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Villa Hotels crowned Maldives’ leading hotel brand

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Villa Hotels and Resorts has been crowned the leading local hotel and resort brand in Maldives.

The award was presented at the prestigious Maldives Travel Awards gala, held on December 19 at Crossroads Maldives.

Villa Hotels runs five resorts in the Maldives: Paradise Island Resort and Spa, Royal Island Resort and Spa, Holiday Island Resort and Spa, Sun Island Resort and Spa, and Fun Island Resort and Spa.

The resort operator also has several subsidiaries, including award-winning wellness brand Araamu Spa and dive centre DiveOceanus.

Initiated in 2012 by MATATO, the Maldives Travel Awards celebrate and honour the best tourism and hospitality products in the Maldives whilst fostering relationships with suppliers and local travel agents. From 20 categories in 2012, the awards have now expanded into three editions totalling 55 categories.

MATATO hosts three editions: the People’s Edition, which recognises successful pioneers and long serving individuals in the tourism industry, a Guesthouse Edition, which celebrates the outstanding performance of the up and coming guesthouse sector, and the Gala Edition, which is exclusive for winners in the categories for resorts, airlines and liveaboards.

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Sirru Fen Fushi unveils ‘Symphony of the Island’ festive celebrations

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This festive season, Sirru Fen Fushi – Private Lagoon Resort, located in Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives, will host an extensive programme of events under the theme Symphony of the Island. Running from 22 December to 7 January, the schedule brings together globally acclaimed performers and specialists, from award-winning musicians and Michelin-starred chefs to a World Cup football champion, wellness practitioners, mixologists, and even a NASA astronaut.

The resort’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will be headlined by Rami Jaffee, Grammy-winning keyboardist of the Foo Fighters, accompanied by violinist, cellist, and vocalist Jessy Greene (formerly Foo Fighters and Pink), and drummer and producer Erik Aldenius of Billy Idol. The All-Star Band will also feature Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from The Offspring, and Bill Reynolds, Grammy-nominated bassist and producer, formerly of Band of Horses, creating a powerful line-up to welcome 2026.

Onu Onu Beach Bar will host award-winning bartenders throughout the festive period. On 30 December, Harrison Kenny, associated with the World’s 50 Best Bars, will present alongside Millie Tang, one of Australia’s leading bartenders. On 3 January, Pham Quoc Dat, Head Mixologist at The Haflington in Vietnam (Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024), will take over the bar with a signature showcase.

Culinary highlights include the arrival of Chef Valentino Cassanelli, Head Chef of Michelin-starred Lux Lucis in Italy, who will collaborate with the resort’s Executive Chef Girish Sharma on 8 and 10 December. Cassanelli will also host his own signature four-course dinner. On 3 January, Jean-Philippe Blondet, Chef Patron of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, will present a four-hands dining experience at Azure alongside Chef Girish.

Sports and wellness sessions will be led by Christoph Kramer, Football World Cup Champion and television football expert, former professional tennis player and coach Alexandra Viktorovitch, Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturist and trainer Josiah Ngai, and yoga instructor and sound healer Tamuna Lomidze. Guests will be able to book one-to-one sessions throughout the festive programme.

On 6 January, the resort will present a special performance by Daria Pavlenko, Principal Ballerina of the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg.

NASA Astronaut and U.S. Navy officer Dominic Antoneli will share first-hand insights into life in space, recounting stories of exploration and discovery.

The season will begin on 22 December with the island illuminated by festive décor and Christmas Eve sunset drinks at Onu Onu Beach. On Christmas Day, celebrations will include a beach arrival by Santa in Maldivian style, followed by a festive brunch and a lobster and champagne dinner, with entertainment from fire dancers, magicians, and musicians.

The New Year’s programme begins with a sunset journey from Spa Beach to Central Park, before a gala dinner at RAHA Market. The evening will feature the All-Star Band, ballet performances, acrobats, and a fire and laser show, concluding with an after-party to welcome 2026. On 1 January, guests can enjoy a New Year’s brunch accompanied by live jazz and tropical rhythms.

Orthodox Christmas Eve on 6 January will include a gourmet buffet at RAHA Market, seafood dining at Azure, and a performance by ballerina Daria Pavlenko, followed by a beach party with international DJs. On 7 January, celebrations will conclude with a Cristal Champagne golden-hour sunset and beachside à la carte dining.

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Wellness in Pink: Milaidhoo Maldives supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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This October, Milaidhoo Maldives will mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Wellness in Pink — a curated series of experiences designed to encourage guests to slow down, reconnect, and explore the deeper dimensions of wellbeing.

Rooted in the island’s philosophy of mindful, barefoot living, the programme reflects Milaidhoo’s approach to quiet luxury and personal wellness. Each experience has been designed to restore the body and nourish the soul, creating opportunities for reflection and reconnection.

Set within the tranquil surroundings of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll, Wellness in Pink invites guests to pause, breathe, and share stories — both lived and unfolding.

Signature Experiences:

  • Sunset Serenity: A Couple’s Wellness Ritual: A 90-minute ritual held on the open-air deck of a private villa. The session begins with a calming full-body massage, followed by a refreshing facial, and concludes with a glass of chilled sparkling rosé. USD 380++ per couple | Advance reservation required
  • Rose Renewal Ritual: Special Edition: A 120-minute treatment created to support emotional balance and inner strength. The ritual combines an aromatherapy massage with rose essential oil, a rose quartz facial massage, and a grounding foot massage to restore energy flow. USD 240++ per person

On 23 October, guests may take part in a Zumba for Awareness session — a lively group activity celebrating vitality and community spirit.

On 24 October, The Pink Care Routine will be held at Milaidhoo’s overwater yoga pavilion. This guided session combines self-massage techniques, somatic body awareness, and breast health education, offering space for learning and gentle empowerment.

Milaidhoo emphasises that wellbeing is not a checklist but a feeling — of being cared for, of being seen, and of returning to oneself. Through Wellness in Pink, the resort seeks to honour those touched by breast cancer and to create space for healing in all its forms.

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Angsana Velavaru weaves wellbeing into World Wellness Weekend celebrations

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Angsana Velavaru is marking World Wellness Weekend with a series of holistic activities designed to support physical and mental wellbeing. From 19 to 21 September, the resort is hosting three days of complimentary sessions led by its in-house yoga instructor.

Each morning begins with aqua aerobics at the Kuredhi Pool, combining gentle resistance and the movement of water to awaken the body. On 20 September, attention shifts to an evening sunset yoga session, guiding participants through a flow of movement and breath as the sun sets over the island. The programme concludes on 21 September with sunrise yoga on the beach, a practice blending pranayama and ashtanga elements in the calm of dawn.

The resort’s wellness approach extends beyond the weekend, with a range of treatments available at the award-winning Angsana Spa. Therapists draw upon traditional Asian techniques to restore balance and energy, offering treatments such as body polishes, facials, and holistic massages with natural ingredients. Guests may also take part in personalised wellness rituals designed to nurture both body and mind.

Located in South Nilandhe Atoll, Angsana Velavaru integrates wellbeing into the island experience. From yoga and spa therapies to the tranquil pace of island life, the resort provides an environment where health and renewal are at the centre of the guest experience.

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