Awards
Gili Lankanfushi wins Best Honeymoon Resort title at UK Weddings & Honeymoons Awards 2026
Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, the pioneer of sustainable, barefoot luxury, has been awarded ‘Best Honeymoon Resort’ at the 2026 UK Weddings & Honeymoons Awards. In a glittering ceremony at London’s Dorchester Hotel on 5th February 2026, Gili Lankanfushi collected the coveted award, a recognition of its outstanding honeymoon offering.
Each year, the United Kingdom Weddings & Honeymoons Awards (UKWHA) brings together the very best of the weddings and honeymoons industry for Europe’s largest and most anticipated awards event. Hosted at the iconic Dorchester Hotel, the 2026 edition of the black-tie gala welcomed a vibrant audience of leading wedding professionals, industry innovators, award nominees and engaged couples for an unforgettable evening of celebration, inspiration, and excellence.
Commenting on the win, Gili Lankanfushi General Manager Rodrigo Buanafina said: “We were thrilled to receive the ‘Best Honeymoon Resort’ Award at the 2026 UK Weddings & Honeymoons Awards. We are incredibly proud of our honeymoon offering here at Gili and it is wonderful to gain this recognition from the industry’s most prestigious bridal awards. From supper under the stars to traditional Dhoni boat rides, our island paradise promises a true castaway honeymoon experience that will have couples falling in love all over again.”
Gili Lankanfushi recently unveiled a spoiling array of honeymoon packages and offerings, which include:
Romantic Retreats at Meera Spa
Couples will feel the weight of the world float away as they enter Gili Lankanfushi’s tranquil overwater Meera Spa. The ‘couples’ journeys’, which are all complimented with a bubble bath therapy session for two overlooking the lagoon, include:
Gili Honeymoon BlissGuests will start their romantic journey together with a foot ritual to relax the feet before being pampered from head to toe with a full body Aromatherapy couples massage. A mini facial and scalp massage will revive guests from their tranquil state as an aromatic bath awaits, with Champagne and spa refreshments on ice. From $499++ per couple.
Wonders of Gili
Designed to awaken and lift all five senses, this treatment sees couples enjoy a blissful massage by candlelight as they enjoy stunning views of the Indian Ocean. This is followed with an ‘ocean therapy’ incorporating a Seaweed Body Buff & Detox Seaweed Mud Wrap to deeply clean and revitalise the skin and a gentle scalp massage. The journey completes with a candlelit desert rose Aroma Bath for two accompanied by a bottle of Champagne, chocolates and fresh fruit.
From $699++ per couple.
Traditional Dhoni à Deux
The perfect pick for those who like their romance served with a side of local culture, the Dhoni à Deux experience sees couples set sail on a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat at sunset. Guided by a private skipper, guests will float around the island’s turquoise lagoon enjoying champagne and canapés before returning to the jetty for supper. The most indulgent aperitif on-island and an incredible photo opportunity!
From $180++ per person.
Castaway Sunset Dolphin Cruise
Sealife lovers will delight in this bucket-list opportunity to spot dolphins, eat canapés and enjoy a drink or two as they enjoy this two-hour sunset experience. Departing at dusk to coincide with the migration of the dolphins from the atoll to catch their supper in the deep sea, couples will create memories to last a lifetime aboard this very special cruise.
From $115++ per person.
Private Dinner in the Wine Cellar
The ultimate follow-up to a sunset cruise, lovebirds can opt for a private dinner in Gili Lankanfushi’s intimate wine cellar. As Gili Lankanfushi Maldives boasts 3 sommeliers available at all times, couples can enjoy daytime tastings in the cellar or at a chosen location on the island. With a delectable gourmet menu that changes on a monthly basis, guests can expect four sumptuous courses paired with the finest wines from around the world.
From $230++ per person dinner only/$290++ per person with wine pairing.
Supper Under the Stars
Gili Lankanfushi’s supper under the stars experience is a wonderfully romantic and completely private dining offering. Here, guests will enjoy a fine dining meal with champagne and wine pairings as they soak up the magical sunset and crystal-clear Maldivian constellations. Whether couples prefer a champagne toast on a lantern-lit private beach or an exotic feast served amid lush palms and birdsong, the experience is completely tailored to their tastes and preferences. For the ultimate surprise, the team can even whisk lovers away to a mystery location where they will enjoy the chef’s culinary creations in a dreamy setting.
From $275++ per person.
Slumber Beneath the Stars
For a truly romantic experience, couples have the opportunity to spend an unforgettable night beneath the stars on their very own star bed. Upon request, the Mr/Mrs Friday private butlers can make up the daybeds on the private roof terrace of each villa with luxurious linens, setting the scene with candlelight, champagne on ice and strawberries.
Gili Romance Story Package
For couples who want to go all out for their honeymoon, the Gili Romance Story full package is the only way to go! The indulgent half-board package is available all year round and includes:
- Choice of villa accommodation with a minimum 4-night stay
- Return speedboat transfers
- Daily gourmet breakfast and dinner at Kashiveli restaurant
- A choice of 60 minutes of Ayurvedic therapy or Kahnuma Lomi Lomi
- Private in-villa couples’ yoga
- A tropical flower bath with candlelight, champagne, and strawberries
- Meera “Better Sleep” Spa Gift (Pillow Mist)
- Dine in the Dark – A blinded dinner experience for the senses during guests’ stay
- Sleeping under the stars experience
Gili Lankanfushi enjoys an unspoilt island location in the Maldives’ North Malé Atoll, just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé Airport with direct flights from London now available. Perfectly suited for couples, families, solo travellers and groups alike, the resort combines rustic eco-design, unparalleled service and stunning natural scenery.
Nightly rates at Gili Lankanfushi start from £1,397/$1,722 based on two adults sharing a Villa Suite with breakfast included. For more information or to book please visit www.gili-lankanfushi.com.
Action
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.
Awards
Grand Park Kodhipparu earns three World Luxury Awards 2026 nominations
Grand Park Kodhipparu, Maldives is celebrating three nominations in the 2026 World Luxury Awards, with recognition spanning the resort, its overwater spa and signature restaurant FireDoor.
The nominations see Grand Park Kodhipparu highlighted across three complementary boutique luxury categories:
- Luxury Boutique Resort–Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives
- Luxury Boutique Spa–The Spa at Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives
- Luxury Boutique Resort Restaurant–FireDoor
Together, the three nominations recognise the breadth of the Grand Park Kodhipparu experience at a time when the resort continues to strengthen its position within the highly competitive Maldives luxury landscape.
Just 20 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu has evolved its approach to luxury around the idea that a memorable island stay is defined not simply by the villa or physical product, but by the connections guests make with themselves, each other, nature and the destination.
This philosophy is expressed through the resort’s Connected Island Luxury positioning: a contemporary interpretation of boutique luxury centred on personalised hospitality, wellbeing, nature, dining and meaningful experiences.
A Boutique Approach to Maldivian Luxury
With 120 villas on an intimate private island in North Malé Atoll, Grand Park Kodhipparu combines accessibility with a strong sense of escape. Its large collection of overwater villas is complemented by an exceptional house reef accessible close to shore, an overwater spa, three distinctive dining venues and a range of ocean, wellness and lifestyle experiences.
Rather than competing through scale or formality, the resort has increasingly focused on what boutique luxury can offer today’s traveller: individuality, personalisation, a distinctive sense of place and experiences that feel connected rather than prescribed.
The three World Luxury Awards nominations reflect that approach across three important dimensions of the guest journey.
Luxury Boutique Resort: Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives
The nomination for Luxury Boutique Resort recognises the overall Grand Park Kodhipparu experience. From sunrise-facing water villas and the surrounding lagoon to personalised service and easy access to the house reef, the island offers guests the freedom to shape their stay around their own pace and priorities.
The resort’s evolving experience-led philosophy brings together wellbeing, dining, ocean experiences and social moments rather than treating them as separate elements of a holiday–creating a more personal expression of Maldivian luxury.
Luxury Boutique Spa: The Spa at Grand Park Kodhipparu
Suspended above the Indian Ocean, The Spa at Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has established itself as an important part of the island’s wellness identity.
Its treatment offering spans signature therapies, body and facial skincare, traditional and Balinese treatments and wellness experiences, supported by internationally recognised skincare brands and the natural restorative qualities of its overwater setting.
Increasingly, the resort is moving beyond the traditional concept of a spa treatment towards purpose-led wellbeing–connecting spa experiences with yoga, sleep, renewal, nature and the wider rhythm of an island stay.
Luxury Boutique Resort Restaurant: FireDoor
The resort’s signature overwater restaurant FireDoor has been nominated for Luxury Boutique Resort Restaurant, recognising a dining experience designed to be as memorable as its setting.
Positioned above the lagoon, FireDoor combines an open show kitchen, Josper charcoal grill, extensive wine and beverage offering and dramatic sunset setting. Its distinctive glass-floor feature further connects the restaurant with the ocean environment beneath it.
The restaurant is increasingly positioned not simply as a fine-dining outlet, but as one of the island’s signature experiences–bringing together culinary craftsmanship, atmosphere, provenance and a sense of occasion.
Three Nominations, One Island Experience
The simultaneous recognition of the resort, Spa and FireDoor is particularly significant for Grand Park Kodhipparu because it reflects the interconnected nature of the guest experience the resort has been developing.
Rather than viewing accommodation, wellness and dining as individual products, Grand Park Kodhipparu brings them together as different expressions of the same boutique luxury philosophy.
Liz Smailes, Director of Marketing at Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, said: “Luxury in the Maldives is an extraordinarily competitive space, so to be recognised across the resort, Spa and FireDoor at the same time is particularly meaningful for us. This evolution as a boutique luxury resort has been about looking beyond traditional ideas of luxury and focusing instead on what makes Kodhipparu distinctive–our intimate island environment, the incredible natural world around us, meaningful experiences and the personal connections our team creates with our guests.
“These three nominations tell that story beautifully. They recognise three very different parts of the resort, but ultimately they are all part of one connected island experience.”
Voting is now open across all three World Luxury Awards categories from the below links:
- Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives–Luxury Boutique Resort
- The Spa at Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives–Luxury Boutique Spa
- FireDoor–Luxury Boutique Resort Restaurant
Awards
Soneva Fushi, Jani and Secret earn place on Forbes Travel Guide Edge List 2026
Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret have been named to The Edge List 2026 by Forbes Travel Guide, a leading authority on luxury hospitality.
Now in its second year, The Edge List celebrates luxury experiences that inspire travellers to venture beyond the familiar. This year’s theme, Curated Journeys, celebrates hotels and cruises offering one-of-a-kind, multi-leg itineraries that immerse travellers in the culture, nature and character of awe-inspiring destinations.
Set on a natural island in the Maldives’ Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Soneva Fushi is the original Soulful Playground, where jungle villas disappear into the canopy and overwater retreats meet the reef at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Three decades on from pioneering barefoot luxury in the Maldives, the island’s commitment to protecting the biosphere it calls home remains a foundational pillar that infuses guest experience.
Spread across a leisurely five kilometres in the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani is the lifestyle-led Energyscape, where retractable roofs open overwater villas to the night sky and percussive pops hint at a game of tennis unfolding amid the greenery. From stargazing to Ayurvedic treatments, the resort choreographs its own kind of journey—as much about movement and adventure as it is about stillness.
Soneva’s most intimate expression, Soneva Secret is a hideaway in the remote Makunudhoo Atoll, at the Maldives’ western-most tip. With only 13 villas that blur the lines between indoors and out, it offers a rare kind of access: surrounded by untouched marine life, absolute in its seclusion, with no schedule to follow but the guest’s own.
“The places we remember are those that changed how we feel. Across Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret, we create spaces, moments and experiences that connect our guests with what truly matters to each of them,” said Neil Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of Soneva. “We are honoured to be recognised by Forbes Travel Guide for our commitment to innovation, stewardship and meaningful exploration.”
The Edge acronym represents: Exceptional Access to awe-inspiring destinations; Daring Innovation in providing boundary-pushing adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences; Global Stewardship with a prioritisation on conservation, minimising impact and care for the community; and Elevated Experience, delivering excellence even in secluded environments.
“Luxury travel today is defined not only by where you go, but by how thoughtfully the journey is crafted,” said Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide. “The 2026 Edge List celebrates curated journeys that transform travel into something more meaningful, whether connecting guests across extraordinary destinations or revealing the many dimensions of a single place. We are proud to recognise the Soneva portfolio of resorts for crafting experiences that exemplify the art of exploration.”
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