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Setting scene, bringing new taste: W Maldives brings chefs on fire festival’s first revelry in Asia

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W Maldives, the luxury playground located in the North Ari Atoll surrounded by one of the best house reefs in the country, is setting the scene once again by bringing Portugal’s famed food and music festival—Chefs On Fire—for the first time in Asia.

The festival is set to kick off and open its doors on 31 October and will go on until 5 November 2023, highlighting a series of dining events lead by Michelin-star Chef Alexandre Silva and music performances by the Lisbon-based and award-winning singer, song-writer, Dino D’Santiago.

Since 2018, Chefs On Fire is known as an innovative festival that invites and blends the best international chefs to cook exclusively with fire, smoke, and fire wood, with musical performances by emerging and celebrated artists and performers.

The festival is also known for their commitment in sustainability with their standard policies of zero plastic, usage of local produce and indigenous ingredients, low food waste, and firewood replanting. Encompassing three of the brand’s passion points — TASTE, SOUND, and STANCE — W Maldives is pleased to announce its collaboration with Chefs On Fire to present their unique and immersive experience or the first time to Asia.

Chef Alexandre Silva is the mastermind behind two of Lisbon’s celebrated restaurants—Loco and Fogo. He is a culinary virtuoso renowned for his innovative approach to gastronomy that provides captivating narratives of flavour, culture, and technique. In 2015, his Loco Restaurant was awarded with a Michelin star owing to his unique interpretations of traditional dishes and the chef’s profound connection to locally-sourced ingredients. His unique perspective in gastronomic experience will be present during Chefs On Fire at W Maldives and be amplified by the musical prowess of Dino D’Santiago.

A critically acclaimed and multifaceted music artist hailing from Portugal’s vibrant music scene, Dino D’Santiago has captivated audiences with his distinctive blend of genres. His signature sonic identity effortlessly fuse traditional Cape Verdean and Afro-Lusophone with contemporary sound that defies easy categorisation. Dino is set to bring his famed electrifying and charismatic stage presence that will awe audiences with his emotive vocals and musical storytelling throughout the inspiring collaboration.

“We are very thrilled to collaborate with Chefs On Fire to bring their famed food, fire and music festival our shores. Their commitment in providing a distinctive experience with sustainability in mind, perfectly matches with W Maldives’ stance in creating an inspiring and meaningful activations for our guests,” said Alexander Lopez, Resort Manager of W Maldives.

On their upcoming visit to Maldives, and the collaboration, Gonçalo Castel-Branco, executive producer of Chefs On Fire said, “We are very excited to bring Chefs On Fire experience to the Maldives, first time in Asia, and to be able to truly immerse ourselves in the ambience of the dream destination. This collaboration truly embodies the great commitment from both Chefs On Fire and W Maldives in serving both our audiences with a one-in-a-lifetime experience, and we hope this will be as inspiring for all the guests as it has for us.”

Chefs On Fire at W Maldives is set to be a special moment not only for the guests but also for the members of Marriott Bonvoy worldwide. W Maldives has also opened one special day for all members to bid on an exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments experience. Check in to the luxury playground for a three-night stay at one of the Fabulous Overwater Villas from 30 October 2023 and check out the Chefs on Fire Food & Music Festival as a VIP. The bid winners will kick start their adventure with an AWAY Spa session for two before immersing themselves in the back stage of the festival’s sustainable journey. Bid winners will get to participate in a fire pit cooking class, enjoy live music performances, and savour an exclusive dinner prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Alexandre Silva on the resort’s private castaway island, Gaathafushi.

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Dr Hetalkumar Doshi returns to Sirru Fen Fushi for extended wellness residency

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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.

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Coco Bodu Hithi celebrates Women’s Dive Day with marine conservation experience

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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.

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Baros Maldives ranked world’s no. 2 resort in Travel + Leisure Awards

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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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