful moments together.

At Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, romance extends far beyond a single day. It is woven into every experience, every setting, and every memory waiting to be created.

For reservations and more information, email Sheraton.Maldives@sheraton.com or visit www.sheratonmaldives.com.

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