News
Unlocking gastronomic dreams: Flavourful feast of upgrades at SAii Lagoon, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives

It will come as no surprise that the Maldives has scooped up the crown of the most elusive destination in the world every year. After all, this string of pearl atolls with dolphins swimming in front of your villas freely and some of the most unreal sunsets you will ever see is all about extravagant character and easygoing exotica. A proper beach getaway should feel like you’ve stumbled across a deeply buried secret in the sand.
Just like CROSSROADS Maldives – For families seeking beachside adventures, and for lovers searching for a cinematic tropical paradise where time stands still, CROSSROADS Maldives is the only leisure destination in the Maldives that offers unadulterated joie de vivre without restricting you to simply one island-one resort. With two resorts, a 30-berth quay, the legendary Hard Rock Cafe, Rock Spa, diverse shopping and dining, thrilling excursions, SAii Beach Club, and blissful Len Be Well spa offering, this is where your uber-chic must-try modern Maldives holiday begin – Dazzlingly biodiverse, sensationally calm, yet achingly dramatic.
With the new year around the corner and a spirit of gifting in the air, the serene SAii Lagoon Maldives, and the iconic Hard Rock Hotel Maldives are coming together to roll out the festive vibe early this year, by offering a meal plan upgrade to all the gastronomic enthusiasts out there.
At SAii Lagaoon Maldives you are entitled to an upgrade to the Full Board Meal plan if you book on Half Board and going one level higher Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is offering an upgrade to their popular All-inclusive meal plan to all those who book on Full Board. The holiday season is when most of us learn the art of letting go and slip into the carefree dine & imbibe mood as we get ready to unwind and recharge for the brand new year ahead. This quintessential upgrade offer is just the right push you need to book that Maldives holiday at the extraordinary CROSSROADS Maldives and embark on a journey of pre-festive partying, relaxing, indulging, and repeating.
Privacy, seclusion. A taste of the sublime – at SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton you can expect on top of the upgrade, complimentary use of snorkelling gear, kayaks, and pedal boats to raise up your holiday experience, and Hilton Honors members are entitled to their benefits. If that doesn’t rev your motor, there will always be bubbles served complimentary with breakfast which will offer a champagne-boost to set your mood for the day. More exciting details are listed here.
Hard Rock Hotel is setting the stage for you to shine on with the terrific all-inclusive meal plan which comes with beverages and the cherry on top will be the extra thirty percent discount on your roundtrip speedboat transfers. The mini-roxtars below the age of eleven get to ride the waves with the parents completely free. For the grown-up rock stars there will always be complimentary drinks at the sundown rituals and if that is not enough to make you groove, the resort is offering an additional fifteen percent discount on the villas when you book directly on the website.
What is really shaking things up at CROSSROADS Maldives is the unmatched choice for dining. Collectively the resorts and the marina put together you are spoilt for choice with over fourteen dining experiences offering cuisines from Tokyo to California. Think of it as a mood board for holiday cravings – an option for every mood you are in. Light bites, poolside snacks, playful desserts, buffets that you can’t finish through, or even more refined, indulgent, and intimate dining – CROSSROADS will be your springboard for all culinary imaginations you wish to bring to life.
In between the Robinson Crusoe expeditions and the unforgettable villa stays, take the time to worry less and indulge more with the “Meal Plan Upgrade” offer, which serves up a complete all-cure, food, beverages, entertainment, watersports plan for you so that your holiday has all the extra frills at a much lesser rate and double the fun at CROSSROADS Maldives.
Cooking
W Maldives welcomes acclaimed ‘Dessert King’ Reynold Poernomo for Flavours Unscripted culinary takeover

W Maldives is turning up the flavor dial this August with a high-profile culinary collaboration that is equal parts bold, artful, and wildly indulgent. As part of the resort’s Dare To Taste programming under the Flavors Unscripted series, W Maldives will welcome acclaimed chef and culinary creative Reynold Poernomo for a two-part takeover on August 10 and 12, 2025. This exclusive collaboration is set to redefine island dining—one plate at a time.
Born in Indonesia and raised in Sydney, Chef Reynold is no stranger to pushing culinary boundaries. A self-taught prodigy who rose to fame as a finalist on MasterChef Australia, he quickly became known as the nation’s “Dessert King” for his intricate, art-driven creations. In 2016, he co-founded KOI Dessert Bar with his family, which has since become one of Sydney’s most iconic culinary destinations with a cult following. The brand expanded in 2017 with KOI Dessert Kitchen, a production space that also hosts exclusive masterclasses and guest chef collaborations. Reynold’s approach to food is anything but ordinary—his plates are immersive, imaginative, and unapologetically bold. This August, he brings that same creative fire to W Maldives.
The main event unfolds on August 12, when guests will have the rare opportunity to experience Chef Reynold’s culinary artistry firsthand at FISH, the resort’s signature overwater venue renowned for its sustainable ocean-to-table fine dining. For one night only, Chef Reynold will present a specially curated three-course dinner inspired by island ingredients, global technique, and his unmistakable visual flair. Guests can expect bold plating, layered flavors, and a few unexpected turns—this is Reynold unleashed, Maldives-style.
As part of this exclusive collaboration, W Maldives presents Marriott Bonvoy Moments–a once-in-a-lifetime experience for members to bid on a Private Castaway Dining Experience with Chef Reynold, paired with a luxurious four-night villa stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa from August 9 to 13, 2025. The package includes roundtrip shared seaplane transfers from Velana International Airport, daily breakfast, and a one-time signature treatment at AWAY Spa for the bid winner and their guest.
The highlight of the stay begins on August 10, with an intimate starlit dinner on Gaathafushi, W Maldives’ private castaway island, where Chef Reynold will personally host and curate a bespoke tasting menu. On August 12, the duo will receive front-row seats to his culinary showcase at FISH. With only one package available, anticipation is high and competition will be fierce.
To mark the collaboration, Chef Reynold will also unveil an exclusive signature dessert, created just for W Maldives and available on the menu for six months following his visit. Daring, decadent, and destined to be the most photographed dish on the island, it is a lasting tribute to this unforgettable partnership.
“There’s something electric about the Maldives—its textures, its moods, its light,” said Chef Reynold Poernomo. “This menu is my response to that. A dreamscape of flavor brought to life through technique, imagination, and a little island heat.”
Amila Handunwala, General Manager of W Maldives, added, “At W Maldives, we’re all about pushing boundaries—on the plate, behind the bar, and in the guest experience. Reynold brings a daring, creative energy that aligns perfectly with our vision. This isn’t just a dinner; it’s a story told in flavor.”
This collaboration is part of Flavors Unscripted, W Maldives’ platform for culinary expression where global tastemakers meet untamed island creativity and nothing is ever scripted. It is food without rules. Flavor without borders.
Tucked away in the heart of the North Ari Atoll and a 25-minute scenic seaplane journey from Velana International Airport, W Maldives is a bold luxury escape featuring 77 private villas—each with a plunge pool and unobstructed access to the Indian Ocean. Following a recent design refresh, the resort seamlessly blends contemporary luxury with the island’s raw natural beauty.
Members can now bid for a Private Castaway Dining Experience with Chef Reynold Poernomo and a four-night stay at W Maldives until July 21, 2025 through Marriott Bonvoy Moments.
Guests looking to stir things up in paradise can book the Stay, Dine, and Fly package, which includes daily breakfast, a three-course dinner, and roundtrip seaplane transfers. For more information, visit www.wmaldives.com or contact reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.
Awards
JOALI Maldives ranked Asia’s best and No. 7 in world’s top 100

JOALI Maldives has been named the #1 Resort in Asia and #7 Resort in the World in the prestigious Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2025, reaffirming its place as one of the leading luxury destinations globally and the hallmark of excellence of the Maldives.
Each year, Travel + Leisure readers rate the world’s most exceptional hotels based on rooms and facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. JOALI Maldives’ consistently high ratings reflect an enduring commitment to thoughtful luxury and heartfelt guest experiences.
With an outstanding score of 99.46 this year, the resort stands among the highest-rated properties in the world in this year’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. Guests praised every element of the experience, from the design of the villas to the warmth of the service, with one reader declaring Saoke, the resort’s signature Japanese restaurant, as “the best food in the world.” This level of acclaim reflects not only exceptional facilities, but also the resort’s unwavering commitment to curating personalised, soulful journeys for every guest.
This award adds to an ever-growing list of honours for the resort. JOALI Maldives has proudly upheld Forbes Five-Star status consecutively, has been celebrated in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards most recently as the #1 Resort in the Indian Ocean, and continues to earn praise in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards and previous editions of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best.
“We are truly humbled by this recognition from Travel + Leisure readers,” says Shifaz Hassan, General Manager of JOALI Maldives. “It’s especially meaningful because it comes from our guests — many of whom return year after year, sharing heartfelt feedback about our island. Our team works with quiet dedication to anticipate needs, honour privacy, and create moments of true joy. The recognition reflects the connections we have built with our guests, and I am immensely proud of this achievement”
A beacon of creativity and conscious living in the Maldives, JOALI continues to elevate luxury hospitality by meaningfulness, beauty, and soul.
Awards
Villa Park, Villa Nautica crowned among world’s top 100 hotels

Villa Resorts has been recognised in the TopHotels “Top 100 Hotels of the Year 2024” list, with two of its properties, Villa Park and Villa Nautica, featured among the highest-rated hotels based on guest reviews from Russia and the CIS.
TopHotels is one of the most widely used hotel review platforms among Russian-speaking travellers, and its annual ranking reflects feedback from thousands of verified guests. Earning a place in this list highlights the strong appeal of Villa Resorts’ offerings in these markets and the high level of satisfaction experienced by guests throughout the year.
Villa Park, located in South Ari Atoll, is well known for its lush landscapes, vibrant marine life, and wide range of activities suited for families, couples, and nature enthusiasts. Villa Nautica, situated near Malé, offers a more energetic island setting with beachfront villas, lively experiences, and a relaxed yet refined atmosphere.
While each resort offers something unique, both share the brand’s signature focus on heartfelt service, comfortable luxury, and a strong sense of place inspired by the Maldives.
This recognition reflects Villa Resorts’ longstanding relationship with guests from Russia and the CIS. The brand has continually invested in understanding the needs of these travellers, offering multilingual support and culturally considerate service across its properties.
With roots in the Maldives since the early 1980s, Villa Resorts remains one of the country’s most established hospitality brands. This recent acknowledgment from TopHotels reinforces its position as a trusted choice for international travellers seeking authentic island experiences grounded in comfort, care, and connection.
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