Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts Maldives has won three awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, with Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives receiving recognition across three categories.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives secured Gold in the Leading Surf Resort category for the eighth time and fourth consecutive year, while Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives retained Gold in the Leading Beach Resort category for the second consecutive year. Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives also received Silver in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category.

The 10th edition of SATA was held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé on 8 October 2026, recognising achievements across South Asia’s tourism and hospitality industry, including guest experiences, industry leadership and responsible tourism.

Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is home to the Pasta Point surf break, which attracts surfers from around the world. The resort’s eighth Gold award in the Leading Surf Resort category reflects its position among the Maldives’ surfing destinations. In addition to surfing, the resort offers water sports, wellness activities and other guest experiences.

“We remain committed to delivering memorable surf experiences and holidays in the Maldives,” said Marlon Robert, General Manager of Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives.

Robert also acknowledged the continued support of guests, the international surfing community and the resort team in securing the recognition.

Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives received its second consecutive Gold award as Leading Beach Resort in recognition of its island setting, which features sandy beaches, a lagoon and a selection of beachfront and overwater accommodation. The resort also offers dining, wellness and recreational activities, providing guests with opportunities to explore the surrounding marine environment.

The resort’s Silver award in the Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR Programme category recognised its efforts to provide dive education and career development opportunities for young people from neighbouring island communities.

Implemented in partnership with Dive & Sail, the resort’s PADI-certified dive centre, the six-day programme enabled nine students aged between 16 and 18 from schools in Keyodhoo and Felidhoo to obtain PADI Open Water Diver certification.

The programme combined theoretical lessons, practical training and supervised dives to promote safe diving practices and reef conservation. It also introduced participants to potential career opportunities in marine tourism.

“These accolades reflect the dedication of our teams and the continued support of our guests, whose trust inspires us to keep raising the standard of our experiences,” said Sanjeeva Perera, Area General Manager, Cinnamon Maldives Resorts.

The three awards recognise the tourism experiences offered by Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives and Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, as well as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ initiatives in environmental awareness and community engagement across its Maldives properties.

Global fragrance brand KAYALI, founded by beauty entrepreneur Mona Kattan, selected Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa as the destination for its first-ever global brand trip, bringing together international content creators, influencers and media representatives for an experience combining fragrance, wellness and Maldivian island hospitality.

Held in September 2026, the event, titled KAYALI Island Spraycation, marked a milestone in the brand’s international engagement strategy. The programme featured two exclusive trips designed for its influencer and media communities, providing participants with opportunities to experience the brand’s fragrances alongside the resort’s accommodation, wellness facilities and marine excursions.

The Maldives was selected because of Kattan’s personal connection with the destination, which she has frequently described as one of her favourite places. Her experiences in the country have also influenced KAYALI’s fragrance development, including its Vacay in a Bottle collection, which draws inspiration from travel and destinations.

Located in North Malé Atoll, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa provided the setting for several brand activations, with villas, wellness experiences and guest activities incorporating KAYALI’s fragrances and visual identity.

Upon arrival, participants were welcomed with personalised amenities, fragrance collections and branded gifts. Guest accommodation featured KAYALI products, robes and sleep accessories, while the resort’s hospitality team collaborated on themed turndown experiences and personalised arrangements.

One of the programme’s highlights was a wellness experience at ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island, the resort’s dedicated wellness sanctuary. Inspired by KAYALI’s Yum Lip & Body Collection, the House of Yum: Layer With Love experience introduced participants to body care and fragrance layering through treatments and product demonstrations.

The itinerary also included the KAYALI Scent Lab, an interactive session exploring fragrance ingredients, formulation and the Middle Eastern tradition of combining different scents.

Kara Davis, the brand’s Vice President of Global Marketing, and Robert Nasser Sabet, Director of Global Sales and Education, guided participants through the development of KAYALI fragrances and the techniques used to combine different scent profiles.

Participants were introduced to fragrances from the brand’s portfolio, including Vanilla | 28, Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar | 42 and Yum Boujee Marshmallow | 81. They also received an exclusive preview of an unreleased KAYALI fragrance ahead of its planned October 2026 launch.

Beyond the fragrance sessions, the programme incorporated resort dining, themed entertainment and ocean experiences. A KAYALI movie night, inspired by the brand’s Boujee Kitty Caramel Milk fragrance, brought participants together for an evening of entertainment and personalised hospitality.

Guests also joined a dolphin-watching excursion aboard the Perfume Princess yacht, providing an opportunity to experience the marine environment surrounding the resort. The programme concluded with a farewell dinner that brought together participants from different international markets.

The trip followed previous KAYALI destination-based activations, including a visit to Cappadocia, Türkiye, associated with the launch of its Freedom fragrance collection in late 2025. However, the Maldives event represented the brand’s first global trip bringing together its international creator and media communities.

Founded in 2018, KAYALI has developed an international following through its fragrance collections and emphasis on scent layering. The Maldives trip formed part of its efforts to engage content creators and media through experiences that extend beyond traditional product launches.

For Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, the collaboration demonstrated the property’s capacity to accommodate international luxury brand events requiring customised accommodation, wellness programmes, dining and recreational activities.

The event also highlighted the Maldives’ potential as a destination for global beauty, fashion and lifestyle brand activations, where international brands can combine product storytelling with resort hospitality and destination experiences.

The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, by Hyatt bringing The Standard’s signature spirit to Hyatt, is getting ready for its next chapter with a series of enhancements designed to bring even more colour, character and ways to experience island life to the resort. Combining The Standard’s signature playful spirit with Hyatt’s renowned hospitality expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional luxury resort experiences, the resort is introducing refreshed villa interiors, new dining concepts, expanded family programming, upgraded recreational facilities and enhanced wellness offerings. Together, these developments reinforce a guest experience that is both unmistakably The Standard and elevated through Hyatt’s global standards of service and operational excellence.

Set on Huruvalhi Island in the Raa Atoll, the award-winning resort pairs bold design and an easy-going island energy with a thriving house reef, turquoise lagoons and plenty of reasons to get out on the water. Recognised with accolades including Best Beach Resort at the TTM Awards 2026 and Best Family Resort at the Global Destination Awards 2026, the upcoming enhancements build on that spirit, giving guests more ways to make the island their own — whether that means chasing the next adventure, lingering over a long lunch, getting creative with the kids or switching off somewhere above the lagoon.

A Fresh Look for the Villas

The resort’s beach and overwater villas will receive refreshed interiors, bringing a brighter, more contemporary feel while keeping the playful personality that makes The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives distinctly its own. Thoughtful design updates will create a renewed sense of comfort and connection to the island, with interiors that open naturally onto the surrounding blues, palms and tropical landscape. The result is less about traditional island luxury and more about having your own colourful, comfortable hideaway — somewhere to sleep, swim, play and, ideally, stay a little longer than planned.

More Ways for Little VIPs to Play

There will be even more for younger guests to discover, with expanded programming at Lil’ Shark Kids Club, an enhanced Art Hut, a new Outdoor Adventure Zone and a dedicated Teen Lounge game room. Designed with curiosity and creativity in mind, the new additions will give little travellers more opportunities to get hands-on with island life, from making and creating to getting outside and exploring. It is The Standard’s take on a kids’ club: playful rather than prescriptive, with plenty of room for young guests to make new friends, try something different and come home with stories of their own.

And while the kids are busy, parents can make the most of the resort’s restaurants, bars, beach, wellness experiences and everything else that makes spending a week on a private island feel like a very good idea.

A New Kind of Reset at The Standard Spa

Wellness at The Standard Spa is getting a little more interesting. The experience takes guests through a considered circuit of hydrotherapy, steam, infrared sauna, cold plunge and infinity pool, creating a personalised journey to reset, recharge and restore balance. Rather than simply adding new facilities, the enhanced concept brings them together as part of an immersive wellness experience designed to help guests move, pause, recharge and feel good.

Alongside the circuit, three personalised wellness journeys — Healing & Relaxation, Recovery & Reset, and Movement & Balance — give guests the freedom to choose what they need from their time at the spa. Whether it is slowing down, recovering after a day in the sun, getting the body moving or simply finding a better balance, each journey is designed around the experience rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment menu.

And because wellness at The Standard has never been about taking things too seriously, guests can embrace it in their own way. Start the day with sunrise yoga, enjoy an ocean-facing treatment, brave the cold plunge, move through the contrast circuit or simply spend a long afternoon doing absolutely nothing.

Set above the Indian Ocean, The Standard Spa is evolving into an overwater wellness centre where facilities, movement and personalised experiences come together — creating a new way to reconnect, recharge and, most importantly, feel good.

New Drink and Dine Venues

Expanding the resort’s culinary experiences, The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives will introduce an exclusive Chef’s Table dining experience, offering guests a more intimate and immersive way to connect with the destination through food. Set in a refined and interactive setting, the experience will showcase thoughtfully curated menus, seasonal ingredients, and creative culinary techniques, allowing guests to engage directly with the chefs while enjoying a personalised journey designed to celebrate flavour, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

Adding to the resort’s social scene, the all-new Castaway Bar, located on the picturesque standalone Baby Island in the middle of the Maldives ocean, will serve as a relaxed gathering spot ideal for enjoying spectacular sunsets or lingering over an after-dinner nightcap. Surrounded by pristine beaches and panoramic lagoon views, the venue will offer handcrafted cocktails, light bites and a laid-back atmosphere that celebrates the carefree spirit of island living. Meanwhile, the resort’s beloved beachfront dining venue, currently known as BBQ Shak, will be reintroduced as The Beach Grill. The refreshed concept will continue to showcase grilled specialities and fresh seafood while delivering an enhanced beachfront dining experience inspired by the beauty and flavours of the Maldives.

Pickleball, Anyone?

Adding another reason to get moving, The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives will introduce its first pickleball court, bringing one of the world’s fastest-growing sports to the island. Whether guests are seasoned players or picking up a paddle for the first time, the new court offers an easy-going way to stay active, rally with friends and embrace a little friendly competition — all with a tropical island backdrop. The addition complements the resort’s existing tennis court, giving racket sports enthusiasts even more ways to stay active during their island escape. Because at The Standard, working up a sweat can be just as much fun as cooling off afterwards.

“Great hotels should never stand still. The enhancements at The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives are about evolving the experience while keeping the personality that makes the resort unmistakably The Standard. From refreshed villa interiors and new ways to play and unwind, to expanded programming for families and new wellness experiences, we’re creating more reasons for guests to connect with the island and with each other. It’s an exciting next chapter for Huruvalhi — one that brings a fresh sense of energy to the resort while staying true to its playful, social and wonderfully unconventional spirit,” said Amar Lalvani, President & Creative Director, Hyatt Lifestyle Group.

Set to launch in Q4 2026, the enhancements mark an exciting new chapter for the resort, bringing fresh energy, experiences and reasons to return to Huruvalhi while staying true to the playful, social spirit and distinctive island character of The Standard. Explore the resort and plan a stay for your family.

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