OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort is taking luxury dining to new heights with the introduction of five overwater dining domes at its signature dining experience Moodhu Grill. Designed to create an intimate and memorable dining experience, these private pods offer guests a chance to indulge in spectacular food whilst sitting above the coral reef, with breathtaking panoramic views of the horizon and the stars above.

Moodhu Grill is one of the resort’s five restaurants, other options for stunning dinners include Art-I-San, set at the highest point of the Island, with romantic tables on a balcony overlooking the moonlit ocean, while Koto offers Japanese fusion in an intimate restaurant over a sunset lagoon.

Moodhu Grill’s menu features fresh seafood and meat with a subtle Asian twist in a relaxed and inviting dining experience. The Chefs recommendation is the Kandu Kukulhu, grilled yellow finned tuna marinated in traditional Maldivian spices. Other highlights include Kandai chicken, Seekh Kebab and Tandoor baked gobi.

Each dome accommodates up to four guests, making it the ideal choice for couples or families with children.

Dome dining incurs additional charges and is available for dinner with advance bookings. Rooms at OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort from £574 ($728) per night.

TUI BLUE Olhuveli Romance has announced its latest achievement at the significant TUI Global Hotel Awards 2025, held in Berlin, Germany on March 3, 2025, ahead of ITB Berlin 2025. The resort has once again secured the Best Hotel – Long Haul category award, reinforcing its position as a premier luxury destination. In addition, TUI BLUE Olhuveli Romance has been ranked among the Top 100 hotels in TUI’s global program, a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence in hospitality.

The TUI Global Hotel Awards recognizes the Top 100 hotels and winners based on detailed guest feedback. Each year, TUI BLUE celebrates outstanding service and quality at a festive ceremony in Germany, attended by over 300 industry professionals. The event is one of the most prestigious in the travel sector, honoring hotels and resorts that excel in guest experiences, superior service, and high-quality standards. TUI BLUE Olhuveli Romance has been named among the Top 100, placing it in an elite category of properties that set new benchmarks in the hospitality industry.

“We are incredibly honoured to receive this recognition from the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2025 for the second consecutive year. This achievement reflects the dedication of our team in delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests and reinforces our commitment to excellence in hospitality,” said Deepak Booneady, CEO of Sun Siyam Resorts.

TUI BLUE Olhuveli Romance, located in the stunning South Male Atoll and connected to the two islands of Sun Siyam Olhuveli Maldives, is renowned for offering an exclusive adults-only experience that blends traditional Maldivian charm with contemporary luxury. Since its opening on November 1, 2022, the resort has offered pristine beaches, world-class dining, and personalised services tailored specifically for couples and honeymooners seeking a memorable getaway. This recent accolade highlights the resort’s dedication to creating meaningful and unforgettable guest experiences.

As it continues to set the standard for exceptional service and luxury hospitality, this award further solidifies TUI BLUE Olhuveli Romance’s status as a premier romantic destination in the Maldives. The resort extends its sincere gratitude to its guests, partners, and dedicated team members for their invaluable contributions to its continued success.

From a strategic partnership for renovation in 2023 that introduced a vibrant make-over with new water villas, to ongoing collaborations ensuring continual improvement of the guest experience, DERTOUR’s specialist team at SENTIDO continue to play an instrumental role in driving the success of OBLU Nature Helengeli by SENTIDO.

To kick off the year in style and at peak occupancy, at the end of February two of the leading figures in SENTIDO’s culinary team flew out from Europe to host a creative culinary extravaganza for guests and specialist training for associates at OBLU Nature Helengeli by SENTIDO.

Sharing the inspiration for such collaborations with valued partners like SENTIDO, VP of Food & Beverage Anupam Banerjee stated, “At Atmosphere Core, we focus on crafting a food and beverage experience that cultivates an immersive journey, elevating guest satisfaction while honouring local heritage and sustainability”.

From SENTIDO’s headquarters in Germany, Corporate F&B Manager Chef Frank Funke took to the kitchens of the island to create Maldivian inspired dishes closely collaborating with island Executive Chef Ajay Sahoo, whilst behind the bar and ranked #3 in the world for Mixology, Manuel Perez foraged the island for fresh natural ingredients to add to cocktails paired with the flavourful cuisine.

The highlight of the three days featured a mouth-watering four-course degustation menu paired with cocktails organised by island F&B Manager Bishnu Bhattarai and team. Chef’s Frank’s starters included a “Hiki Mas” Maldivian-style diced tuna with coconut-lime dressing, whilst Caesar Salads took a twist with ingredients including charred coconut, crispy curry leaves, anchovy-lime dressing, and parmesan crisps with an added touch of crispy tinapa (smoked fish) flakes. For the mains, the finest Angus Beef Fillets were served with a Maldivian black pepper sauce and “Fish n Chips” were served pea mint Breadfruit (Banbukeyo) purée, turmeric pesto and ube (purple yam) fries. The most popular dessert of the night was the dark chocolate ‘Maldivian Bounty Tart’ with coconut ganache, vanilla cream and crushed cocoa nibs enhanced with polvoron shortbread.

Mixologist Manuel’s shaker never stopped as cocktails made from fresh island fruits and herbs paired each dish of the degustation. With combining flavours in mind, Manuel’s concoctions included Fresh Coconut-Lime Spritzer, Fresh Mango-Ginger Cooler, Black Tea & Date Infusion, Green Mango & Mint Iced Tea, Honey-Thyme Lemonade, Cucumber & Passion Fruit Iced Tea and a Spiced Hibiscus & Date Brew, the finale a Coconut & Vanilla Bean Iced Coffee to complement the Maldivian Bounty Tart.

Commenting on the three-day culinary journey, General Manager Alain Trefois concluded, “With a full schedule of activities set out over the three days including functions for both our guests and associates, this visionary duo entertained all with events ranging from mixology classes to a unique culinary journey through pairing Maldivian inspired food and drink.

“By partnering with both these acclaimed mentors, our F&B associates at Helengeli have not just learnt new skills, they’ve raised the quality standard for entertaining guests through the power of cuisine. From everyone on the island, we are indebted to Mr. Frank & Mr. Manuel for taking the time to travel and knowledge-share with our team, whilst also adding a magical culinary experience for our guests”.

Corporate F&B Manager SENTIDO Frank Funke also comments, “It was a unique experience, and I am very grateful to the entire team for helping to make this event so unforgettable”.