Entertainment

LUX* South Ari Atoll to host expert-led Instagram live festival

Published

6 years ago

May 1, 2020

LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas has announced plans to host an exclusive Instagram live festival spanning eight weeks.

Every Monday, from May 4 to June 22, eight internationally acclaimed hosts will offer their expertise in various areas such as finding your intention, travel content creation, wedding planning, freediving, music, cooking, workout and more.

The live sessions, which will be broadcast live on the resort’s Instagram profile (@luxsouthari), will be approximately 30 minutes in duration and published on their IGTV as well, for those who wish to watch at a later time.

At the end of the last live broadcast on June 22, the resort will publish a link to a quiz, inviting everyone to answer simple questions to which they can find the answers in the live sessions.

A lucky winner of the quiz will win a seven-night stay when the resort reopens its doors after the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are the first four hosts of the festival.

Chris Pan (@chrispan)

Former Facebook executive and founder of ‘MyIntent’, Chris Pan is on a mission to bring spiritual and emotional wellness to those who need it the most.

MyIntent has served Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Melania Trump, Elon Musk, Justin Bieber, Mark Zuckerberg to name a few, and has been featured on the cover of Time Magazine.

Studying at Harvard Business School, working at Facebook and retiring at 35 was followed by a traumatic breakup, which made Chris realise that money and status do not offer the fulfilment and love that he truly wanted.

This was the start to the MyIntent Project, which has helped millions of people have meaningful connections by finding their intention.

Jeremy Austin (@jeremyaustiin), Angie Villa (@missangievilla)

Internationally praised travel content creators from Miami, US, Jeremy and Angie collaborated with some of the most sought-after destinations and exclusive luxury resorts around the world for the past few years.

What sets this couple apart from others is that they have their own media company, which specialises in high quality photography, videography and eye-catching content campaigns.

Every detail is carefully planned and they’re here to give you their best advice when creating eye-catching content.

Natalia Kulikova (@nata_kulikova)

An international wedding expert who founded the Russian Wedding Academy, Natalia is a journalist, TV presenter and editor-in-chief of JM Just Married.

She has exchanged knowledge from some of the big shots in the industry, including Oscar de la Renta, and the queen of wedding dresses herself, Vera Wang.

If you’re planning your dream wedding and need some guidance to polish every single detail, this one is for you.

Beth Neale (@onebreathbeth)

Formally known as ‘One Breath Beth’, her latest and fourth record was set in the Constant Weight No Fins discipline, which means she dives with no equipment except for a nose clip, and uses breast-strokes down and back up. This was the deepest female dive in the continent of Africa, as well as the deepest official freedive in Bermuda.

Her primary motivation for this historical dive was to raise funds and awareness for her conservation work in Bermuda for the last five years.

Want to learn basic techniques behind freediving? Hold your breath and tune in!

“We are delighted to initiate an online festival and to collaborate with some of the best experts in the game,” Mona Sedghi, Marketing and PR Manager at LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort & Villas, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“Staying safe at home during these times is a perfect time to rest, learn something new and to discover new, hidden talents. We welcome you all to take part of this new Monday tradition and count down the days until we re-open our doors.”

LUX* South Ari Atoll is one of two resorts in Maldives run by Mauritius-based LUX* Resorts.

Cutting-edge designer villas and world-class dining can be found only a 30-minute seaplane flight away from the main Velana International Airport, making LUX* South Ari Atoll one of the most exciting resorts in the Maldives.

With 193 private villas dotted at the water’s edge along four kilometres of powder fine beach or perched on stilts above a crystal clear lagoon, these spacious pavilions and villas bring an entirely original vibe of coastal, beach house chic to the Maldives.

Excellent eating and drinking is always a cut above the rest at LUX*, and at LUX* 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.

While the resort has a PADI-certified dive centre, two infinity pools, a floodlit tennis court, a fitness centre and a renowned spa which hosts a wellness concierge and a menu of indulgent treatments, what sets the property apart from its neighbours are surprises, or better known as #ReasonstogoLUX.

Designed to create lasting memories for guests, these ‘reasons’ can range from island-roasted coffee in Café LUX* to impromptu movie screenings at cinema paradise and the chance to hang your wishes on the Tree of Wishes.

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Entertainment

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort sets stage for first music festival in May 2026

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

m@ldives

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort will host Your Paradise Maldives from 11 to 16 May 2026, as the boutique, destination-led Your Paradise music festival makes its Maldives debut with a curated roster of global electronic tastemakers. Marking the resort’s inaugural music festival, the award-winning Avani+ Fares Maldives sets the stage for a lifestyle-led escape that pairs sun-soaked sets with easy-going island living.

Designed around the island’s natural rhythm, Your Paradise – with past editions in Fiji and a strong international following – will unfold across a series of open-air stages and social spaces, shifting from golden-hour sets by the lagoon to pop-up beach parties and after-dark sessions with seamless transitions from day to night.

The phase one line-up features Ayybo, Arielle Free, Coco & Breezy, Double Touch, Jordan Brando & William Kiss, Low Steppa, Melé, Niiko x Swae, Sarah Story, Sasha Spielberg, Tom & Collins and Tori Levett, with further names to be announced. Delivering everything from feel-good house through to deeper club sounds, the festival is a limited-ticket experience with dedicated travel packages available.

Set on the natural island of Fares on the western edge of Baa Atoll’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is ideal for festival crews, solo travellers and couples, with a mix of Beach Pool Villas and Over Water Villas, plus Two and Four-Bedroom Pavilions for groups of up to eight. For those going all in, the resort also offers two 287 sqm Two-Bedroom Overwater Pool Residences and a 368 sqm Three-Bedroom Overwater Pool Residence, each with an oversized terrace, infinity pool and seamless indoor-outdoor dining made for a private after-party. For sundowners with a local twist, the resort’s Ambaa Adventure sees a traditional dhoni cruise the lagoon, delivering handcrafted cocktails and mocktails direct to guests’ overwater pool decks.

Between sets, guests can lean into island life with watersports, diving and snorkelling on the house reef, then reset with sunrise yoga and meditation at AvaniFit and post-party recovery at AvaniSpa. The resort also offers easy access to the atoll’s marine highlights, including Hanifaru Bay, one of the world’s most celebrated manta ray hotspots.

Avani+ Fares has built strong momentum since opening in 2023, named Best Beach Resort 2025 at the TTM Awards, following its Best Dive Resort win in 2024, with General Manager Judd Rabbidge recognised as Resort Manager of the Year 2025 at the Global Hospitality ON Awards.

Rates for Your Paradise Maldives start from USD 2,599 per person, with solo, couple and group packages available. Each package includes five nights at Avani+ Fares Maldives on a half board basis, main stage performances and exclusive parties, as well as group yoga and meditation sessions. For more information and to book, visit www.avanihotels.com/en/fares-maldives, email fares@avanihotels.com or call +960 660 1660.

Entertainment

Hulhumalé’ set for New Year festivities as Visit Maldives and partners launch preparations

Published

2 weeks ago

December 22, 2025

m@ldives

Visit Maldives Corporation, together with the Ministry of Tourism & Environment and the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), has commenced planning for New Year celebrations in Hulhumalé’, building on the success and positive public response of last year’s festivities.

The celebrations are expected to feature signature elements that resonated strongly with the public in 2024, including a special Drone Show, Fireworks, Food stalls, and cultural experiences designed for both locals and visitors. The initiative, running from 30 December 2025 to 1 January 2026, aims to once again create a vibrant, inclusive, and family-friendly atmosphere to welcome the New Year.

At this stage, planning is ongoing and further details regarding the programme, dates, and activations will be announced in due course.

The New Year celebrations are being developed as a joint initiative by Visit Maldives, the Ministry of Tourism & Environment, and HDC.

Organisers are also in discussions with potential partners and sponsors and welcome expressions of interest from organisations keen to be part of this national celebration.

Entertainment

Award-winning singer Nicole Scherzinger to appear at One&Only Reethi Rah’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

Published

3 weeks ago

December 16, 2025

m@ldives

One&Only Reethi Rah, the all-villa resort in the Maldives, has announced the international star and award-winning singer Nicole Scherzinger will make an exclusive live appearance during the resort’s iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations, welcoming guests into 2026 with a special musical performance as part of the countdown.

Renowned for her magnetic stage presence and powerhouse vocals, Nicole Scherzinger originally rose to fame as a member of one of the best-selling female groups of all time, the Pussycat Dolls, before pursuing her career as a solo musician, a judge on various television shows, and a stage actress in theatrical work such as in Cats and Sunset Boulevard. Throughout her career, Scherzinger has received numerous nominations and awards, including the 2024 Laurence Olivier Award and the 2025 Tony Award, both for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Sunset Boulevard.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Indian Ocean, the resort’s annual New Year’s Eve celebrations take place on 31st December 2025 at the Believe Ball, the Festive program’s main event featuring a refined beachside cocktail reception before unfolding into a joyous evening of epicurean discovery and thrilling entertainment. As the year draws to a close, Scherzinger will take the stage for a highlight live performance as part of the countdown, bringing the New Year’s celebrations to new heights with glamour, energy, and musical prowess.

“We are thrilled and honoured to welcome Nicole Scherzinger to One&Only Reethi Rah for our New Year’s Eve celebrations,” said Jan Tibaldi, General Manager of the resort. “Her global appeal, extraordinary talent, and dynamic energy make her the perfect artist to be part of our most iconic evening of the year, setting the scene for a remarkable welcome to 2026.”

The Festive season at One&Only Reethi Rah invites guests to embrace the spirit of the season with this year’s theme of Believe, centered on celebrating the joy, wonder, and magic of the holidays. From Christmas family traditions and world-class culinary experiences to quiet moments of deep wellbeing and exciting sports tournaments, the resort’s Festive program promises an array of unforgettable moments designed to delight guests of all ages and interests. Scherzinger’s special live appearance will be the highlight of the program, culminating with an exciting countdown to welcome the New Year.

The Festive season at One&Only Reethi Rah commences on 20th December 2025 with the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony & Cocktail and ends on 13th January 2026 with the Orthodox New Year Gala Dinner.

Reservations and pre-bookings are recommended for most of the Festive events. For inquiries and bookings, please contact the VIP Services team at reethirah.festive@oneandonlyreethirah.com. For bookings, please call +960 664 8800 or contact the Reservations team at reservations@oneandonlyreethirah.com.