JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La is celebrating a double win at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, earning two prestigious accolades: Leading Business Hotel and Leading City Hotel (40 Rooms and Above).

The dual recognition marks a significant milestone in the hotel’s journey, reaffirming its position as a distinguished hospitality destination in the heart of Malé. It also reflects the hotel’s unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences, thoughtfully curated services, and the warmth of Shangri-La’s Asian hospitality.

Situated in the vibrant capital of the Maldives, JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La offers a welcoming urban retreat where contemporary comfort meets genuine hospitality. Catering to the diverse needs of business and leisure travellers, the hotel brings together stylish accommodation, versatile meeting facilities, and distinctive dining experiences, creating an inviting space for guests to connect, unwind, and discover the city.

The Leading Business Hotel accolade recognises the hotel’s commitment to providing a seamless and rewarding experience for today’s business travellers, combining convenience, efficiency, and attentive service. Meanwhile, the Leading City Hotel (40 Rooms and Above) award celebrates its continued excellence in urban hospitality, where thoughtful touches and personalised experiences transform everyday stays into memorable moments.

At the heart of these achievements are the people who bring the JEN experience to life. Guided by Shangri-La’s purpose to deliver the art of joy and Asian hosting, the dedicated team at JEN Maldives continues to create an environment where guests feel genuinely welcomed, valued, and cared for. Their passion, teamwork, and commitment to service excellence remain the driving force behind the hotel’s success.

JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La extends its heartfelt appreciation to its valued guests, trusted business partners, and dedicated colleagues whose continued confidence, loyalty, and support have made these accomplishments possible.

As the hotel celebrates this proud milestone, it looks ahead with renewed inspiration to further elevate its offerings, strengthen meaningful connections, and continue creating memorable experiences. Rooted in the timeless values of Asian hospitality and the spirit of Shangri-La, JEN Maldives Malé by Shangri-La remains committed to delivering hospitality that goes beyond expectations, ensuring every guest feels a true sense of belonging.

This festive season, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives presents Tides of Wonder, a celebration that follows the changing rhythm of island life from Christmas through the New Year and Orthodox Christmas.

Beginning on 21 December, the programme moves between the ocean, the table and the island itself, with each day offering a different reason to linger. The season opens with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Mirus Beach, followed by days of dolphin cruises, reef encounters, Maldivian traditions, wellness rituals and family experiences.

“Tides of Wonder is an invitation to experience the festive season at a different pace,” says Thomas Weber, General Manager of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “A longer stay gives guests the freedom to enjoy the celebrations without rushing from one occasion to the next, leaving time for the unexpected moments that often become the most memorable.”

The surrounding sea plays a starring role. Two Marine Discovery Quiz Nights, hosted by the resort’s resident marine biologist, bring reef stories, ocean knowledge and friendly competition to Mirus Bar. One grand prize winner will receive a Marina Raphael Swarovski bag, adding a stylish surprise to an evening inspired by the marine world.

Dining carries its own rhythm through the season. Christmas Eve is celebrated with dinner and live entertainment at Seasalt, while Christmas Day brings a Four-Hands Dinner at Pibati Sul Mare, where Executive Chef Frank Wackerhagen joins Chef Mumu. Ten Tides Omakase, Maldivian dining at Alila Spice Garden, Yakitori BBQ Night 3.0 and the New Year’s Eve Gala add further flavour to the calendar.

“For us, the season is about giving each table its own character,” says Frank Wackerhagen, Executive Chef. “Some evenings are celebratory, others relaxed and close to the island, but each begins with good ingredients, a sense of place and the pleasure of sharing.”

On 31 December, cocktails by the beach lead into the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner, with live performances, a mentalist and DJ Ossanna beneath the island sky. The first days of 2027 shift towards renewal, with the New Year Flair Sundowner at The Shack, Maldivian games, ocean experiences and wellness sessions, before the season closes on 7 January with Orthodox Christmas dining and a White Beach Party at Mirus Beach.

“What we want guests to remember is the variety of experiences they can enjoy without ever losing that sense of ease,” says Danilo Paolella, Director of Food & Beverage. “There is always another table to discover, another sunset to share and another reason to stay a little longer.”

For guests wishing to make more of the season, the resort’s Stay Longer, Save More offer is designed for stays of seven nights or more, with daily breakfast and dinner, dining and spa privileges, laundry savings and seaplane transfer benefits. Stays of 14 consecutive nights or more include complimentary round-trip transfers for two adults, making the offer especially suited to experiencing the festive calendar from Christmas into the New Year.

For the full festive programme and reservations, visit the Alila Kothaifaru Maldives Festive Season page. To book your stay, visit www.alilahotels.com/kothaifaru-maldives.

This November, Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort invites guests to experience art through a new lens as contemporary artist Yakov Khomich takes up residence on the island from 6 to 12 November 2026. Set against the extraordinary natural beauty of the Maldives, the residency will transform Finolhu’s Art Lab into an intimate space for creativity, discovery and personal expression.

Based between France and Russia, Khomich has developed a distinctive artistic language that moves fluidly between techniques, visual references and ideas. Rather than being defined by a single style, his practice is intuitive and instinctive, often beginning with an image, memory or emotion before evolving organically on canvas. His work inhabits the space between reality and imagination, drawing on personal experience, cultural memory and the familiar symbols of everyday life.

Art has been part of Khomich’s world from an early age. Born into a family of artists, he grew up surrounded by museums and creative influences before pursuing an education across arts and cinema. He graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in 2023, specialising in painting and film and television art. Since 2019, his practice has increasingly embraced experimentation beyond academic conventions, resulting in an eclectic and highly personal approach to contemporary painting.

Khomich’s work has been presented internationally through solo and group exhibitions and at leading art fairs, including Cosmoscow Art Fair and Blazar Art Fair, alongside exhibitions with ART&BRUT Gallery in Moscow and Sur Play at Museum NOU in Barcelona. His works are held in private collections across the United States, Europe, China and Russia.

At Finolhu, Khomich’s residency will take art beyond observation and invite guests to become part of the creative process. Hosted through the resort’s Art Lab, the programme will offer a series of approachable experiences designed to encourage experimentation and individual expression, regardless of previous artistic experience.

The residency opens with a Meet & Greet during Finolhu’s signature White Party on 6 November, offering guests the opportunity to meet Khomich and discover his artistic world. A complimentary introductory art class follows on 7 November, with Group masterclasses on 8 and 10 November. For a more intimate experience, private art sessions will be available from 7 to 12 November, allowing guests to create alongside the artist in a more personal setting.

Rather than asking participants to reproduce a particular image or adhere to a rigid technique, the experience reflects Khomich’s own approach to art: observing, experimenting and allowing an idea to evolve through the act of making. His wider practice draws inspiration from human behaviour, childhood narratives and fragments of cultural memory, using familiar symbols and imagery to evoke feelings that may resist a single interpretation.

The residency forms part of Finolhu’s wider commitment to bringing art and design into the guest experience. The resort’s dedicated Art Lab has developed into a creative space for painting, pottery, fabric dyeing, resin art and visiting artist residencies, complementing Finolhu’s colourful design identity and its setting within the UNESCO-designated Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.

Khomich’s residency follows acclaimed British designer Matthew Williamson, whose October residency will bring his celebrated use of colour, pattern and maximalist design to Finolhu. Together, the two residencies form part of the resort’s evolving creative programme, reflecting Finolhu’s belief that art is best experienced through connection, discovery and participation.

This November, guests are invited not simply to encounter contemporary art, but to step inside the creative process — and leave the island with an experience that is uniquely their own.

For more information and reservations, visit finolhu.com.