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Magical festive season awaits at Vakkaru Maldives

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With the holiday season approaching, Vakkaru Maldives has announced an exciting array of events, exquisite dining experiences and holiday-themed activities for guests to enjoy when visiting the resort this festive season. Located in the heart of Baa Atoll on a secluded reef island with idyllic ocean views, powder-soft white sand and unique marine biodiversity, the resort is an ideal destination for a holiday in the sun.

From 23 December 2023, through 7 January 2024, Vakkaru Maldives will host a series of programming available to guests of all ages, with activities carefully designed to make the most of the festive season including fun-filled games, galas and live entertainment.

ISLAND NOEL: A Seaside Christmas Eve Celebration

This Christmas Eve, guests of Vakkaru Maldives can relish in a magical evening on the shoreline before Santa’s big arrival. The celebration starts with an island-style cocktail party on Isoletta beach followed by a lavish gala dinner surrounded by the waves on Vakku Beach, with heartwarming carols and live entertainment by a saxophonist duo, a four-piece band, fire dancer, DJ and more.

SANTA’S ARRIVAL: Christmas at Vakkaru

On 25 December, Santa will make a stylish arrival in paradise, bearing gifts for all the little islanders. Guests will meet Santa and the elves in the morning on Isoletta Beach, followed by exciting games, prizes and giveaways under the tropical sun. Later in the day, all tennis enthusiasts are invited to compete to become Vakkaru’s tennis star of the year in the Christmas Tennis Tournament hosted by the resort’s Resident Tennis Coach.

THE GOLDENEYE GALA: A Bond-style New Year’s Eve Soiree

The resort will welcome 2024 with a James Bond-inspired celebration, The Goldeneye Gala, that promises to bring the timeless allure of 007 and its undeniable glamour. The celebration starts with a cocktail party at Isoletta Beach, followed by a Gala Dinner at Vakku Beach, and a midnight

“Skyfall” of fireworks. The glamorous soiree will feature gourmet delicacies from around the world, an electrifying live band, and mesmerizing moves from fire and LED dancer, DJ and more.

ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS EVE: Gala Dinner

On the evening of 6 January 2024, guests can experience an enchanting Orthodox Christmas Eve at Vakkaru Maldives with a sumptuous buffet spread and live stations, set against the backdrop of a magical beachfront. Throughout the night, guests can enjoy live entertainment by resident performers.

Other holiday-themed offerings available to hotel guests include wreath making, coconut painting, wooden snowman crafting, Christmas card painting, and Santa sand art. Throughout the festive period, travelers will also have the opportunity to engage in various activities including wellness workshops, evening yoga, eco-friendly arts and crafts, treasure hunts, family-style beach Olympics, padel tennis tournament and more.

Beyond the holiday festivities, the resort also provides engaging experiences suitable for all age groups, including daily programs at Parrotfish Club and Coconut Club for young guests, tailored spa journeys at Merana Spa, invigorating sports at two flood-lit tennis courts and a padel tennis court, as well as exhilarating immersive excursions and watersports by Splash. For those seeking world-class wine experiences, the resort is home to one of the few hand-picked wine cellars in the Maldives, Vakkaru Reserve. The cellar features a collection worth US$700,000 extending to 680 labels from the Old and New World.

For further information on the line-up of holiday activities and events or Vakkaru Maldives, check the e-brochure or visit www.vakkarumaldives.com.

Awards

Hideaway Beach Resort secures six major resort nominations and TTM sports award recognition

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Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa has received a series of prestigious nominations across the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2026, South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, and Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Awards 2026, recognising the resort’s excellence in luxury hospitality, romance, wellness, sports, and family travel.

This year, Hideaway has been shortlisted for Maldives’ Leading Beach Resort, Maldives’ Leading Honeymoon Resort, and Maldives’ Leading Luxury Island Resort at the World Travel Awards; Leading Beach Resort, Leading Family Resort, and Leading Wellness & Spa Resort at the South Asian Travel Awards; and Best Resort for Sports & Fitness at the TTM Awards.

Nestled on the naturally lush island of Dhonakulhi in Haa Alifu Atoll, Hideaway is renowned for its expansive white-sand beaches, including the iconic North Beach, spacious villas and luxury residences, and exceptional levels of privacy served impeccably by the resort’s Butlers. Set amidst tropical vegetation and crystal-clear waters, the resort offers a distinctive blend of natural beauty, personalised service, and authentic island experiences that continue to resonate with discerning travellers and industry partners alike.

These nominations reflect the breadth of the Hideaway experience: secluded villa concepts and bespoke romantic moments for couples; warm, intuitive hospitality and space for multi-generational family travel; restorative spa and wellness journeys; and a dynamic sports and fitness offering that includes tennis, Padel, badminton, pickleball, golf, cycling, jogging and running trails, football, beach volleyball, basketball, foosball, billiards, snorkelling, diving, water sports, and a fully equipped fitness centre. The resort has also introduced special sporting experiences, including the first-ever Maldives Hideaway Resort Run, a luxury running event launched last year in the Maldives amidst World Wellness Weekend.

“We are incredibly proud to see Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa recognised across such a diverse and prestigious set of awards in 2026. These nominations reflect the passion of our team and the strength of the experience we have built at Hideaway – one that brings together privacy, natural beauty, heartfelt service and a rich lifestyle offering for today’s active luxury traveller. It is a wonderful honour for us, and we are deeply grateful for the continued support of our guests, partners and industry community,” said Desislav Gospodinov, Group Director of Sales & Marketing at Lily Hotels.

Together, these nominations highlight Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa’s defining strengths – privacy, space, natural beauty, wellness, recreation, and personalised luxury, reinforcing its standing as one of the Maldives’ most distinctive private island destinations.

Guests, partners, and supporters are invited to cast their vote for Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa here. For reservations and further information, please visit the resort’s website

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Eri Maldives marks global marine awareness days with immersive ocean experiences

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With a full calendar of ocean awareness moments running from June through to mid-July, Eri Maldives, a resort in the North Malé Atoll, is where marine stewardship isn’t a seasonal campaign, it’s baked into the everyday.

For anyone covering upcoming marine awareness days, Eri has activations tied to each for a full month of ocean-focused programming, running from 1 June through to mid-July:

  • Reef Awareness Day (1 June): Eri’s Reef Guardians Experience takes guests on morning and afternoon snorkelling safaris across some of the atoll’s most pristine coral, with conservation briefings focused on coral life and a complimentary Marine Life Quiz at the Sip&Dip bar in the evening.
  • World Oceans Day (8 June): Guided snorkelling safaris and marine ecosystem adventures, continuing the resort’s thread of ocean education and wonder throughout the month.
  • World Sea Turtle Day (16 June): A Turtley Awesome afternoon programme, with the headline activation being a Turtle Search Snorkel (14:15–16:30), opening with an educational briefing on turtle behaviour, ecology and conservation.
  • Shark Awareness Day (14 July): Beyond the Myth invites guests on a complimentary Shark Trivia at Sip&Dip (20:30–21:30, plus an after-dark Night Snorkel and Night Dive with sharks for those who want to go further (18:00–20:00, reservations needed at an additional cost)
  • PADI Women’s Dive Day (from 18 July): Aspiring dive learners can join a women-only breathwork and free dive introduction session in the morning (09:00–10:30, cheageable), followed by a sunset gathering at Sip&Dip (18:00–19:30, complimentary).

Meet the 14 resident turtles of Eri

The resort is also home to a thriving turtle community, with 14 individually identified turtles, each logged by the resident dive team through distinctive shell markings, flipper formations and carapace patterns.

There’s Miss Torti, recognised by her saw-like shell margins and split rear scutes; Hank, whose right hind flipper never fully developed; and Farfalle, whose spotted shell reads like a constellation map. One of the newest addition to the records is Otto, Eri’s first-ever green sea turtle sighting, and a quietly significant milestone for the reef’s biodiversity story.

Several turtles have been named by guests themselves, and the invitation remains open: any guest who spots an undocumented turtle is welcome to name it.

Meet the full turtle family here. For reservations, please visit the resort’s website

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Mandara Spa brings ELEMIS skincare expertise to Maldives wellness experiences

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Mandara Spa in the Maldives continues to elevate its wellness offering through its longstanding collaboration with ELEMIS, the globally recognised British skincare brand known for combining advanced skincare science with indulgent spa experiences.

In an era where discerning travellers seek more than traditional luxury, Mandara Spa continues to align with globally recognised wellness brands such as ELEMIS, known for its leadership in advanced skincare innovation, spa expertise, and premium wellness experiences. ELEMIS’s global partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team reflects the brand’s positioning within the world of luxury, performance, and innovation, values that also resonate with Mandara Spa’s commitment to elevated wellness experiences across Maldives.

As ELEMIS continues to expand its presence through Formula One™ activations and premium global initiatives, Mandara Spa brings this same spirit of modern luxury and performance led wellness to its spa destinations in the Maldives, where advanced skincare expertise meets the tranquillity of island wellbeing.

As wellness continues to evolve beyond traditional spa experiences, Mandara Spa in the Maldives remains focused on delivering elevated wellness experiences through globally trusted brands such as ELEMIS, renowned for its science led formulations, naturally derived ingredients, and decades of spa expertise. Today’s discerning travellers increasingly seek treatments that combine relaxation with visible results and advanced skincare innovation.

Through this longstanding collaboration, guests can experience a curated collection of ELEMIS face and body treatments, delivered by expertly trained Mandara therapists in tranquil island settings designed for restoration and renewal, where luxury, efficacy, and holistic wellbeing come together seamlessly.

This is not a short-term alliance. Mandara Spa’s ongoing partnership with ELEMIS reflects a long-term, strategic relationship built on mutual benefit — ensuring that guests, wellness professionals, investors, and business partners alike can trust in the stability and quality of the Mandara Spa experience. For investors and business stakeholders, this alignment with a globally recognized, B Corp-certified brand with distribution across 110 countries is a powerful indicator of Mandara Spa’s ambition and trajectory in the luxury wellness market.

For more than 30 years, Mandara Spa has partnered with leading wellness and hospitality brands to deliver thoughtfully curated spa experiences across the globe. The continued collaboration with ELEMIS reflects Mandara Spa’s commitment to aligning with globally recognised partners that share the same standards of excellence, guest care, and innovation.

As luxury travellers continue to prioritise wellbeing as part of the travel experience, Mandara Spa in the Maldives remains focused on delivering meaningful wellness journeys through exceptional service, highly trained therapists, and partnerships with premium wellness brands trusted around the world. ELEMIS treatments are available across all Mandara Spa locations in the Maldives, bringing the brand’s world-renowned formulations to every guest, at every property.

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