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The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands Welcomes New Executive Chef Leonardo Valls

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The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is thrilled to welcome its new Executive Chef, Leonardo Valls. Bringing 20+ years of international experience and an eye for gastronomic innovation, Valls is set to elevate the resort’s culinary experiences with his creativity and craftsmanship.

Valls’ journey in the kitchen started in his native Chile, where he joined chef Tomás Olivera in 2003 at The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, the brand’s first property in South America. During his five years there, Valls helped Olivera and the hotel’s Adra restaurant earn numerous accolades and awards, laying the groundwork for his next adventure. 

In 2008, Valls crossed the globe to join another Ritz-Carlton property, the Hotel Arts Barcelona, where he spent more than a decade as part of a highly celebrated team, led by acclaimed chef Paco Pérez. During his tenure, he helped the hotel’s Enoteca restaurant earn its first and second Michelin stars (2010 and 2013) and was named Executive Sous Chef of the hotel’s culinary division in 2016, overseeing operations for five restaurants, a central kitchen, and major international events including the Mobile World Congress. 

In early 2020, Valls was set to make another international move, this time as Executive Sous Chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Naples in Florida, but the pandemic led to a change in plans, prompting his return to Santiago. In 2021, opportunity knocked again with the entry of the legendary brand into the Maldives and Valls joined The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands as Executive Sous Chef.

After a year at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, Valls found his homeland calling once again. Armed with vast knowledge of the luxury culinary concept, he took his expertise to the AC Hotel by Marriott Santiago Costanera Center where, as Executive Chef, he infused his style with Spanish and other European influences. 

Renato De Oliveira, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands comments, “We’re thrilled to have Valls back in the Maldives, this time as our Executive Chef. His appointment is the start of a new chapter in an already illustrious career and an opportunity for guests to experience the world through Valls’ unique culinary perspective.”

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Kandooma Maldives introduces thoughtful Ramadan offerings for guests

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Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives invites travellers to embrace the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, or Ramazan as it is known in the Maldives, with a peaceful private island escape offering thoughtful options for both fasting and non-fasting guests.

With villa accommodation surrounded by tropical gardens, white sandy beaches and a turquoise lagoon, the resort provides an ideal setting for reflection, relaxation and reconnection. Guests observing Ramadan have access to the island’s private mosque for prayers, while the resort’s dining teams ensure fasting guests can enjoy both Iftar and Suhoor options throughout their stay.

New this year is Kandooma’s Ramadan Shisha Corner inviting guests to relax socially after dinner with a snack menu available throughout the evening and flavoured Shisha.

The Holy Month is expected to commence on 18 February and continue until 20 March 2026, subject to the sighting of the moon.

As a private island resort, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives continues to offer its full range of guest services during Ramadan, including dining, entertainment, and recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of watersports, nearby reef snorkelling and scuba diving, as well as a full programme of family activities, including the popular Kandoo Kids’ Club, which includes supervised fun and a mini waterpark zone for younger guests.

During the Holy Month, the resort maintains its normal food and beverage service for non- fasting guests, including poolside refreshments and cocktails.

“Many guests ask us if they can still enjoy a drink by the pool during the Holy Month, and the answer is yes,” said Mark Eletr, General Manager, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives. “As a private island resort, we are able to continue our food and beverage offering for guests, while respectfully recognising the importance of the season.”

“In a warm tropical climate like the Maldives, it is a remarkable commitment to fast during daylight hours, and I am always in awe of our team who continue their duties with professionalism and pride. Almost half of our team are local Maldivians who observe Ramadan,” he added.

For fasting guests, Iftar (breaking of the fast) is served at Kandooma Café, the resort’s international buffet restaurant. Suhoor options are available through pre-order and can be delivered via in-villa dining for early morning convenience.

For families and groups, a special group dinner package is also available from US$59++ per person, with a minimum of 10 paying guests. Children under 13 years can enjoy the benefits of the resort’s IHG Kids Eat and Stay Free programme when dining with a paying adult.

Following the Maldives’ renowned “one island, one resort” concept, Kandooma is small enough to explore easily on foot while offering plenty of space for guests to find quiet moments of sanctuary, whether on the beach, along the lagoon edge, or in the calm of the island gardens.

Mark says, many of the Resort’s international guests are familiar with Ramadan and what it represents, but they also welcome visitors who are learning about it for the first time.

“We believe it is important that we, together with travel partners, help ensure guests understand that Ramadan is not only about refraining from food and drink during daylight hours, but also about community, kindness, self-discipline and reflection,” added Mark.

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is located in the South Malé Atoll, just a 45-minute speedboat transfer from Velana International Airport. All transfers are arranged directly by the resort, ensuring a seamless arrival experience.

The resort offers a wide selection of seasonal packages and accommodation deals, with exclusive savings available when booking direct.

To view current offers, visit www.maldives.holidayinnresorts.com/offers/ or email reservations.hikandooma@ihg.com.

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A slower Easter awaits at Villa Nautica

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This Easter, Villa Nautica invites travellers to slow down and celebrate the season in the Maldives with an island escape shaped by sunshine, sea air, and meaningful time together. Available as part of Easter Offer, guests can enjoy up to 25% savings when booking direct, making it easier to turn the holiday into a true reset by the water.

Just a short journey from Velana International Airport, Villa Nautica is designed for effortless island living. Guests can settle into beachfront and overwater villas, spend their days moving between lagoon swims and golden-hour strolls, and let the pace naturally soften. Easter here is less about rushing from one plan to the next and more about being present, sharing long breakfasts, finding quiet moments in the shade, and enjoying evenings that glow over the ocean.

For those wanting to make the season feel extra special, Villa Nautica’s Easter experience lends itself beautifully to private dining. From intimate dinners by the shoreline to ocean-facing settings that feel made for celebration, the resort offers the kind of moments that turn a holiday into a memory, thoughtful, personal, and unhurried.

Wellness is also part of the Easter rhythm. Guests can embrace spa time as a simple ritual of slowing down, with restorative treatments that help reset the pace of everyday life. Whether it is a quiet afternoon dedicated to recovery or a calm pause between beach and sunset, the island’s focus on wellbeing complements the spirit of the season.

Families are equally at home at Villa Nautica, with younger guests welcomed into Easter holiday fun through Wavy Navy Kids Club. Seasonal activities bring a playful energy to the week, giving children their own island adventures while parents take time to unwind and enjoy the ease of being together.

The Easter Offer includes up to 25% off accommodation when booking direct at Villa Nautica. The offer is supported by direct booking advantages designed to keep planning simple, so guests can focus on the holiday itself.

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Sirru Fen Fushi announces Michelin series collaboration with Chef Karim Khouani for Easter 2026

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This Easter holiday, Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort is set to welcome acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Karim Khouani, Culinary Director of Textures Copenhagen, for an exclusive gastronomic collaboration as part of the resort’s celebrated Michelin Series.

Rooted in French culinary heritage and refined through a distinctly Nordic lens, Chef Karim’s cuisine is a study in seasonality, restraint, and quiet mastery, blending classical foundations and contemporary expression. Against the turquoise backdrop of the Shaviyani Atoll, guests are invited to experience his artistry through two exceptional dining events on 29 March and 1 April.

29 March 2026: Two Chefs, One Table — Four-Hands Dinner

Chef Karim Khouani joins Sirru Fen Fushi’s Executive Chef Girish Sharma for an intimate four-hands collaboration at Azure. In this singular evening, Mediterranean warmth meets island vibrancy as two culinary philosophies converge. Expect refined technique, expressive flavours, and a menu that celebrates craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural dialogue — set within the chic bohemian ambience overlooking the Indian Ocean.

1 April 2026: Chef Karim’s Signature Experience — Four-Course Dinner

For one exclusive evening, Chef Karim presents a four-course menu showcasing his signature dishes from Textures Copenhagen. Guided by the seasons and elevated with Nordic precision, each course reflects his belief that “great cooking begins when you stop trying to impress and start trying to understand.” The experience promises understated elegance, layered storytelling, and deeply expressive flavour combinations.

Born and raised in the sun-soaked city of Marseille, Chef Karim’s earliest culinary memories were formed in his grandmother’s kitchen, a place where generosity, simplicity, and respect for ingredients shaped his lifelong philosophy.

His career spans over three decades across some of Europe’s most distinguished kitchens, including time working under the renowned British chef Marco Pierre White. Love later brought him to Sweden, where he opened Restaurant Ambience in Malmö, earning a Michelin star in 2015, followed by Restaurant Sture, which received its Michelin star just three months after opening.

Today, Chef Karim leads the team at Textures Copenhagen, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant known for its refined French cuisine interpreted through Scandinavian seasonality and minimalism. At Textures, classical technique meets Nordic ingredients, creating a dining experience defined by purity, balance, and thoughtful creativity. Beyond the plate, Chef Karim is celebrated for cultivating a collaborative kitchen culture built on mentorship, respect, and quiet excellence.

The Michelin Series at Sirru Fen Fushi continues to unite globally celebrated culinary visionaries with the island’s own creative spirit — delivering immersive dining journeys in one of the world’s most extraordinary settings.

For further information and reservations, please visit sirrufenfushi.com or contact reservations@sirrufenfushi.com.

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