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JOALI Maldives announces Wonders of Ocean Festive programming for 2023/2024

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JOALI Maldives, the first and only art-immersive resort in the Maldives located in the Raa Atoll, invites guests to experience festive season on Muravandhoo Island with an underwater theme, visiting practitioners and unique lineup of daily offerings for the whole family on December 21, 2023 through January 10, 2024. The island will be transformed into a magical underwater world of vivid colours and lights throughout for an unforgettable holiday celebration.

“Each year during our festive season, there is a different type of magic at JOALI Maldives and we look forward to having our guests experience this with their loved ones and feel the joie de vivre or “Joy of Living” during this special time”, says Area General Manager Enver Arslan.

In addition to holiday celebrations such as a tree lighting ceremony, gingerbread house, visit from santa, and daily entertainment, the calendar of activities during festive season at JOALI will include:

  • Culinary: Learn about mixology, whiskey and gin with various classes offered through festive season, in addition to Japanese, Levantine and holiday cooking workshops. JOALI will also feature Christmas and New Year’s brunch and gala dinners.
  • Art Offerings: Enjoy ceramics and coral jewellery making at JOALI’s Art House
  • Sustainability Focus: Guests can enjoy gardening workshops with the sustainability team, a coral nursery tour, talks with resident marine biologists, and more.
  • For The Kids: With daily activities for kids of all ages, they will enjoy marine biology classes, stargazing, cooking classes, magic shows and art classes. Families can also enjoy Muramas Kids Club, discovering the true magic of the land through a number of tailored experiential opportunities, ranging from arts and crafts with sustainable materials, Maldivian language lessons, planting trees to understand JOALI’s corporate responsibility project, connecting with nature, and so much more.
  • Wellness for All: From paddle board yoga and sound bowl healing to various yoga and meditation classes, daily wellness offerings during festive season are offered for all levels. For the whole family, JOALI will also host family fitness classes.
  • Group Sports: Connect with guests by playing tennis, padel tennis, darts or taking part in JOALI’s Premier Football League together

JOALI will welcome visiting practitioner and renowned Kung Fu Master, Sifu Aniket. Master Sifu is a gold medalist with black belts in three different disciplines of martial arts and an expert in yoga and meditations. Sharing his knowledge and skills around the world, Master Sifu will be hosting a ‘Spirit of Martial Arts’ class during the festive season at JOALI, a comprehensive workshop on martial arts to increase stamina, strength, range of motion, and mind-body coordination, allowing guests to acquire self-defence skills while also reducing stress. Chef Nina Tarasova will also be joining JOALI Maldives as a visiting practitioner during the festive season. A pastry consultant, Chef Tarasova has more than 10 years experience in the culinary sphere, working in Russia and around the world conducting master classes and consulting for pastry shops and restaurants. Chef Tarasova will be hosting a dinner for JOALI guests.

Visitors during the festive season will enjoy JOALI Maldives’ 73 elegantly appointed and expansive guest accommodations with beach and over-water villas. Offering 11 different villa categories, guests may choose from one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom options, all of which come complete with a personal Jadugar, meaning ‘skilled magician’ in Dhivehi.

For further details and booking, please visit joali.com

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Year of the Horse celebrations across Sun Siyam’s Luxury, Privé and Lifestyle resorts

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Sun Siyam Resorts is marking the Lunar New Year across its Luxury, Privé and Lifestyle collections with a coordinated programme of cultural experiences, festive dining, music and family-focused activities from 15 to 20 February 2026. Celebrating the Year of the Horse, each resort’s programme reflects its individual character while embracing the spirit of renewal and togetherness associated with the season.

Siyam World – Lifestyle Collection

At Siyam World, Lunar New Year celebrations combine cultural heritage with contemporary island energy. A highlight of the programme is a live showcase featuring Chinese-inspired DJ sets paired with the traditional guzheng, creating a fusion of electronic rhythms and classical melody. Performances by the Chaozhou Shantou lion dance troupe add further cultural depth, with guests invited to observe, participate and learn traditional movements.

Sun Siyam Olhuveli – Lifestyle Collection

Sun Siyam Olhuveli is presenting a relaxed Lunar New Year programme shaped by traditional symbolism and island living. Throughout the week, the resort will host family-friendly cultural activities, traditional performances and live music. Red-themed décor and festive elements will set the tone, while dragon displays and cultural showcases bring movement to the island’s central spaces. The celebrations peak on 16 and 17 February with performances by DJ Slim Belghith, whose international sound will accompany evening festivities.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli – Privé Collection

At Sun Siyam Iru Veli, the Year of the Horse will be marked through a programme that combines cultural traditions with family-oriented experiences. The Kids Club will host themed activities including red envelope crafting, lantern making, zodiac-inspired art and traditional games. The Fire Horse Pool Party at Chemistry will bring families together with music and refreshments. Dining highlights include hot pot lunches and dinners, along with a dedicated Chinese section titled “Flavours of Fortune” at the Aqua Orange buffet. Guests may also enjoy seasonal spa treatments at Ocean Spa designed to promote balance and renewal.

Sun Siyam Vilu Reef – Privé Collection

Sun Siyam Vilu Reef will conclude its celebrations with a Grand Spring Gala Dinner featuring international cuisine alongside Chinese specialities. The evening includes a traditional lion dance performance, filling the island with movement and symbolic gestures intended to welcome prosperity and good fortune.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi – Luxury Collection

At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Lunar New Year celebrations will blend Chinese traditions with Maldivian island experiences. Dining features include beachfront seafood platters, Blue Lobster barbecues and traditional hot pot dinners, complemented by chocolate, cheese and champagne tastings.

Younger guests may take part in dragon dance workshops and lantern painting sessions, while signature resort experiences such as Sunset Jet Car rides, Cinema by Moonlight on a private boat and floating breakfasts add further variety. Evening turndown moments incorporate local Maldivian touches, reflecting the resort’s approach to cultural exchange. With 15 dining venues, family-oriented villas and dedicated adults-only spaces, the resort’s programme is designed to accommodate a broad range of guests.

Commenting on the celebrations, Ahmed Naufal, Group Director of Business Development, noted that China remains an important market for Sun Siyam. He stated that the Lunar New Year celebrations provide an opportunity to honour Chinese traditions while delivering experiences consistent with the group’s standards of hospitality.

Across its Maldivian portfolio, Sun Siyam Resorts presents Lunar New Year as a season of cultural appreciation, shared celebration and renewal by the sea.

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LUX Tennis joins St. Regis Maldives Vommuli to expand active lifestyle programme

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St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has announced a partnership with LUX Tennis, strengthening the resort’s established tennis offering and introducing plans for a new padel court. The collaboration expands the resort’s active lifestyle programme, with a particular focus on families and multi-generational travel.

The St. Regis brand draws on the legacy of the Astor family, founders of the original St. Regis New York, whose Gilded Age lifestyle celebrated refined leisure and sporting pursuits. Tennis, in particular, became a symbol of elegance within the Astor social circle, reflecting a culture shaped by hospitality, recreation and sophistication. This heritage continues across the St. Regis portfolio today, where classic sports remain an integral part of the brand’s identity.

Set within the resort’s private island environment, the enhanced LUX Tennis programme is designed to elevate on-island tennis experiences for guests of all ages and skill levels. The programme features expert-led coaching, bespoke clinics and visiting residencies by internationally recognised professionals, offering guests opportunities to train, play and engage with elite talent in an accessible and inspiring setting.

Confirmed visiting professionals include Angelique Kerber, three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one, who will visit from 29 to 31 March 2026, and Feliciano López, former Spanish champion with a career-high singles ranking of world number 12, scheduled from 16 to 17 May 2026.

The expanded tennis programme is designed to integrate seamlessly with island life, offering everything from relaxed family matches and junior-friendly coaching to more focused sessions for experienced players. Activities are structured to complement time spent at the beach, spa experiences and family dining.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort features 77 beachfront and overwater villas, each with a private pool, alongside facilities such as the John Jacob Astor Estate, the largest overwater three-bedroom villa in the Maldives. Guests also have access to the award-winning Iridium Spa, six dining venues and a private yacht available for charter, reinforcing the resort’s positioning as a destination for both leisure and active pursuits.

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Kandooma Maldives invites couples to gift island escape this Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day is all about romance, anticipation and surprise, and in 2026 couples are dreaming bigger than the traditional bouquet of red roses or dinner out. Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives invites romantics to elevate their Valentine’s gifting with a digital gift voucher for a Maldives island getaway, offering the ultimate gift: time together, far away from the everyday.

The Island Romance Package at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has been thoughtfully designed to deliver a seamless and unforgettable couples’ escape. The package includes accommodation and daily dining for two at Kandooma Café, the resort’s international buffet restaurant, along with in-villa welcome amenities and a thoughtful selection of romantic experiences.

Couples can look forward to special moments such as a beach picnic lunch, breakfast in bed, and a private beachfront dinner set-up, perfectly tailored for those seeking intimacy, indulgence and tropical tranquillity. For ocean-loving adventurers, the package also includes dive experiences for certified divers, adding an exhilarating touch to the celebration. Island Romance packages start from US$548++ per villa per night for two (depending on dates of stay and villa category), with a minimum three-night stay.

“Some guests choose to gift a cash amount that can be applied toward a booking, while others prefer to arrange the stay in advance and purchase gift vouchers for memorable add-ons,” said Sharon Garrett, Director of Marketing & Sustainability, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.

Valentine’s Day goes well beyond the 14th February at the private island paradise. “At Kandooma, we celebrate romance and togetherness throughout February as part of our Month of Love celebrations, and our gift vouchers allow guests to give something truly meaningful, even if they can’t travel right away.” she added.

Located in the South Malé Atoll, just 45 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is a tropical island paradise renowned for its white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoon, and world-class diving and surfing. Accommodation ranges from Garden and Beach Villas to two-storey Beach Houses and the resort’s signature Overwater Villas. Families are well catered for with the Kandoo Kids’ Club and a full activities programme, while six dining venues and the Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala complete the island escape. www.maldives.holidayinnresorts.com

Gift vouchers can be purchased via the resort’s website. For the full Month of Love 2026 Brochure, please visit here

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