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Discover 3 enchanting ways to celebrate festive season in Maldives with Marriott Bonvoy resorts
Splendour at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, and JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. From December 20, 2024, to January 9, 2025, each resort presents unique festive programming against the stunning backdrop of white-sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, and vibrant coral reefs, creating an idyllic tropical paradise.
Whether traveling with family, friends, or loved ones, discerning travellers can celebrate the festive season amidst the Maldives’ natural splendour by choosing from three luxury destination resorts. At The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, guests can marvel in a world of ‘EAU’, where the ethereal dreamscapes of water takes centre stage through spectacular performances and candlelit concertos in the moonlight. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort reveals a captivating ‘Tale of the Tides,’ featuring a grand Christmas tree lighting, engaging activities for families, and exquisite culinary delights. Meanwhile, JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa showcases a ‘Symphony of the Sea,’ blending traditional Maldivian festivities with elegant celebrations and interactive experiences for guests of all ages.
Guests can embrace luxury island living in the resorts’ two- or three-bedroom overwater and beach pool villas, complete with 24-hour personalised signature ‘Aris Meeha,’ St. Regis Butlers, and ‘Thakuru’ butler services catering to their every need. Those who book by September 30, 2024, can take advantage of the Early Bird Special offers, including exceptional savings, dining credits, and exclusive member benefits.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands: The Spirit of EAU
This festive season, The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands invites guests to celebrate the elemental magic of water with an enchanting ‘EAU’ theme. Beginning December 22, guests can experience the resort’s oceanic home through a stunning display of liquid theatre at the renowned EAU Bar and spherical pool. Guests will be greeted with signature Sangu cocktails and a captivating lineup of events that highlight the beauty and power of water, running through January 9, 2025.
Throughout this magical period, nightly performances inspired by water’s beauty will captivate guests with music, dance, and ethereal shows, exploring themes of renewal and transformation. The culinary journey includes exclusive dining experiences at IWAU and Summer Pavilion, festive cocktail receptions, and a grand New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. The resort offers a feast of gourmet treats and vibrant celebrations to elevate the holiday spirit.
In addition to these festivities, guests can savor daily breakfast at La Locanda, receive USD 300 in resort credits, and embark on a thrilling shark snorkeling experience with the ‘Festive Escape’ package. Luxurious spa treatments, engaging activities, and a special visit from Santa Claus will add to the allure. Located in the North Malé Atoll, the resort’s 100-villa sanctuary is accessible via a 50-minute yacht ride or a 10-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport. For a truly magical festive season at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, guests can book this package with a minimum seven-night stay and receive an additional 25,000 bonus points per stay from December 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.
Visit the website at ritzcarlton.com/maldives or book your stay here.
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort: Tale of the Tides
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort unveils its ‘Tale of the Tides’ holiday celebration from December 20 to January 6. Guests are invited to the Maldives’ finest address to celebrate the season with a series of exquisite events, beginning with a grand Christmas tree lighting on December 20. Families will enjoy a variety of activities designed for children, including Christmas-themed crafts, a festive tea party, and New Year Fireworks Painting. Adults can savour luxurious culinary experiences across seven distinct dining venues, featuring Asian haute cuisine, modern Japanese Kaiseki, international gourmet, and Middle Eastern dishes.
Nestled within a 22-acre natural island paradise in Dhaalu Atoll, the resort offers two to three-bedroom villas that blend elegance and tranquility for groups and families. Each villa features a private pool, panoramic beach views, and refined amenities. At The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, guests can immerse themselves in a celebration of heritage through cherished St. Regis rituals, reimagined with a touch of Maldivian culture. Guests can revel in the daily Champagne Sabering ritual at The Whale Bar while sipping the Island Mary—a local twist on the Bloody Mary—marking the evening and celebrating tradition and togetherness with dramatic flair.
Guests booking the ‘Festive Celebrations’ package will enjoy 25% savings on the best available rate, daily breakfasts for two at ALBA, and complimentary creative arts and eco-adventure activities for children. Valid for stays form December 21, 2024 to January 10, 2025, this package also includes a range of complimentary services and the exceptional St. Regis Butler Service, ensuring bespoke attention and tailored experiences. A scenic 40-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport, the ultra-luxury resort offers an unparalleled blend of natural beauty and refined luxury.
For more information, visit the website at stregismaldives.com or book your stay here.
JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa: Symphony of the Sea
Located on Vagaru Island, Shaviyani Atoll, JW Marriot Maldives Resort & Spa presents an enchanting ‘Symphony of the Sea’ celebration for families to embark on a magical journey blending oceanic wonders with festive cheer. From December 20 to January 6, guests will step into a secluded natural island where the joy of the holidays meets the serenity of the sea.
On December 20, the festive season kicks off with a traditional Maldivian night featuring local cuisine and lively Boduberu performances. The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner invites guests to an evening of elegance with the ocean’s rhythm as a stunning backdrop. Guests can indulge in a lavish dinner while enjoying entertainment from a lively band, dazzling fire dancers, and captivating illuminated LED performances. This unforgettable night offers a perfect blend of sophistication and excitement to ring in the New Year.
The luxury multigenerational resort features 60 spacious and luxurious beach and overwater villas, all with private pools, first-class amenities and a personal ‘Thakuru’ butler service. Eclectic dining experiences are offered throughout the resort’s five dining venues. Daily wellness activities from Spa by JW will harmonize body, mind, and spirit, enhancing the holiday experience with revitalizing treatments. Young guests can enjoy magical adventures at the FAMiLY by JW Little Griffins Kids’ Club, one of the largest kids clubs in the Maldives, featuring interactive, festive activities inspired by the underwater world and island life.
The ‘Festive Splendour’ package includes a daily buffet breakfast at Aailaa, complimentary non-motorised watersports, Thakuru service, and a one-time 30-minute photography session with a printed photo. This package promises a luxurious and memorable holiday at JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, with the added benefit of earning up to 30,000 bonus points per stay from December 1, 2024 to January 10, 2025, with a minimum stay of four nights.
For more information, visit the website at jwmarriottmaldives.com or book your stay here.
News
Umair Badheeu brings ‘Island Stories’ exhibition to ananea Madivaru Maldives
In the North Ari Atoll, ananea Madivaru Maldives will welcome multidisciplinary Maldivian artist and curator Umair Badheeu for the opening of Island Stories, a special exhibition celebrating Maldivian island life through art.
Opening at the resort’s Art Studio on Monday, 31 August 2026, Island Stories brings together selected works reflecting the people, places and everyday scenes that shape life across the islands.
Based in Malé, Umair has spent nearly 25 years working across fine art, documentary photography, exhibitions and cultural preservation. After years of documentary observation, he has returned to his roots in watercolour painting, turning his attention to familiar yet often overlooked moments of Maldivian life–including local harbours and fishing beaches.
Alongside his own artistic practice, Umair has played an active role in the preservation and presentation of Maldivian heritage. His curatorial work includes establishing the Dutch Onion Museum at Cora Cora Maldives, as well as leading the reconstruction of an ancient Maldivian home and conservation of 900-year-old bathing tanks.
The exhibition forms part of ananea Madivaru’s commitment to creating opportunities for guests to engage with Maldivian creativity, culture and storytelling, while providing a platform for local artistic talent.
Island Stories | Opening Event
- Monday, 31 August 2026 | 17:00–18:00
- Art Studio | ananea Madivaru Maldives, North Ari Atoll
The opening will include an introduction from Umair, followed by a guided journey through selected works and time to explore the exhibition. Guests will also be invited to enjoy canapés and refreshments, with selected artworks and merchandise available for purchase and signing.
News
Niva Kuramathi Maldives maintains Travelife Gold sustainability status
Niva Kuramathi Maldives has once again been recognised by Travelife with Gold status – the international benchmark for sustainable and responsible tourism.
The certification measures Niva Kuramathi against global Travelife standards across energy efficiency, waste reduction, water stewardship, responsible resource management, human rights, and support for local communities. Gold status is not a first step – it is a continuation, a promise kept season after season.
“Sustainability is not a milestone we reach and set aside. It is a way of living on the island,” says Bertrand Margerie, General Manager. “Being re-awarded Travelife Gold status affirms a path we have walked for years, and one we intend to keep walking. We are caring for our island home for those who come after us. It is our privilege to conserve, protect, and nurture both the land and the sea.”

Beneath the waves, the Muraka Coral Regeneration Project tends more than 7,500 coral fragments across 500 dedicated frames, nurturing the house reef for years still to come. Above the surface, rooftop solar generates close to one million kWh of clean energy each year – cutting diesel reliance by over 250,000 litres. In the hydroponic garden, some 500 kilograms of greens and herbs are harvested monthly, grown with recycled water and organic compost.
At the Eco Centre, the ocean becomes a living classroom offering guided snorkelling safaris above the house reef. Marine Biologist presentations reveal what stirs beneath the surface, and guests and children alike learn to read the sea.
The Rasdhoo Swim Club brings twenty-five local children to the reef each month – snorkelling beside turtles and rays, discovering something worth protecting. The Eco Centre team moves with them through it all – teaching them about reef sharks, mantas, living coral, and why it matters.
Every day, small choices add up. Reusable glass bottles, paper straws, a partnership with local recycler Parley to give used plastic a second life – simple acts of mindfulness that keep hundreds of thousands of plastic bottles from the shore each year.
“This recognition belongs to the team who live it daily,” says Tom Osborne, Sustainability Manager. “Our coral frames, solar panels, organic garden, recycling programmes – none of it happens on its own. Travelife Gold status gives us a clear standard to measure against, and it tells our people that the sustainable work that we do, genuinely matters.”
For further information and reservations, please visit the resort’s official website, call +960 666 01 50 or email reservations@nivakuramathi.com.
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Dusit Thani Maldives named Best House Reefs at TTM Awards 2026
Dusit Thani Maldives has been named Best House Reefs at the TTM Awards 2026, recognising one of the resort’s most distinctive natural treasures and its exceptional underwater experience.
Presented as part of the TTM Awards & Gala 2026 at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 August, the annual awards recognise outstanding achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry.
Set on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa Atoll, Dusit Thani Maldives is surrounded by a 360-degree house reef, giving guests direct access to a rich underwater ecosystem just moments from the island’s shores. The reef is home to a diverse variety of marine life, including colourful tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks and rays, creating memorable opportunities for snorkelling and diving throughout the year.
To mark the win in true island style, the resort team took the award beneath the surface, capturing it among the coral and marine life that inspired the recognition.
“This award is particularly meaningful to us because our house reef is such an important part of the Dusit Thani Maldives experience. It is something our guests can discover almost from the moment they step into the water, and it reminds us every day how fortunate we are to call this extraordinary island home. This recognition belongs to our entire team and to everyone who continues to support, appreciate and help protect the natural environment around us,” said Jean-Louis Ripoche, Area General Manager – Maldives.
Located within Baa Atoll, a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve, the resort places the surrounding natural environment at the heart of the guest experience. Alongside snorkelling and diving, the resort undertakes regular reef and beach clean-ups and encourages guests to take part in activities aimed at protecting the marine environment.
The Best House Reefs recognition further reinforces Dusit Thani Maldives’ position as a destination where luxury island living and remarkable marine encounters come together naturally.
For more information or to experience the award-winning house reef at Dusit Thani Maldives, visit the resort’s official website.
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