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W Hotels Worldwide Appoints Jenné Lombardo As New Global Fashion Director
Maldives Promotion House – W Hotels Worldwide has announced the appointment of Jenné Lombardo, entrepreneur and style maven, as its new Global Fashion Director. For more than 12 years, W Hotels has had a continuous commitment to fashion, and in 2010 appointed the first-ever Global Fashion Director for a hospitality brand – Amanda Ross. As the W brand continues to expand its international footprint and opens in fashion capitals around the world, Lombardo, a global trendsetter with a knack for identifying what’s new and next in fashion, will be instrumental in developing strategic initiatives and partnerships that showcase W’s innovative point of view on fashion.
“W Hotels has established itself as a brand that is constantly searching for ‘what’s new and next’ across music, design, and fashion,” Global Brand Leader of W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien, Eva Ziegler said. “Jenné Lombardo’s international outlook and connection to emerging talent makes her a perfect fit as both the W brand and the role of Fashion Director continues to grow.”
Jenné Lombardo’s intuitive approach to bringing like-minded brands together led her to the creation of M.A.C. & Milk, connecting the renowned beauty brand with a raw space to create a unique platform for emerging designers during New York Fashion Week. M.A.C. & Milk now serves as one of the premiere Fashion Week programs, providing space and other services to more than 40 designers per season.
Several high-profile designers have been showcased at these events, including Alexander Wang, Band of Outsiders, Lulu Frost, Matthew Ames, Proenza Schouler, Suno, and Vena Cava. Prior to working with M.A.C & Milk, Lombardo served as the Executive Director of Global Fashion, Talent, and Special Events at M.A.C., where she launched projects with celebrities and artists, including the Viva Glam campaign with Lady Gaga, on a global level.
“Throughout my career I have always looked at the unique ways in which artists, designers, and other innovators can work together,” Lombardo said. “With W Hotels, the possibilities are infinite. I am extremely excited and honored to be working with such a dynamic and global brand.”
In late 2010, Lombardo launched The Terminal Presents, a New York-based consultancy focusing on giving brands unparalleled access to unique talent across fashion, music, the arts, and pop culture. The company’s aim is to identify opportunities in the marketplace to allow brands to create, innovate, collaborate, and articulate an original customized vision. Past events have included after-parties for Alexander Wang and Gwen Stefani, a Gareth Pugh screening and dinner, and performances by Patti Smith, The National, Iggy Pop, Crystal Castles, MIA, and Santigold.
In anticipation of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, Lombardo has begun to identify the next group of designers for this season’s W Hotels Fashion Next program, which is an industry-first initiative that fosters and supports emerging designers. In her new role, Lombardo will seek to firmly establish the Fashion Next program on a global level.
The selected Fashion Next designers will make their debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in September, where they will show their collections at the Box space in Lincoln Center. She is also collaborating with fashion trendsetters in London and Moscow to indentify new and next designers to showcase their latest collections during those cities’ Fashion Weeks. Lombardo and the designers will then travel to fashion-forward cities around the globe as W Hotels provides a platform for support and brings its point of view on fashion to an international audience.
In early 2010, W Hotels first introduced the role of Global Fashion Director to the hospitality industry with the appointment of Amanda Ross, international stylist and fashion authority. During her time as Global Fashion Director, Ross steered W Hotels from backstage to “center stage” at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, as the W VIP Backstage Lounge evolved into a full fashion presentation, showcasing the W Hotels Global Glam collection, a seasonal line inspired by the unique personalities of W Hotels and Retreats. Ross also identified emerging designers to support through the W Hotels Fashion Next program and served as the W spokesperson at international fashion weeks in cities such as New York, Bangkok, and Mexico City.
Throughout its 12 years, W Hotels has been engaged with the world of fashion, from its Backstage VIP Lounge at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to its various collaborations with fashion fixtures, including Simon Doonan, Michael Kors, and Diane von Furstenberg. W has also redefined traditional hotel retailing with the creation of W Hotels The Store, trendsetting boutique stores that sell designer apparel such as the aforementioned Global Glam collection as well as jewelry, accessories, home and design items in W Hotels around the world, online, and through the W Hotels iPhone application.
Beyond the brand initiatives, W Hotels around the globe have also been engaged in fashion over the past years, whether from the W Lounge at ELLE Fashion Week in Bangkok to the launch of the exclusive James Small-designed Insider belt for W London – Leicester Square, to Fashion Next designer trunk shows in Atlanta, Chicago and New York and the debut of Global Glam from Mexico City, Miami, Barcelona, and Los Angeles, among other destinations. The role of W Hotels in the fashion industry will only continue to grow as the brand expands worldwide, with a presence at fashion weeks across the globe, from New York to London, Paris, Milan, Moscow, and beyond.
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SO/ Maldives introduces ‘Fight Fit’ wellness activation
On Saturday, 25 April 2026, SO/ Maldives will stage its “Fight Fit” island activation as part of the resort’s ongoing 120 Days Fitness Challenge, bringing together fitness, wellness and local collaboration in a resort-wide programme.
Developed in partnership with Fight Soul Maldives, a local fitness collective focused on combat sports, the activation is designed to offer guests both participation and live viewing experiences while also bringing a local element into the resort’s wellness programming.
A key part of the activation is the Muay Thai Guest Workshop, where guests will have the opportunity to train with fighters from Fight Soul Maldives. Open to different fitness levels, the sessions will introduce the basics of Muay Thai through drills, technique-based training and group activity.
The programme will extend across the island through a series of activities including sunrise yoga, beach combat training, aqua yoga accompanied by DJ music, and sunset fight showcases. According to the resort, the aim is to combine physical activity with the island setting through a range of structured wellness experiences.
The activation will also include a healthy menu developed to support fitness and balanced living, in line with the resort’s wider wellness focus.
Guests will also be invited to take part in a skincare workshop and ritual linked to the launch of products from Comfort Zone. The experience will introduce skincare practices based on science and sustainability as part of the broader wellness programme.
In the evening, the programme will continue with foam parties, fire dance performances, and live Muay Thai and kickboxing exhibitions featuring athletes from Fight Soul Maldives.
Through “Fight Fit”, SO/ Maldives is presenting a wellness-led island activation that combines fitness, lifestyle programming and collaboration with local talent.
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Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives introduces indoor mini golf experience
Resort experiences are increasingly shaped by the need for flexibility, with guests seeking activities that can be enjoyed beyond peak sun hours, creating a natural demand for engaging indoor spaces and particularly in tropical destinations where brief, seasonal rain showers are part of the island rhythm.
Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives builds on this evolving guest preference with the introduction of its new 8-hole Indoor Mini Golf Centre, adding a playful and interactive dimension to the island’s leisure offering. The space was officially unveiled at a recent opening, where a guest was invited to mark the occasion, setting the tone for an experience centred around shared enjoyment and light-hearted moments.

The indoor mini golf course offers a relaxed, air-conditioned space where guests of all ages can take part, whether as a casual game between families, a friendly challenge among couples, or a fun addition to group stays. It provides a comfortable alternative to outdoor activities while maintaining the sense of energy and connection that defines time on the island, regardless of the weather.
The addition builds on the resort’s existing indoor facilities, including billiards, table tennis, and a dedicated kids’ playroom, creating a more rounded leisure experience that caters to different moods and moments. Outdoors, guests can continue to explore a wide range of activities, from beach volleyball and futsal to badminton, diving, and both motorised and non-motorised water sports.

As one of the first resorts in the area to introduce an indoor mini golf experience, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives continues to evolve its offerings in line with how guests choose to travel today, blending activity, comfort, and shared experiences in a setting designed for both relaxation and discovery.
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COMO Maalifushi highlights uncrowded surf access across southern atolls
COMO Maalifushi presents a considered approach to surfing in the Maldives—one shaped by access, expertise, and the quiet privilege of space.
Located in the remote Thaa Atoll, the resort offers entry to a network of lesser-travelled breaks across the southern atolls, where consistent Indian Ocean swells meet uncrowded line-ups. Here, surfing unfolds without urgency—guided by natural rhythm rather than routine.
At the core of the experience is COMO Maalifushi’s long-standing partnership with Tropicsurf, daily sessions are shaped by real-time ocean conditions, with coaching that adapts intuitively to each guest—whether taking to the water for the first time or refining technique across more complex reef formations.
Guests are given access to a curated selection of breaks across Thaa Atoll, Laamu Atoll and Dhaalu Atoll—each offering a distinct character. From the long, forgiving rides of Farms to the more technical, fast-moving rights of ‘Machine’, the programme is designed to evolve with both conditions and capability.
“Surfing at COMO Maalifushi is defined by its sense of space and possibility,” says Peter Nilsson, Managing Director, COMO Maldives. “Our location allows access to some of the Maldives’ most consistent yet uncrowded waves, and through our partnership with Tropicsurf, we’re able to offer an experience that is both highly personalised and quietly exceptional—true to COMO’s way of doing things.”
The season, which runs from April through October, brings steady swells from the southern Indian Ocean. Yet beyond seasonality, it is the absence of crowds that defines the experience—allowing guests to engage with the ocean on their own terms.
Surfing at COMO Maalifushi sits naturally within the wider rhythm of the island. Time in the water is balanced with restorative treatments at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, unhurried dining, and the simplicity of island life—creating a sense of flow between activity and stillness.
Here, surfing is guided with care, framed by nature, and experienced without excess.
For more information, please visit the resort’s website.
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