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Banyan Tree advocates culture of wellbeing inside out

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The pandemic’s widespread impact has underscored the importance of leading healthier lifestyles for our physical and mental wellbeing.

For Banyan Tree Group, its core values of wellbeing and sustainability in its internal culture is key to recovery in preparing for guests’ return during and beyond the pandemic.

“As travellers increasingly seek out purposeful experiences that connect them to nature and the environment, the Group is well-positioned to create long-term value for consumers and its associates through its brand ethos of Embracing the Environment, Empowering People,” Ho Ren Yung, Senior Vice President, Brand HQ of Banyan Tree Group, said.

“This drives Banyan Tree’s philosophy of wellbeing – the belief that being well is an inside-out journey connecting self, others and nature.”

Group-wide initiatives available internally and externally are based on a clarified approach of simplifying evidence and feedback, and then structuring these into eight pillars that guide all of the brand’s wellbeing programmes.

Incorporating practices of the mind, body, soul and relationship with others and nature, the eight pillars of wellbeing include Sleep & Rest, Dietary Awareness; Bonding & Connection; Physical Vitality, Cultivate The Mind; Learning & Development, Harmony with Nature and Sustained Practices.

Beginning with its associates, who are the heart and soul of the brand experience, the connection of self, others and nature is core through the brand’s service culture of “I Am With You”.

Through the training modules leaning on empathy, positive psychology and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), associates learn about stress management techniques, resilience, and self-care.

Banyan Tree Group has also pivoted to a wellbeing-focused organisational index whereby associates answer a set of 64 questions on lifestyle practices based on the eight wellbeing pillars.

Built on the core passion for people, its leadership team believes that “we can only look after our guests when we look after our associates”, and thus extended this survey to associates this year who provide the services to support guests at the wellbeing sanctuaries.

The same set of 64 questions is also used as an assessment for guests when they book at a wellbeing sanctuary.

These initiatives are in line with the belief that happy and healthy associates result in satisfied guests.

Outwardly, with the launch of Wellbeing Sanctuaries in properties worldwide this year, Banyan Tree seeks to continue its mission to help others live well.

Wellbeing Sanctuaries combine club floors or resort wings with dining, Spa and multifunctional practice spaces into a single signature experience.

With the support of wellbeing hosts on property who themselves practise the service culture of “I Am With You”, guests staying at a Wellbeing Sanctuary embark on a personal journey to find balance, build resilience and gain deeper self-knowledge through connecting with oneself, and with others and nature.

A stay at a Banyan Tree’s Wellbeing Sanctuary includes accommodation with sleep enhancement, 24-hour check-in and check-out, in-room wellbeing amenities, nightly rest rituals, daily balanced breakfast, afternoon nutrition platter, daily access to complimentary wellbeing activities, savings in a la carte Spa treatments and wellbeing cuisine.

Guests can also take home a wellbeing guide after their stay, including tips on sleeping better, healthy living, home exercises and other recommendations that they can practise in their daily lives.

Having launched in China this month, Banyan Tree Wellbeing Sanctuaries in Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand, and Vietnam will progressively open throughout this year.

Banyan Tree Group operates three resorts in Maldives: Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru in North Male Atoll, and Angsana Velavaru in Dhaalu atoll.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru opened its door in 1995 and is the first international chain resort in the Maldives. With just 48 pool villas dotting around the island, privacy and relaxation can easily be attained. The resort has a restaurant, bar, PADI Gold Palm five-star resort dive centre and a Banyan Tree Spa.

Vabbinfaru is also home to the Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab, the first of its kind to be funded and built on a private resort, where guests can learn about marine conservation and partake in the many sustainability activities on offer including coral planting, reef cleaning and daily stingray feeding sessions.

Angsana Ihuru is surrounded by one of the most vibrant and well preserved coral house reefs in the Maldives. The resort has 45 villas, a restaurant and a bar, a PADI Gold Palm five-star resort dive centre and an Angsana Spa.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru are located in North Male Atoll, just 25 minutes away by speedboat from the airport. The two resorts are just five minutes by boat away from each other.

Velavaru or ‘Turtle Island’ is located in the pristine Dhaalu atoll, and accessible by a 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport. This 113-villa resort offers 79 island villas and 34 InOcean Villas, revealing spectacular views and direct access to the Indian Ocean.

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‘Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom’ comes to Sun Siyam Vilu Reef this festive season

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Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Siyam, has announced its festive programme, “Eutopia: The Infinite Bloom”, which will run from 22 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.

The seasonal programme features activities and experiences for guests of all ages. Dining will take centre stage with Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve gala dinners by the water, exclusive Chef’s Table experiences and seafood barbecues on the beach.

The evening entertainment programme will include live acoustic performances, island DJ sets, aerial dance shows and Maldivian cultural performances.

During the day, guests will be able to explore the resort’s lagoon through activities such as house reef snorkelling, sunset Jet Car rides and sandbank excursions. The Spa will offer wellness rituals and couples’ therapies, while younger guests can take part in gingerbread decorating, a fashion show and Santa’s arrival on the beach.

“Eutopia is our invitation to celebrate and embrace nature, meaningful moments, and the relaxed luxury that defines Sun Siyam Vilu Reef through our festivities,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager.

“From unforgettable ocean adventures to starlit beach celebrations, every experience has been thoughtfully designed to create lasting memories that will continue to flourish long after the season ends.”

The programme will culminate with a New Year’s Eve celebration on the beach on 31 December, featuring live music, midnight toasts and a fireworks display over the water.

The resort’s festive programme is available to view online, with bookings open for stays between 22 December 2026 and 7 January 2027.

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Sun Siyam Iru Veli earns top wedding destination honour at TTM Awards

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Fresh from being named Best Honeymoon Destination in 2025, Sun Siyam Iru Veli was recognised as Best Wedding Destination at the Travel Trade Maldives Awards & Gala 2026, held at Crossroads Maldives on 27 August. The award further reinforces the resort’s commitment to celebrating romance in all its forms.

Surrounded by turquoise lagoons and white-sand beaches, Iru Veli provides a natural setting for couples seeking an intimate island retreat. Every villa features a private pool, while secluded beaches, private sandbanks and a 24-hour all-inclusive dine-around experience offer guests privacy and flexibility throughout their stay.

The resort hosts celebrations of different scales, ranging from barefoot ceremonies by the ocean to larger events encompassing the entire island. Dedicated wedding planners work closely with each couple to personalise every element, ensuring that both the ceremony and the wider stay reflect their individual story.

This flexibility extends beyond the resort’s wedding packages. Simple Romance, Grand Gesture and Sandbank Magic provide couples with a starting point, with each celebration customisable through décor, dining, wellness, entertainment and island experiences. For occasions requiring complete exclusivity, full-island buyouts allow the resort experience to be tailored around the couple and their guests.

The celebrations can continue beyond the ceremony through candlelit dinners beneath the stars, spa rituals for two, sunset cruises and time spent together across the island. These experiences enable couples to shape the occasion around their preferences, with personal moments unfolding throughout their stay.

“Every couple arrives with a different story and a different vision for their celebration. There is no template here. From intimate ceremonies for two to full-island celebrations with family and friends, our role is to create moments that feel completely personal. That is exactly what our team does. They listen first and then create a ceremony that truly reflects the couple. This award is a testament to the dedication and care they put into making every moment memorable,” said Masdhooq Saeed, Cluster General Manager of Sun Siyam Iru Veli and Sun Siyam Vilu Reef.

The annual TTM Awards & Gala brings together travel professionals and hoteliers to recognise achievements across the Maldivian hospitality industry. Iru Veli’s latest award further strengthens its position among the Maldives’ leading destinations for weddings and romantic escapes.

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Chef Jake Norman and Molly O’Donoghue join Niva Dhigali for November programme

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Niva Dhigali Maldives will welcome visiting chef Jake Norman and British pickleball champion Molly O’Donoghue for a curated programme of island experiences this November, bringing together dining and active wellbeing in the Maldives.

Norman began his culinary career making pizza in the markets of Guadalajara, Mexico, before working in several London restaurants, including St John, Ottolenghi and Sabor. He now leads the kitchen at Updown Farmhouse in Kent, where his cooking focuses on seasonal ingredients, live-fire techniques and Mediterranean influences.

On 18 November, Norman will host an exclusive dinner at Faru, presenting a menu that combines Mediterranean flavours with influences from Mexico and the Middle East, while incorporating ingredients sourced from the Maldives.

The shared dining experience will feature Indian Ocean produce, grilled dishes and smoky flavours, with a menu designed to reflect the setting and encourage guests to dine at a relaxed pace.

The programme will also include pickleball sessions hosted by British champion Molly O’Donoghue. A national champion in mixed and women’s doubles, as well as a European champion in mixed doubles, O’Donoghue first discovered the sport while studying in Australia. She has since competed internationally and worked to introduce the sport to players around the world.

At Niva Dhigali, O’Donoghue will conduct beginner sessions and advanced coaching, giving guests of different skill levels the opportunity to learn, play and develop their technique.

Located in Raa Atoll, Niva Dhigali Maldives is surrounded by tropical vegetation, a lagoon and the Indian Ocean. The November programme, featuring Norman’s dining experience and O’Donoghue’s pickleball sessions, forms part of the resort’s approach to offering guest experiences centred on food, wellbeing and the island environment.

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