Awards
OBLU SELECT Lobigili’s Only BLU recognised with Editor’s Choice for Best Restaurant at TTM 2024
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Only BLU, the renowned under ocean restaurant at OBLU SELECT Lobigili, has been awarded the prestigious Editor’s Choice for Best Restaurant at the 2024 TTM Awards Gala. Known for its modern gourmet cuisine and breathtaking setting 6.8 meters beneath the Indian Ocean, Only BLU has set a new standard for luxury dining in the Maldives.
The TTM Awards & Gala 2024 is a highlight of TTM Maldives, the country’s premier travel trade show, which took place from 21st to 22nd August 2024. This prestigious event drew over 500 travel industry experts and more than 100 hotel representatives, facilitating upwards of 3,000 pre-arranged meetings.
As the largest under-ocean restaurant in the Maldives, Only BLU offers a captivating horseshoe-shaped design, providing each guest with a front-row view of vibrant coral reefs and stunning marine life. Included with the exclusive Lobi PlanTM at OBLU SELECT Lobigili, Only BLU curates exquisite multi-course menus for lunch and dinner, with choices of meat, seafood, vegan, and vegetarian dishes, as well as a special kids’ menu, ensuring a remarkable dining experience for all.
Christopher Baker, General Manager of OBLU SELECT Lobigili and OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, shared, “We are thrilled to be recognised for our dedication to delivering a remarkable dining experience with impeccable service. Guests can relish delectable food while watching the colourful, lush coral gardens teeming with vibrant fish. When the sharks make an appearance, it’s a real showstopper—everyone grabs their cameras! It’s also a popular choice for celebrating special moments and romantic marriage proposals.”
This award cements Only BLU’s place as a premier destination for modern gourmet cuisine and unforgettable dining in the Maldives. The adults exclusive five-star resort, OBLU SELECT Lobigili was also crowned as No.1 Luxury Hotel globally AND No.2 Hotel in the coveted Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024, outshining its own remarkable achievement last year as the world’s ‘Hottest New Hotel.’
In the Maldivian language of Dhivehi, ‘Lobi’ means love and ‘Gili’ means island. Located 15 minutes from Velana International Airport, Lobigili is a contemporary 5-Star resort designed for couples and adults. With transfers, accommodation, meals and experiences covered, guests can savour delectable meals at the all-day dining restaurant, unwind at The Swing Bar featuring an infinity pool and inviting hammocks, try fragrant seafood grills at Gaadiya 17 Food Truck, and experience the unparalleled ambiance of the Maldives’ largest under ocean restaurant, Only BLU – all features of the unique holiday plan, the Lobi PlanTM.
Guests staying at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, the neighbouring resort within the COLOURS OF OBLU brand and connected to Lobigili island by a jetty, can also make reservations for Only BLU. The restaurant is additionally open to Maldivians, expats, and travellers not staying at the resort, and can be booked for private events and celebrations, making it an ideal setting for milestone moments and exclusive gatherings.
Awards
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi earns third Forbes five-star rating
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Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi has once again secured the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) Five-Star rating, marking its third consecutive year of recognition by the world’s only independent global rating system for luxury hospitality.
This accolade reinforces the resort’s reputation as a benchmark for unparalleled luxury, impeccable service and transformative guest experiences.
“This achievement is more than an award—it is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our team, who continuously redefine what luxury hospitality means in the Maldives,” said TJ Joulak, general manager of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. “To be recognized for three consecutive years by Forbes Travel Guide reaffirms our promise to deliver an extraordinary level of service, ensuring that every moment spent at our resort is unforgettable.”
This highly coveted accolade underscores the resort’s unwavering commitment to elevating guest experiences, cementing its status among the world’s most luxurious destinations. The resort’s consistent excellence is further highlighted by its continued recognition for the third consecutive year, maintaining its place as a premier choice for discerning travellers.
The Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating is one of the industry’s most rigorous and respected distinctions, with properties evaluated against 900 exacting criteria that emphasise flawless service, exceptional facilities, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Only properties that demonstrate consistently extraordinary experiences earn a Five-Star rating.
Awards
Le Méridien Maldives Resort wins Indian Ocean’s Best Honeymoon Resort at UK Weddings & Honeymoons Awards 2025
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Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa has been named Best Honeymoon Resort in the Indian Ocean at the prestigious UK Weddings & Honeymoons Awards 2025, celebrating its dedication to creating unforgettable honeymoon experiences in one of the world’s most enchanting destinations.
Nestled in the pristine waters of the Lhaviyani Atoll on Thilamaafushi Island, Le Méridien Maldives is a sanctuary of romance where every moment is designed to celebrate love, discovery, and connection. From the moment honeymooners arrive, they are embraced by the resort’s barefoot elegance, where relaxation and adventure intertwine seamlessly. Surrounded by the serene Indian Ocean, this eco-conscious haven provides an idyllic escape for couples to connect, explore, and celebrate new beginnings.
Inspired by the European spirit of savouring the good life, Le Méridien Maldives harmonizes timeless sophistication with the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Maldives. Every detail is thoughtfully curated to create an intimate yet adventurous atmosphere, ensuring couples craft unforgettable memories from the moment they step onto the island.
At Le Méridien Maldives, dreams become reality. Couples can experience complete seclusion on Bodu Finolhu, the resort’s exclusive private island. Here, they can indulge in a candlelit picnic surrounded by untouched nature or enjoy a starlit dinner with the vast ocean as their backdrop. For those seeking the perfect spot to celebrate their love, Riviera Beach offers panoramic views and soft white sands, making it an unforgettable setting for a private romantic dinner.
The resort delivers moments of pure magic, from floating breakfasts in overwater villa infinity pools to cinematic nights under the stars. Perched above the turquoise waters, the overwater Explore Spa offers indulgent treatments that awaken the senses, inviting couples to unwind and reconnect through curated rituals that restore balance to the body and mind.
For a deeper connection to the environment, the house reef teems with vibrant marine life, including turtles, and shoals of tropical fish, offering breathtaking underwater encounters. Meanwhile, the adults-only pool and bar provide a tranquil escape, perfect for unwinding after days of shared adventure.
Dining at Le Méridien Maldives is a journey of discovery. Whether savouring a private Teppanyaki dinner at Tabemasu, or a Harvest Table experience showcasing ingredients fresh from the resort’s greenhouse, every meal is a celebration of flavour as memorable as the surroundings.
Beyond honeymoons, Le Méridien Maldives is an enchanting destination for weddings, proposals, and vow renewals. From secluded beach proposals to underwater vow exchanges, each celebration is infused with rich Maldivian culture, from rhythmic Boduberu drum performance to sunset cocktails overlooking the infinite horizon. The resort’s resident photographers capture every precious moment, transforming them into lifelong memories.
Spanning 22 acres of tropical beauty, Le Méridien Maldives features 134 thoughtfully designed beach and overwater villas, each serving as a private sanctuary for newlyweds. Here, honeymooners can linger longer, explore further, and immerse themselves in a playful yet sophisticated retreat crafted with love and connection in mind.
In celebration of the season of love, Le Méridien Maldives introduces the Romantique Honeymoon Package, designed to make every couple’s honeymoon as magical as their love story. The package includes a half-board dining plan, a three-course romantic beach dinner, a couple’s spa experience, a honeymoon photoshoot, romantic welcome amenities, and more. Available for bookings through May 28, 2025, with a minimum three-night stay, the package is valid for stays through December 31, 2025.
Awards
Forbes Travel Guide’s dual 5-star rating for One&Only Reethi Rah, One&Only Spa
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One&Only Reethi Rah, the all-villa private island resort, and the One&Only Spa have been awarded a dual 5-star rating by Forbes Travel Guide.
Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) is the world-renowned authority on excellence in hospitality, and while this is One&Only Reethi Rah’s fifth consecutive year earning a 5-star rating, this marks the One&Only Spa’s first year with a 5-star rating, as well as the first and only spa in the Maldives with a 5-star rating.
“We are so grateful to receive these coveted awards, which celebrate the hard work and commitment of our incredible colleagues, and we look forward to creating even more remarkable, one-off experiences for our guests,” says Jan B. Tibaldi, General Manager of One&Only Reethi Rah.
“Forbes Travel Guide’s Star Award winners exemplify excellence in hospitality,” says Amanda Frasier, President of Standards & Ratings for Forbes Travel Guide. “This year’s list continues to reflect the changing landscape of luxury with properties setting the standard for authentic experiences while offering unparalleled amenities, enhanced well-being and delivering unforgettable moments. We are thrilled to recognize their dedication to creating truly world-class travel options for today’s discerning guest.”
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, One&Only Reethi Rah is an ultra-luxury, all-villa resort offering one-off experiences. Located in North Malé Atoll, with a total of 118 villas including beach villas, residences and water villas that are situated discreetly along the shoreline. Dining options are served at six diverse restaurants and bars, or privately in the villa. The spa offers a holistic programme of treatments. Club One is the hub for all things active at the resort, including the rock-climbing wall, two floodlit tennis courts, an Artist Studio and a water sports centre. Younger guests can enjoy that inspire creativity and imagination.
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