News
Marriott International Maldives Celebrates First Graduating Class of Apprenticeship Program and Empowers Youth
Marriott International Maldives hosted a graduation ceremony yesterday at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa to commemorate the achievements of its inaugural class of apprentices. The event was graced by the presence of the esteemed Honorable Ibrahim Waheed, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts.
The Marriott International Maldives Apprenticeship Program, launched in May 2023 as a pilot initiative, is a product of a remarkable collaboration between the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT), and Marriott International. The program marks a significant milestone, with Marriott International being the first international hospitality brand to partner with the government’s apprenticeship program.
The 10-month program combined theoretical education provided by MIT with practical experience across various departments at Marriott International’s Maldivian resorts, including renowned names like The Ritz-Carlton Maldives and W Maldives.

Yesterday’s ceremony celebrated the 43 young graduates who successfully completed the program and earned a Level-3 certification from the Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA). This initiative, aligned with Marriott International’s Take Care corporate social responsibility platform, aims to identify and empower local talent, particularly marginalized youth, by equipping them with essential skills for success in the Maldivian tourism industry.
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts, Honorable Ibrahim Waheed, lauded the program’s commitment to fostering young talent within the hospitality sector. Speeches by Marriott International representatives, Gautam Bhandari, Senior Vice President of Hotel Development & Operations, and Mark Fletcher, Area Director of Human Resources for Singapore & Maldives, further emphasized the significance of the partnership in promoting youth empowerment and professional development.
“The Marriott International Maldives Apprenticeship Program reflects our dedication to cultivating local talent and equipping them with the skills to excel in the Maldives’ thriving tourism industry,” commented Gautam Bhandari. “We are delighted to offer positions to a number of graduates, and we look forward to their rewarding Marriott experience that will propel their career aspirations.”
The graduation ceremony marks a crucial step towards building a robust pipeline of local talent for the Maldivian tourism industry. Marriott International is committed to the continued success of the program and its graduates as they embark on promising careers in hospitality.
Featured
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa unveils family-focused Family Fun Summer package
Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has introduced its Family Fun Summer offer, a family-focused package designed to encourage guests to spend time together through dining, leisure and recreational activities in a private island setting.
Located 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, the resort is offering the package as a year-round experience, despite its summer branding. The programme is intended for families seeking a stay that combines accommodation, meals and activities in a single offering.
The experience includes daily breakfast at Feast, where guests can access buffet selections for adults and children. Lunch is served as a three-course beachside meal, while evenings include buffet dinners, à la carte options and access to the resort’s speciality restaurants.
As part of the package, adult guests receive a USD 45 dining credit per night, which can be used at selected outlets including Baan Thai and Sea Salt. The offer is designed to expand dining options within the resort’s full board arrangement.
The package also includes activities aimed at different age groups. Children have access to the Sheraton Adventure Club, while families can take part in pool activities, water sports, sunset dolphin cruises and guided snorkelling excursions.
For guests seeking wellness experiences, Shine Spa for Sheraton offers a range of treatments, with the package including 15 per cent savings on selected services. The resort has also introduced a spa experience designed for parent and child. Additional recreational options include sunrise beach yoga, as well as access to tennis and football facilities.
Other inclusions within the offer include a complimentary family photoshoot and dining benefits for children when eating with their parents.
Family Fun Summer is available for booking until 15 June 2026, for stays through to 20 December 2026. Through the package, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is presenting a family-oriented resort experience centred on dining, recreation and shared time together.
Featured
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau to mark Mother’s Day with wellness and dining offerings
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced a Mother’s Day programme centred on wellness, dining and family experiences, offering guests a range of activities designed to mark the occasion in Raa Atoll.
Set within the resort’s island setting, the programme will feature a series of experiences aimed at encouraging families to spend time together through relaxation, dining and shared activities.
At AVI Spa, the Mother’s Day offering will include signature treatments focused on rest and balance. Guests will also have access to holistic sessions led by visiting practitioner Dr Afsana Aradhana Ghyas, whose work focuses on integrative wellbeing and emotional balance.
Dining experiences will form a central part of the programme. These will include floating breakfasts served in private villas, interactive cooking sessions with the resort’s chefs, and private dining experiences ranging from sunset beach dinners to sandbank dining under the stars.
The resort will also offer family-focused activities for the occasion. These will include craft sessions for children, ocean-inspired guided art activities and a family photoshoot intended to capture the day’s experiences.
Through the Mother’s Day programme, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is presenting a combination of wellness, dining and family activities shaped around personal and shared experiences in a resort setting.
Drink
W Maldives unveils The Wavemaker Edit with global talent collaborations
W Maldives has launched The Wavemaker Edit, a new ongoing series of curated collaborations with international talent, aimed at introducing a range of guest experiences across mixology, wellness, cuisine and music.
The series is designed as a rotating programme, with each edition bringing a different creative perspective to the resort. According to W Maldives, the initiative is intended to create a continuing calendar of experiences that combine social, cultural and wellness-led elements.
The first edition of The Wavemaker Edit will run from 3 to 14 June 2026 and will feature two themed chapters, titled Island Alchemy and The Restore Ritual.
Island Alchemy will focus on mixology. On 3 June, Kwok will lead a guest shift at SIP, presenting three cocktails that explore contrast and balance, including a bespoke creation inspired by the Maldives. The collaboration will continue on 6 June at WET Deck, where a poolside day party will feature a curated cocktail menu.
The second chapter, The Restore Ritual, will centre on wellness and movement in recognition of Global Wellness Day. Led by Mumbai-based yoga and movement educator Samiksha Shetty, the programme will include sessions focused on breathwork, mindfulness and alignment-based practice.
The wellness programme will include Sunset Yoga sessions at FIRE Beach on 12 and 14 June, as well as a morning meditation session at AWAY Spa on 13 June. The main event within this chapter will take place on 13 June, when guests will be able to join a Sunset Yoga session aboard the Horizon Yacht. This bookable experience will also include healthy refreshments and a 60-minute massage at AWAY Spa.
W Maldives said future editions of The Wavemaker Edit will expand into culinary, music and art-led experiences under a number of themed series, including Flavors Unscripted, Sound Wave and Make A Scene.
Commenting on the launch, General Manager Amila Handunwala said the initiative reflects the resort’s approach to continuously evolving the guest experience through collaborations with international talent.
W Maldives is positioning the series as part of its broader effort to offer more structured and experience-led programming for guests. In addition, the resort is promoting its Original Wavemaker package, which includes seaplane transfers and a half-board meal plan for two adults with a minimum stay of four nights.
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