Connect with us

News

Centara to open third resort in Maldives

Published

on

Maldives Promotion House – Centara Hotels & Resorts will open its third resort in the Maldives during the latter half of 2014, following the signing of a management contract with Maldivian company RPI Private Ltd.

Centara Hudhufushi Resort & Spa is currently under design and planning, and will be to international four-star standards.

The resort, which will have approximately 110 rooms, will be located on the east side of Lhaviyani Atoll, 25 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport.

The contract signing took place on September 14, 2012, and the resort is being developed under an investment cost of US$36 million.

“We are very much looking forward to the opening of Centara Hudhufushi Resort&Spa, which will be our third resort in the Maldives,” says Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels&Resorts.

“The Maldives is one of the world’s finest holiday destinations, and this is very much a strategic move in our plans to expand our presence in the Indian Ocean.”

Centara opened its first resort in the Maldives, Centara Grand Island Resort&Spa Maldives, in late 2009. The second resort, Centara RasFushi Resort & Spa Maldiveswill open in March this year.

“Our international presence has grown extremely strongly during the past few years, and the Maldives has been a major success for us,” says Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels&Resorts.

“We believe that having a third Maldives resort, in a very different location amongst the Maldivian islands, and with a different style to the existing two resorts, will give us a very powerful marketing tool.

“Our marketing division for the Indian Ocean region has recently been strengthened, and we have great confidence in the region, and in our latest venture.”

Centara’s first resort, Centara Grand Island Resort&Spa, is located in the South Ari Atoll and has a broad appeal for couples, families, and groups. The second resort, Centara RasFushi Resort&Spa Maldives, is set on an island just 15 minutes by speedboat from Male International Airport, and is an adult-orientated resort.

Centara Hotels&Resorts is Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, with 40 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom. A further 18 resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Bali Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius Indian Ocean, brings the present total to 58 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs.

Family

W Maldives launches Easter celebration with kayak races and beach feast

Published

on

W Maldives unveils Tropical Easter, a one-day island takeover on Sunday, 5 April 2026, that transforms the resort into a vivid playground of colour, creativity, and effortless luxury. Set within the luminous blues of the North Ari Atoll, the celebration reframes the traditional holiday through a distinctly Maldivian perspective, where powder soft beaches replace spring meadows and the rhythm of the day moves from sunlit play to starlit revelry. Crafted or a global audience of discerning travellers, the experience balances polished indulgence with the brand’s signature playful edge, inviting couples, families, and friends to celebrate Easter in a a way that feels both elevated and carefree.

The festivities begin with The Great Little Easter Quest at WET Deck, where younger guests embark on a spirited hunt for hidden treasures before channeling their imagination into an open-air painting session. Designed as a joyful expression of creativity rather than a conventional children’s activity, the experience unfolds within the resort’s social heart, surrounded by vibrant energy, turquoise views, and a sense of occasion that resonates across generations.

As the afternoon unfolds, Race The Blue shifts the tempo with a high-energy kayak challenge across the resort’s crystalline lagoon. Participants paddle through waters so clear they reveal the intricate coral gardens of the celebrated house reef below, transforming the race into a breathtaking encounter with the Maldives’ underwater wonder. The event captures the essence of Tropical Easter’s story, playful adventure grounded in the extraordinary natural beauty, offering guests a rare opportunity to engage with the lagoon as both playground and vista.

At sunset, the celebration culminates at FIRE Beach with The Easter Table, a sophisticated alfresco buffet that elevates the holiday meal into a stylish social ritual. Classic Easter flavours are reinterpreted with contemporary flair across interactive live stations and vibrant culinary displays, while music drifts through the warm evening air and the ocean glows just beyond the shoreline. The setting is at once intimate and electric barefoot yet refined, inviting guests to linger long after the final course as the sky deepens into night.

Beyond the day’s curated experiences, Tropical Easter also highlights the resort’s signature lifestyle allure, from overwater villas poised above luminous lagoons to world class snorkelling accessible directly from the beach. Whether seeking adrenaline, indulgence, or pure escapism, guests can chape the celebration entirely to their own rhythm, embodying the freedom and spontaneity that define the W experience in the Maldives.

Travellers inspired to extend the festivities can unlock the exclusive Stay 5, Pay 4, member offer by enrolling in Marriott Bonvoy, transforming a single extraordinary day into a longer island escape. The package offers a compelling reason to plan ahead and immerse fully in the season’s distinctive tropical celebration.

This April, Tropical Easter at W Maldives promises more than a holiday, it delivers a mood, a sun-drenched fusion of playfulness, style and sensory indulgence set in one of the world’s most captivating destinations. For those seeking an Easter that feels fresh, glamorous, and unforgettable, the answer lies where tradition dissolves into turquoise and every moment unfolds with a touch of irreverent luxury.

For more information, visit www.wmaldives.com or connect with the resort’s team at reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.

Continue Reading

Culture

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi marks Eid with cultural celebrations and community spirit

Published

on

At Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Eid Al-Fitr is an expression of Ekuverikan —a traditional Maldivian spirit of fellowship where the boundaries between host and visitor dissolve into moments of sharing. The celebrations began on 20 March with a special morning high tea, bringing together our local and international team members to share in the joy of the occasion. By breaking bread following morning prayers, the entire team transformed a religious milestone into a shared human experience where global diversity is encouraged.

While Eid Al-Fitr lunch began with a symbolic cake cutting, the island transformed into a stage for Koadi Jehun at sunset. This traditional procession features locals marching with a koadi, a decorated stake crafted from coconut palm leaves woven into the shapes of birds and fish which is then offered to the children.

During the performance, dancers in traditional attire move in synchrony with Indian pots, a nod to the ancient trade routes that shaped the archipelago. As night fell, the air pulsed with the rhythmic beat of Boduberu. These songs, with roots reaching back to East Africa, serve as a living archive of the Maldivian ancestral journey across the Indian Ocean. The Eid Al- Fitr celebration continued with a DJ party in the newly built leisure hub dedicated to the team. The festivities concluded on Saturday with beach activities, reinforcing the belief that travel is most meaningful when it connects us to both nature and community.

“Eid Al-Fitr is a day to express gratitude through shared kindness,” says Ahmed Waheed, Human Resources Manager at Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. “By bringing guests and team members together, we offer an authentic connection to the Maldivian heritage we hold dear. Ultimately, travel is about these quiet, human moments that leave you feeling as though something new has stirred within.”

Continue Reading

Family

Madifushi Private Island opens Kokko Learning Studio for young guests

Published

on

Madifushi Private Island has announced the opening of Kokko Learning Studio, an innovative kids’ club concept designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young guests. Guided by the philosophy “Crafting Curiosity Every Day,” Kokko Learning Studio introduces a fresh approach to children’s programming in the Maldives, blending education, creativity, and island discovery into meaningful experiences.

Redefining the Resort Kids Club Experience

Moving beyond the traditional resort kids’ club model, Kokko Learning Studio has been thoughtfully designed as an immersive learning environment where children can explore, experiment, and create. Rather than focusing solely on entertainment, the studio encourages young guests to build, imagine, and discover through hands-on activities inspired by the island environment.

The purpose-built space fosters curiosity and confidence through guided experiences that allow children to learn naturally while enjoying their holiday.

A Space Designed to Inspire

Kokko Learning Studio offers a creative environment where children can:

  • Imagine through storytelling, art, and open-ended creative play
  • Discover through hands-on science experiments, nature projects, and sensory exploration
  • Grow by building confidence, independence, and teamwork through guided activities
  • Express themselves through design challenges, collaborative play, and creative thinking

Each activity is intentionally designed to develop practical skills while nurturing curiosity and creativity.

Experiences Inspired by Island Life

The programs at Kokko Learning Studio connect children to the natural environment and culture of the Maldives through a diverse range of engaging activities. These include hands-on science explorations, creative arts workshops, seaweed education programs, mariculture experiences focused on ocean farming and marine ecosystem preservation, and agriculture activities that introduce sustainable island living. Children also take part in nature discovery sessions, storytelling circles, and design challenges that inspire imagination and problem-solving, while guided activities encourage collaboration, resilience, and critical thinking.

A Family-Centric Island Experience

Kokko Learning Studio complements Madifushi Private Island’s family-friendly luxury offering by providing meaningful and engaging experiences for younger guests while parents enjoy the island’s facilities.

Children participate in supervised, age-appropriate programs designed to inspire curiosity and learning, creating memorable experiences that enrich the family holiday.

“Our vision with Kokko Learning Studio was to create something truly different from the typical resort kids’ club,” said Mohamed Hilmy, General Manager of Madifushi Private Island. “We wanted a space where children could explore, ask questions, experiment, and discover the beauty of the Maldives in a meaningful way. Kokko Learning Studio reflects our commitment to creating enriching experiences for families—where every guest, no matter their age, leaves with unforgettable memories.”

With the opening of Kokko Learning Studio, Madifushi Private Island continues to elevate the family travel experience in the Maldives, offering a destination where relaxation, discovery, and learning come together.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending

Copyright all rights reserved by Maldives Promotion House 2023.