Awards
Velaa Private Island Maldives crowned Fine Dining Champion at Boutique Hotel Club Awards
The 2024 Boutique Hotel Club Awards, often likened to the Michelin Guide for boutique hotels, has unveiled its winners, showcasing the pinnacle of global luxury and hospitality. Among the celebrated properties, Velaa Private Island in the Maldives made an indelible mark by clinching the award for ‘World’s Best Fine Dining Hotel’, solidifying its reputation as a beacon of exclusive experiences and culinary excellence.
Renowned for its unparalleled offerings, Velaa Private Island is a secluded paradise in the Noonu Atoll, surrounded by pristine azure waters. The accolade highlights its commitment to delivering curated dining experiences that transcend luxury, blending world-class cuisine with the serene beauty of its surroundings. The judges lauded the property as “an exclusive private island surrounded by an azure sea and curated experiences to go beyond luxury.”
The Boutique Hotel Club, celebrated for its meticulous vetting process, evaluated over 500 nominees across 80 countries. Properties undergo rigorous on-site assessments, with over 400 gold standards of hospitality excellence shaping the selection process. This year’s winners represent the pinnacle of creativity, sustainability, and immersive guest experiences.
While Velaa Private Island shone as the standout destination for fine dining, other winners in various categories celebrated unique aspects of boutique hospitality. The overall title of ‘World’s Best Boutique Hotel/ was awarded to Akademie Street Boutique Hotel in Franschhoek, South Africa, known for its style, charm, and exceptional guest service.
The awards also emphasised sustainability, with Munduk Moding Plantation in Bali earning ‘World’s Best Eco Hotel’ for its dedication to environmental impact and community support. This reflects a broader trend in the boutique hotel industry: integrating sustainability into the luxury travel experience.
Velaa Private Island is renowned for offering a harmonious blend of natural beauty, bespoke services, and extraordinary culinary adventures. Whether dining under the stars or exploring the vibrant marine life of the Maldives, guests are immersed in an exclusive escape tailored to their desires. This latest recognition further cements Velaa’s position as a leader in luxury hospitality.
For 15 years, the Boutique Hotel Club has celebrated the world’s finest boutique properties, meticulously curating destinations that embody exceptional quality, emotional resonance, and a unique sense of place. With Velaa Private Island leading the charge, the 2024 awards highlight a new era of boutique excellence, where luxury meets heart and innovation.
Awards
The St. Regis Maldives named second best resort in Indian Ocean at Condé Nast Traveler Awards
The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has been recognised among the Top 20 Resorts in the Indian Ocean, earning the coveted No. 2 ranking in the Condé Nast Traveler US Readers’ Choice Awards 2026.
Widely regarded as one of the travel industry’s most trusted honours, the annual Readers’ Choice Awards celebrates the finest destinations, hotels, resorts, and experiences worldwide, based on authentic guest feedback and voting. The accolade reflects the enduring appeal of The St. Regis Maldives and its continued commitment to delivering exceptional experiences in one of the world’s most sought-after island destinations.
The recognition arrives during a particularly meaningful year for the resort as it celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of redefining luxury hospitality through bespoke service, distinctive design, world-class dining, and immersive island experiences in one of the Maldives’ most extraordinary destinations.
Nestled on its own private natural island in the pristine Dhaalu Atoll, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has captivated guests since its opening in 2016 with its striking architecture inspired by the surrounding environment, expansive overwater and beach villas, vibrant house reef, signature St. Regis Butler Service, and commitment to sustainability. Over the past decade, the resort has become a destination of choice for discerning travelers, couples, families, and multigenerational guests seeking transformative escapes in an unparalleled setting.
“To be recognised as the No. 2 Resort in the Indian Ocean by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler US is an incredible honor and a testament to the passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our hosts,” says Ozgur Cengiz, General Manager of The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. “As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, this distinction makes the milestone even more meaningful. For the past decade, we have had the privilege of creating meaningful moments for our guests from around the world, and this recognition reflects the trust they place in us and the extraordinary experiences our team delivers every day. We are deeply grateful to our guests for their continued support and look forward to welcoming them to discover the timeless luxury, exceptional service, and natural beauty that define The St. Regis Maldives.”
From award-winning dining and wellness experiences to bespoke family adventures and immersive marine encounters, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort continues to elevate the luxury travel experience while remaining deeply connected to the natural beauty of its island surroundings. As the resort enters its next decade, it remains dedicated to setting new benchmarks for exceptional hospitality in the Maldives and beyond.
Discover more about The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort at stregismaldives.com.
Awards
Sun Travels named Best Inbound Travel Agency at South Asian Travel Awards 2026
Sun Travels has been named Best Travel Agency – Inbound at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, recognising the company’s contribution to inbound tourism and travel services in the Maldives.
The award acknowledges Sun Travels’ experience in the travel industry, its partnerships with resorts and international travel agents, and its continued investment in technology to support tourism operations.
According to the company, the recognition reflects its development from a traditional travel agency into a technology-driven travel services provider, connecting international travel businesses with resorts across the Maldives.
As part of this development, Sun Travels has recently introduced a business-to-business (B2B) digital platform designed to improve booking processes and connectivity between travel agents and resort partners.
The platform features real-time inventory availability and application programming interface (API) connectivity, including Juniper integration, enabling travel businesses to access resort inventory and manage bookings through integrated digital systems.
Sun Travels stated that the investment forms part of its efforts to improve efficiency and reliability in B2B travel management while strengthening its relationships with international travel partners.
The company also attributed the award to the contributions of its employees, resort partners and global travel agent network, highlighting their role in maintaining service standards and supporting its operations.
Sun Travels said it intends to build on the recognition by expanding its international reach, further developing its technology-driven services and strengthening partnerships across the travel industry.
The South Asian Travel Awards recognise organisations and professionals across the region’s travel, tourism and hospitality sectors, including hotels, resorts, travel agencies and other tourism service providers.
The recognition comes as Sun Travels continues to invest in digital connectivity and partnerships to support inbound tourism to the Maldives.
Awards
Constance Halaveli Maldives secures top 10 spot in Condé Nast Traveller Indian Ocean rankings
Constance Halaveli Maldives has been ranked 10th among the Top 25 Resorts in the Indian Ocean at the Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Choice Awards 2026, joining three other Constance Hotels & Resorts properties recognised in this year’s international rankings.
The recognition places Constance Halaveli among the Indian Ocean resorts selected by readers of the British travel publication, reflecting the resort’s standing in the luxury hospitality sector.
The award forms part of wider international recognition for Constance Hospitality, with four properties across its Indian Ocean portfolio securing positions in the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards published by Condé Nast Traveller UK and Condé Nast Traveler.
In the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 – World Resorts rankings, two of the group’s properties in Seychelles were recognised, with Constance Lémuria securing 13th place and Constance Ephelia ranking 17th among the Top 20 Resorts in the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, Constance Tsarabanjina Madagascar was ranked 12th among the Top 15 Resorts in the Rest of Africa category.
According to Constance Hospitality, the recognition across its portfolio reflects the individual character of each destination and the group’s emphasis on personalised service, authenticity and experiences connected to local surroundings.
Headquartered in Mauritius, Constance Hospitality operates properties across the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rodrigues and Madagascar. Its flagship brand, Constance Hotels & Resorts, follows the True by Nature philosophy, with a portfolio comprising luxury resorts, lodges and boutique hotels across the Indian Ocean.
The Readers’ Choice Awards recognise hotels, resorts and travel experiences across international destinations, with rankings determined by votes from readers.
-
Lifestyle1 week agoAlexandre Benjamin Navet to transform The Ritz-Carlton Maldives in four-month art residency
-
News1 week agoKandooma Maldives launches new brand with experience-led all-inclusive concept
-
News1 week agoDusit brings ‘Ocean Carnival’ and ‘Reef & Rhythm’ festive celebrations to Maldives
-
Family1 week agoNiva Kuramathi brings Halloween magic with week of family fun
-
Cooking1 week agoMICHELIN-starred Cantonese master Ku Chi Fai makes Maldives debut at Park Hyatt Hadahaa
-
News6 days ago50 visits, hundreds of dives: Bandos Maldives honours loyal guests with coral garden
-
Cooking1 week agoHideaway Beach Resort announces six-course dining experience with Chef Kanji Kobayashi
-
News1 week agoCoco Bodu Hithi invites guests to make memories with ‘Island Glow’ festive season


