Madifushi Private Island has been named “Sensation of the Year” at the Global Destination Awards 2026, marking a proud milestone for the resort and its team. The award was presented during a gala ceremony held in Moscow, bringing together leading hospitality professionals, international brands, travel experts, celebrities, and media representatives.

Established by World Fashion Channel and Global Destination Group, the awards recognise achievements across the luxury travel and hospitality industry, with a focus on service, innovation, architecture, and distinctive guest experiences. This year’s ceremony honoured winners across 33 categories, spanning Russian and international hotels, resorts, destinations, and tourism businesses.

The evening provided Madifushi Private Island with an opportunity to showcase its identity and guest experiences to an audience of industry leaders and travel and lifestyle media.

“Anyone who has experienced Madifushi Private Island will understand why ‘Sensation of the Year’ feels so fitting,” said Mohamed Hilmy, General Manager of Madifushi Private Island. “There is something truly special about the island—the colours of the lagoon, the beauty of its beaches, and the sense of tranquility that invites you to slow down and take it all in. The island leaves an impression that stays with you long after you leave, and we are delighted to see it recognised in this way.”

For Madifushi Private Island, the award is a moment to celebrate the people behind the guest experience, from the teams welcoming visitors to those working behind the scenes. It also provides an opportunity to strengthen connections with travel partners and introduce the resort to travellers seeking their next true Maldivian escape.

Madifushi Private Island extends its appreciation to the award organisers, its guests, travel partners, and colleagues for their continued support. As the resort celebrates this achievement, its focus remains on thoughtful hospitality and creating memorable island experiences for every guest.

JOALI BEING, the transformative well-living island in the Maldives, celebrates a defining milestone as it is awarded Three MICHELIN Keys, progressing from Two Keys to the MICHELIN Guide’s highest hotel distinction.

The recognition marks an important moment in the evolution of JOALI BEING and celebrates its distinctive philosophy of the Joy of Well-Living, an invitation to experience wellbeing not as a temporary retreat, but as a more joyful, conscious and meaningful way of living.

More than a resort with a wellness offering, JOALI BEING was conceived as an entire island dedicated to well-living. Ancient wisdom and modern science, nature and biophilic design, nourishment, movement, mindfulness and meaningful connection come together to create an immersive environment where guests are invited to reconnect, discover and build a more conscious relationship with themselves.

At the heart of this journey is the pursuit of Weightlessness – a sense of freedom, lightness, energy and wonder – with experiences designed not only for the time spent on the island, but to inspire positive and sustainable changes that can continue beyond it.

A singular approach to the Joy of Well-Living

JOALI BEING approaches wellbeing as something deeply personal and interconnected. Its philosophy is centred around Four Pillars – Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy – creating a framework through which guests can explore their individual needs and aspirations.

Rather than following a predetermined definition of wellness, each journey is shaped around the individual. Personalised wellbeing programmes bring together expert guidance, ancient healing traditions and modern science, spanning movement, nutrition, mindfulness, restoration and holistic therapies. This integrative approach encourages guests to understand themselves more deeply, explore new practices and discover what well-living can mean within their own lives.

An entire island designed around transformation

At JOALI BEING, wellbeing extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of a spa. It is embedded into the architecture, landscape and rhythm of the island, with dedicated Transformational Spaces offering different pathways towards discovery and reconnection.

AREKA, the island’s wellbeing centre, brings together personalised experiences and specialised therapies. KAASHI Hydrotherapy Hall explores the restorative qualities of water and heat, while AKTAR, the herbology centre, invites guests to discover the properties and uses of herbs and essential oils. Sound becomes another pathway through SEDA and the Discovery Sound Path, while CORE creates an energising environment for fitness and movement.

Together, these spaces create a complete ecosystem for well-living, transforming the island itself into part of the guest’s personal journey of renewal and transformation.

Where nature and design become part of wellbeing

Nature is fundamental to the JOALI BEING experience. Conceived according to biophilic design principles, the island creates a continuous relationship between architecture and the natural environment. Across its 68 beachfront and overwater villas, wellbeing spaces and pathways, indoor and outdoor environments flow together with tropical greenery, water, light and open horizons.

Here, nature is not simply a backdrop. It becomes an active part of the journey, creating opportunities to slow down, reconnect and experience a deeper sense of presence.

Nourishment with joy at its heart

The philosophy of the Joy of Well-Living extends naturally to gastronomy, where mindful cuisine brings together nourishment, creativity and pleasure. Connected to the Microbiome pillar, the culinary experience encourages a greater understanding of the relationship between food and wellbeing while preserving the flavour, craftsmanship and social connection that make dining joyful.

Rather than defining wellbeing through restriction, JOALI BEING celebrates nourishment as a source of discovery and pleasure – reflecting the belief that meaningful change becomes more sustainable when joy remains at its centre.

Well-living for every generation

At JOALI BEING, wellbeing also unfolds through connection, curiosity, movement and play. B’Kidult welcomes younger guests and families with meaningful experiences that encourage shared well-living, allowing children and adults to explore nature, creativity, movement and discovery together.

This multigenerational approach expands the traditional idea of a wellbeing destination, creating an environment where the Joy of Well-Living can be explored at every stage of life.

From Two to Three MICHELIN Keys

The progression from Two to Three MICHELIN Keys represents a defining milestone in the journey of JOALI BEING and its continued evolution as a transformative well-living destination.

From its Four Pillars and personalised wellbeing journeys to its Transformational Spaces, biophilic design, mindful cuisine and multigenerational experiences, every dimension of JOALI BEING contributes to an environment where wellbeing is not treated as one element of the stay – it is the experience itself.

The achievement celebrates a philosophy that has guided JOALI BEING from the beginning: that well-living should feel inspiring rather than prescriptive, personal rather than predetermined, and joyful rather than restrictive.

Through the Joy of Well-Living, JOALI BEING continues to create a place where guests can feel lighter, happier and more energised, returning home with renewed perspective and meaningful practices to carry into everyday life.

Canareef Resort Maldives is expanding its wellness programme with a broader range of yoga, meditation and holistic experiences led by Karan Kumar, Yoga Professional and Holistic Healer.

Based at Canareef as an in-house Wellness Practitioner, Karan brings extensive experience inyoga, meditation, Reiki and energy healing, with a professional career spanning wellness centres and resorts in India and the Maldives.

His approach combines traditional yogic practices with contemporary wellness experiences, allowing guests to participate in structured group sessions or choose personalised one-to-one experiences according to their individual preferences.

A strong foundation in yoga and wellness

Karan holds a Master’s Degree in Yogic Science & Healing from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapies from Kaivalyadhama Yoga Ashram, Lonavla. His training also includes a Yoga Instructor Certificate from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVAYASA) and a Teacher Training Course through Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerala. He has also completed a 10-day Vipassana self-observation meditation course.

His professional experience includes teaching and facilitating wellness programmes across both India and the Maldives. In the Maldives, he has worked with Soneva Jaani, The Standard Maldives, SO/ Maldives, Kuredhivaru Resort and Spa and ERI Maldives, gaining experience across yoga instruction, spa and wellness operations, meditation, sound healing, Reiki and energy-based practices.

At The Standard Maldives, where he served as Spa Supervisor and Wellness Coordinator, Karan conducted yoga, sound healing and meditation sessions while also developing personalised wellness plans and overseeing spa operations. His subsequent roles at SO/ Maldives and ERI Maldives further expanded his experience in personalised holistic treatments, Reiki, guided meditation and energy healing.

Wellness from sunrise to sunset

At Canareef, guests can discover wellness experiences throughout their stay, with both group and private sessions available.

The programme includes Sunrise Yoga and Sunset Yoga, allowing guests to begin or end their day with movement, breath and mindfulness in the natural surroundings of the island.

Guests can also participate in Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin and Restorative Yoga, alongside Sun Salutations and dedicated breathwork sessions. Private one-to-one sessions provide a more personalised approach, with practices adapted to the guest’s experience, preferences and individual wellness goals.

Breathwork and Pranayama form an important part of the programme, introducing guests to traditional breathing practices designed to encourage awareness, relaxation and a greater connection between movement and breath.

For those looking beyond conventional yoga, Canareef’s wellness programme also includes guided meditation, sound meditation, sound baths, Tibetan singing bowl experiences, Reiki, energy healing and chakra healing.

These experiences complement the resort’s spa and wellness facilities while giving guests a choice of different ways to relax and reconnect during their holiday. Karan’s professional training includes yoga therapy, meditation, Reiki, energy healing, sound bath and Tibetan singing bowl healing, chakra balancing and Yoga Nidra.

A new full moon experience

One of the newest additions to the Canareef wellness calendar is a monthly Full Moon Meditation, held at the resort’s Yoga Shala beneath the full moon.

Each month’s session is given a different name inspired by the lunar cycle, creating a changing theme for guests to experience throughout the year.

The previous session was themed around the Sturgeon Moon, while this month’s programme is dedicated to the Harvest Moon.

The sessions are designed to create a dedicated period for meditation and reflection, using the natural setting of the Yoga Shala and the full moon as part of the experience.

The monthly programme also offers returning guests something new to discover, creating a regular wellness ritual that changes from month to month.

Wellness designed around the guest

Karan’s experience across yoga, holistic healing and resort wellness allows Canareef to offer a flexible programme rather than a single approach to wellness.

For guests who simply want to add some movement to their holiday, a sunrise or sunset yoga class provides an accessible introduction. Those looking for deeper relaxation can explore meditation, breathwork or sound-based experiences, while private sessions allow guests to spend more time working individually with Karan.

His background in yoga therapy and anatomy, combined with his experience in personalised wellness programmes, also supports an approach where sessions can be adapted to different levels of experience and individual requirements.

Beyond his daily wellness sessions, Karan has also been involved in organising and delivering larger wellness initiatives, including World Wellness Day and International Day of Yoga programmes at SO/ Maldives, World Wellness Weekend activities, and wellness collaborations with Puma Middle East and Seva Dubai during his time at The Standard Maldives. Rather than requiring guests to follow a fixed wellness itinerary, Canareef’s programme allows each traveller to create their own balance of relaxation, movement and mindfulness during their stay.

With its spacious island environment in Addu Atoll, Canareef provides a setting where wellness can extend beyond the Yoga Shala – from a quiet moment overlooking the lagoon to a walk at sunset or simply taking time to slow down.

Through its expanded wellness programme and Karan’s holistic approach, Canareef continues to offer guests another way to experience the island: with time to move, breathe, relax and reconnect.