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Lux* introduces expert-led workshops on guest well-being, rolls out in Maldives
Lux* Hotels and Resorts has launched a unique calendar of expert-led workshops designed to inspire creativity and boost guest health and well-being, with the first set of workshops being rolled out in Maldives and a select few other destinations.
The new LUX* expert-led workshops feature an impressive line-up of Australian talent who are teaching their arts, knowledge and skills on a global stage at LUX* Resorts in Mauritius, Reunion Island and the Maldives throughout 2017 and beyond. Courses include Tibetan sound healing and stress-busting meditation, painting, the art of bookbinding, or learn how to make the ultimate health tonics.
Designed in partnership with Sydney-based organisation Work-Shop, these workshops mirror latest research revealing everyday creative activities such as performing music, painting or drawing, writing short stories, songs and poetry can ward off stress, leading to an upward spiral of increased emotional well-being.
The Lux* South Ari Atoll resort in the Maldives has already hosted three workshops; a two-hour yoga and arts session in January, a practical session on taking better Instagram photos last month and a two-hour workshop on travel writing just this month.
As the year progresses, Lux* South Ari Atoll will host a lot more workshops on a wide range of topics, including:
- Tibetan sound healing (August): Understand how to access your intuition and gain confidence in listening to your inner voice through balancing and grounding your energy using yogic tools. Experience the deep vibrations and soothing sounds of ancient Tibetan singing bowls during a sound meditation as well as through fun group activities.
- DIY Kombucha and health tonics (August and October): Kombucha is a fermented health drink originating from China, which is believed to be the key to improving digestion and boosting the immune system. Reconnect with the art of fermenting in this hour-and-a-half masterclass, and explore the benefits of making beet kvass, master tonic and rejuvelac.
- DIY Chinese medicine therapies (November): This ancient system of health therapies is also a philosophy of maintaining one’s own vitality. Tai chi, qigong, and diet are as much a part of Chinese medicine as acupuncture and Chinese herbs; learn the techniques of cupping and scraping to relieve aches, pains, and muscle tightness, to help recovery from colds and flu.
- DIY Japanese bookbinding (December): In this three-hour bookbinding class guests will be trained in binding techniques and make their very own books in beautiful handmade suminagashi marbled papers. Discover Japanese stitch, Japanese stab binding, Hemp stitch and tortoiseshell binding and create Japanese journals to use as photobooks and diaries.
“The expert-led workshops will continue every year and propose exciting new experiences, offering our guests a different luxury hospitality experience; celebrating life with creative entertainment; holidaying differently, creatively. Some will feature similar talent with evolving content, based on their success. In addition new workshops will be added,” Axelle Mazery, Group Press and Public Relations Manager told Australia’s Travel Weekly.
LUX* South Ari Atoll has recently undergone a major upgrade. Fresh from its relaunch, cutting-edge designer villas and world-class dining can be found only a 30-minute seaplane flight from Male making LUX* South Ari Atoll one of the most exciting resort in the Maldives. Excellent eating and drinking is always a cut above the rest at LUX* and at South Ari Atoll, there is authentic South East Asian street food in the Maldives’ only over-the-water gourmet night market and world-class Chinese cuisine at East, along with the Japanese restaurant, Umami, which offers live teppanyaki and dazzling selection of sakés.
The Mauritius-based hospitality group has recently announced the opening of its second resort in the Maldives in November. Named LUX* North Male Atoll and located on the six hectare picnic island of Olhahali which is in an unexplored Maldivian atoll, the new resort features contemporary architecture that is unique for the Indian Ocean, including private terraces, rooftop lounges, outdoor decks, private gardens and 13m private pools.
Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives has been nominated in the Resorts category for the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (UK) and the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 (US), marking a further development in the resort’s international recognition.
The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on traveller feedback and are considered a key benchmark within the global travel industry. The dual nomination reflects the resort’s presence across international markets and its engagement with guests from different regions.
The nomination follows a series of recognitions for the resort. In 2025, Kuda Villingili was ranked among the Top 5 Overseas Leisure Resorts Worldwide in the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards, placing fifth globally. It was also listed among the Top Resorts in the Indian Ocean in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 (US). The resort was similarly recognised in the 2024 edition of the awards.
Located in North Malé Atoll, approximately 30 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives offers 75 villas and residences, each with private pools and views of the surrounding ocean.
The resort features eight restaurants and three bars, including Japanese-Peruvian dining at Mar-Umi and Teppanyaki by Mar-Umi. Other dining options include Asian cuisine at East and grill offerings at Fire. Additional facilities include a cigar lounge, a large swimming pool, a spa with overwater treatment villas, and a range of wellness and recreational activities such as yoga, sound therapy and surfing.
Amjad Thaufeeg, Commercial Director at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives, stated that the nominations reflect feedback from guests across international markets and noted the importance of maintaining consistent service standards.
Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 is open until 30 June 2026, with results scheduled to be announced in November 2026.
Baros Maldives is set to host a curated Earth Day experience titled Earth Day in Bloom on 22 April 2026, offering guests an evening programme centred on sustainability, nature and locally sourced ingredients.
The event will begin at 6:30pm at the resort’s Chef’s Garden, where guests will be welcomed with a Garden Spritz before taking part in a guided tour of the garden. The tour will introduce participants to local herbs and island-grown produce cultivated on the property.
As part of the programme, guests will be invited to plant their own herb, contributing to the garden while engaging in an activity aligned with environmental awareness. The experience will continue with a garden dinner starting at 7pm, featuring a menu designed around fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from the island.
An optional pairing of organic wines will also be available, providing an additional element to the dining experience.
The event is priced at USD 175 per person, excluding applicable service charge and taxes. Reservations can be made through the resort’s butler service.
The initiative reflects Baros Maldives’ focus on sustainability-led guest experiences, integrating environmental awareness with culinary offerings and on-island activities.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has been recognised as a Quality Winner at the TUI Global Hotel Awards 2026, an accolade based on guest feedback from travellers worldwide. The recognition reflects the resort’s delivery of guest experiences shaped by service standards, facilities and alignment with evolving traveller preferences.
Located in North Malé Atoll, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives offers a range of accommodation options, with more than 140 units including overwater suites, beach bungalows and duplex garden bungalows. The resort is designed to accommodate couples, families and groups.
The resort features seven dining venues offering a mix of international and local cuisine. Tex Mex serves Mexican and Spanish-inspired dishes, while Dalchini offers an Indian à la carte menu available for lunch and dinner. Raalhu Bar provides a setting for evening refreshments, with views of the sunset.
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives is also known for Pasta Point, a surf break recognised for its left-hand waves. The resort attracts surfers from international markets who travel to access the location. Surf operations at Pasta Point are managed by Atoll Adventures, with bookings handled through Atoll Travel to ensure a structured approach to surf access.
The TUI Global Hotel Awards are determined by guest reviews, making the recognition an indicator of guest satisfaction. The resort’s inclusion as a Quality Winner reflects its performance in meeting guest expectations within the Maldives tourism sector.
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