Heritance Aarah has been named Indian Ocean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2026 at the World Travel Awards, recognising the resort’s Premium All-Inclusive offering in the Maldives.

The award was announced at the World Travel Awards Indian Ocean ceremony in the Maldives. The World Travel Awards recognises achievements across the global travel and tourism industry, including hotels, resorts and destinations, with regional awards acknowledging hospitality offerings across established tourism markets.

Located in Raa Atoll, approximately 40 minutes from Malé by seaplane, Heritance Aarah offers a Premium All-Inclusive experience encompassing personalised service, dining, wellness, marine activities and cultural experiences.

Stasshani Jayawardena, Chairperson of Aitken Spence Hotels, said: “Being recognised as the Indian Ocean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort is a significant achievement for Heritance Aarah and a proud moment for the entire Aitken Spence Hotels team. This recognition reflects the dedication of our colleagues in delivering a Premium All-Inclusive stay that combines thoughtful service, distinctive moments and a strong connection to the destination. It is particularly rewarding to see Heritance Aarah recognised within the Indian Ocean, and we remain committed to continually elevating what we offer our guests.”

Heritance Aarah features seven restaurants and five bars, offering a selection of international and regional cuisines. Among its dining venues is the Ambula Overwater Restaurant, which combines Sri Lankan and Maldivian flavours through an eight-course tasting menu accompanied by wine pairings.

The resort also offers activities that allow guests to explore the marine environment and cultural heritage of Raa Atoll. These include guided house-reef snorkelling, diving, water sports and excursions. Its IASO Spa provides wellness treatments, while the Maldivian Village introduces guests to aspects of local culture and island life.

The Premium All-Inclusive concept incorporates these experiences alongside personalised butler service and a range of inclusions designed to provide guests with flexibility during their stay.

The recognition at the World Travel Awards adds to Heritance Aarah’s international accolades and highlights Heritance Hotels and Resorts’ continued focus on developing its hospitality offerings across its destinations.

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.

ELE|NA has been named Leading Wellness and Spa Brand at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2026, recognising the Maldives-based wellness brand’s contributions to the hospitality and wellness industry across the region.

The recognition comes as wellness continues to become an integral part of luxury hospitality, with ELE|NA working alongside resort partners to develop and operate wellness facilities that combine therapeutic experiences, trained professionals and operational expertise.

Guided by its Wellness Your Way™ philosophy, ELE|NA incorporates wellness into different aspects of the guest experience. Its six Pillars of Vitality – TouchFlow, ReFine, BodyFit, SoulVibe, SleepSync and FoodDelight – encompass therapeutic treatments, physical activity, emotional wellbeing, restorative sleep and nutrition. The framework allows individual resorts to develop wellness programmes tailored to their locations and guest preferences.

In addition to providing wellness experiences, ELE|NA works with hospitality partners on concept development, spa operations, therapist training and service delivery. Its operational model combines the individual characteristics of each resort with standardised systems and procedures aimed at maintaining service consistency across its properties.

Sustainability also forms part of the brand’s operations. All ELE|NA properties in the Maldives have received Platinum Sustainable Wellness Accreditation, recognising their approach to responsible spa operations, environmental management and community wellbeing.

The brand also invests in professional development through the ELE|NA Wellness Academy, which provides training programmes for therapists and wellness professionals. The academy combines traditional therapeutic practices, practical training and contemporary wellness knowledge to support professional development and strengthen service standards across the industry.

The recognition at SATA 2026 comes as ELE|NA continues to expand its operations beyond the Maldives, extending its wellness concepts and services into India, Nepal and other emerging hospitality destinations.

With wellness increasingly influencing travellers’ accommodation choices and holiday experiences, ELE|NA continues to focus on integrating wellness services into resort operations while supporting the development of trained professionals and sustainable practices within the hospitality sector.