News
Marc Gussing appointed Resort Manager at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi
Maldives.net.mv – Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has appointed Marc Gussing as the new Resort Manager for Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in the Maldives. 
An experienced professional in the hospitality sector, Marc brings strong leadership and management skills to his new role. During his career, he has worked in managerial positions for a wide range of hospitality companies including Hyatt International, Beachcomber Hotels & Resorts, Per Aquum and The Elite Havens Group & Marketing Villas Ltd. In 2011, he became a consultant, working with such clients as Nira Hotels and Resorts.
A Swedish national, Marc is also a graduate from the acclaimed Institut Hotelier ‘Cesar Ritz’, in Le Bouveret, Switzerland.
Marc joins General Manager Chris Ely and his team at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi. A romantic hideaway in the heart of the Indian Ocean, the resort is situated 400 km (248 miles) from the capital of Male and is reached by a short domestic flight or seaplane transfer. Jumeirah Dhevanafushi has 38 beach and over-water villas, three restaurants and an award-winning Talise spa.
Drink
Atmosphere Core partners with Italy’s award-winning Prosecco Bottega
Atmosphere Core, a leading figure in the hospitality industry, has announced a unique collaboration with award-winning Italian lifestyle winery Bottega SpA. A 4th generation family estate which first started producing grappa in the 17th century, Bottega presents an enviable portfolio of wines and liqueurs, made world-famous by its iconic GOLD Prosecco DOC.
Driven by shared core values of quality, authenticity, distinctive design, and all-encompassing service styles, this innovative partnership is set to inspire a new wave of wine hospitality in the Maldives. On top of direct product shipments from the Bottega estates for the supply of wines solely to its 9 private-island resorts, Atmosphere Core will also introduce South Asia’s first Bottega Prosecco Bar, a concept created by Sandro Bottega himself to enhance and share Italy’s great wine, genuine food and convivial lifestyle, offering travellers from around the globe a taste of true Italian sparkling life in highly fashionable environments.
Testimony to the quality and popularity of Bottega labels, the family’s estates have won more than 450 awards and accolades with their products now available in over 160 countries worldwide. In 2022, IWRS reported Bottega’s GOLD Prosecco DOC as the top-selling sparkling wine in the Duty-Free channel world-wide.
Commenting on the new collaboration with Bottega, Atmosphere Core Group Managing Director, Salil Panigrahi, stated, “We are committed to providing the best possible guest experiences, and meticulously curate the culinary journeys within our resorts to offer the highest quality of authentic food and beverage concepts, so our guests can return home with life-long memories. We can only achieve this by collaborating with the most dynamic wine producers in the world, and our announcement to partner with Bottega SpA in 2025 is a landmark moment for our company. I wish to personally thank Mr Sandro Bottega for granting Atmosphere Core this opportunity which goes beyond the presence of his labels in our resorts, but also provides us with an exciting platform to explore new immersive lifestyle hospitality concepts”.
With the intent set firmly on growing wine culture, Atmosphere Core regularly hosts partner winemakers and winery owners at its Maldives resorts to lead exclusive and immersive masterclasses for guests, while reciprocating this exchange with wine partners sponsoring resort colleagues to travel and visit their vineyards across the world.
Sandro Bottega, President and CEO of Bottega SpA, comments, “I’m proud to start a partnership with such a prestigious hospitality group as Atmosphere Core. Our main aim is to bring the Italian oenological culture to South Asia. Maldives is a luxury destination, that embraces the same values of quality and elegance of our flagship product: Bottega GOLD Prosecco DOC. Furthermore, we hope to also introduce our Bottega 0 Rosé and White, both without alcohol, they offer the same consumption rituality of the sparkling wines, respecting teetotallers and all those who, for any reason, choose to be cautious in their consumption of alcohol. I’m also excited of the opportunity to open a branded Bottega Prosecco Bar, that will represent an ambassador for Italian cuisine in the islands”.
Wine enthusiasts, global travellers, and valued partners can look forward to a year-round calendar of enriching and immersive wine-focused experiences that embody Atmosphere Core’s commitment to exceptional hospitality and authentic storytelling, fostering genuine connections between guests and partner wineries from 1er Cru Champagne, Stellenbosch, Galicia, the Canary Islands and now Italy.
Love
Root your love story at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives
Planting a tree is more than just placing roots in the earth—it’s a promise of growth, a symbol of nurturing bonds, and a gesture that carries hope for the future. At Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, guests are invited to make this timeless act part of their most treasured moments. Whether celebrating a proposal, renewing vows, or marking a special milestone, planting a palm tree at the resort transforms these personal celebrations into a meaningful contribution to the island’s ecosystem.
A guest at the resort recently found the experience profoundly personal: “planting a palm tree here felt like rooting a part of our love story in paradise. Every time we think of our tree, we’ll remember this beautiful place and the promise of a greener future.”
The initiative is more than just a sentimental experience but a call to action. As one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, the Maldives faces mounting challenges from rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Palm trees, with their deep root systems, play a crucial role in stabilising the soil and protecting shorelines, making them essential in safeguarding the islands for future generations.
This ethos aligns seamlessly with the Maldives’ national “5 Million Trees Planting Programme,” launched on World Environment Day 2024. With over 450,936 trees already planted as of December 2024, the programme reflects the nation’s dedication to combating climate change.
At the heart of this initiative is Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to sustainability through its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. The palm tree planting activity at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives is not merely an offering for guests but a conscious effort to educate and involve them in the preservation of the Maldives’ delicate ecosystem.
Rajeeva Rajapakse, General Manager of Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, expressed the importance of this initiative: “We want every guest to feel connected—not just to our island but to the values we stand for. When they plant a tree here, they aren’t just creating a memory; they’re joining us in shaping a more sustainable future for the Maldives.”
This unique opportunity allows guests to leave more than footprints in the sand. Every tree planted is a story, a contribution, and a step towards making tourism more responsible. It’s a chance to take home the knowledge that even small actions—like planting a palm tree—can ripple out into a lasting impact.
So, whether you’re celebrating love, life, or simply the joy of being in paradise, Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives offers a way to turn your moments into legacies. Root your story here, and let it grow for years to come.
Cooking
New Tapasake restaurant at One&Only Reethi Rah
One&Only Reethi Rah introduces the newest gem to its collection of eight distinctive culinary experiences with the debut of Tapasake in the Maldives. The new concept offers Japanese cuisine with Mediterranean influences – a fresh take on culinary excellence. With breathtaking views of the crystal-clear Indian Ocean and the venue’s unique style, the new experiential gastronomic destination delivers a truly unforgettable experience to its One&Only clientele.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy from Denniston International, Tapasake is a 3665m2 venue suspended over the Indian Ocean’s sapphire surface. Expressive interiors draw the eye in every direction: up to the furthest reaches of the soaring see-through wine cellar; down beneath glass-bottomed floor panels in the sunken lounge to glimpse reef sharks darting across the shallows; left to take in wall-high artworks, intricate panelling and ephemera from the natural world. Playfully composed, Tapasake’s atmospheric surroundings encourage unbridled exploration. Light meets dark. Soft tones meet striking textures. Monochrome elements reflect Japanese design sensibility, while Mediterranean accents are captured in bright splashes of red, orange and yellow. Sweeps of wood, granite and stone ground the space in the essence of the Earth. Water is central to the flow of the design, glimmering in the reflection pool above the sway of the rolling tides. The wind blows a soft sea breeze, energising each new breath, while the fire lights up cigars sourced from the world’s best tobacco regions. This is a setting to savour with every sense.
Golden Hour was made for gathering on the Grand Terrace to toast another remarkable day amid the lush landscape. Here, the inventive cocktail menu mirrors the bold pigments that cloak the coastline at sunset with fragrant violet liqueur, passionfruit and pineapple setting a tropical mood.
A signature One&Only dining experience, Tapasake takes its name from the Spanish “tapas” and Japanese “sake,” with distinctive Mediterranean influences. Guests are invited to indulge in a concept that celebrates the art of sharing, featuring dishes that combine flavours from Japan and the Mediterranean for a truly unique culinary journey.
The sushi area, and teppanyaki grill stations beckon for intimate meals, grand gatherings and everything in between. Tender Wagyu beef meets the heat of the grill in a spectacle of sizzle before your eyes, while uni (sea urchin), otoro (bluefin tuna belly) and tai (sea bream) provide a flavour of the delicacies sourced from a tapestry of celebrated Japanese culinary provinces. Elsewhere, Mediterranean-inspired seafood fresh from local waters sits beside gyoza, Tokyo-style ramen, and traditional tapas, inviting you to mix and match flavours on your own epicurean adventure.
In the evening, Tapasake transforms into a vibrant hub, enhanced by DJs and live music to elevate the energy after dark. Enjoy multi-national cigars and signature whiskey cocktails in Sombra Lounge, or sip limited-edition sake inspired by the location, produced in collaboration with Yumegokoro Sake Brewery in Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture, this clean, light and fragrant Naraman Junmai Daiginjo has a Champagne-like profile shaped for celebrations.
Satisfy your wildest whims with bespoke events or delve deeper into your passions with a mixology class, tea ceremony or sake-tasting session. Celebrate milestones in style in private dining rooms that accommodate up to 12 guests, allowing for ultimate seclusion while basking in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Three spectacular spaces infused with distinctive character bring something extra special to your stay. Yuugen, meaning the mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe, provides a private portal to the mesmerising marine life beneath the ocean’s symphony of blues, with a glass floor to draw your gaze while you dine. Tenkei, meaning heavenly scene, positions you for awe-inspiring views of the horizon to backdrop your experience with the magic of the Maldivian sunset. Mesa Secreta translates as Secret Table and invites you into a world of wonder, tucked away to transform your evening into one that won’t be forgotten.
“Tapasake is a fantastic addition to One&Only Reethi Rah’s impressive selection of eight specialty dining venues. This beautiful setting, paired with the restaurant’s elevated food-sharing concept, makes Tapasake the Maldives’ premier experiential gastronomic destination, promising to delight the senses of luxury leisure seekers from around the globe,” said Jan B. Tibaldi, General Manager of One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives.
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