Action

Travel with purpose at Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio resorts in Maldives

Published

4 years ago

October 31, 2022

The last Wednesday of October is marked as Sustainability Day to remind the community of the importance of caring for the environment and the steps to do so. Studies have shown that travellers are increasingly more concerned about their impact on the world and there has been an increase in awareness of environmental and social issues. Apart from eco-conscious accommodation, travellers are also looking for meaningful travel initiatives. In 2021, Marriott International launched the Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy programme which aspires to shift the way vacations are perceived – from pure leisure to a value-adding opportunity that allows travellers to explore and build deeper connections in local communities.

Conscientious travellers to the Maldives can look forward to include initiatives to continue to eliminate single-use plastics, implementation of re-usable glass bottles for water and juices, usage of paper products around the resorts and initiating monthly dives against debris and clean-up days along with various other initiatives to promote the conservation of marine life and awareness of the same.

These four resorts from Marriott Bonvoy’ portfolio in the Maldives are taking new and enhanced initiatives to do their bit for the environment, oceans and community:

JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

Sustainability is at the heart of the multi-generational JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa’s ethos and the island haven offers interactive activities for the entire family to enjoy whilst keeping a sustainable approach in place. The resort’s marine biologist leads fun and interactive chats for all ages at ‘Marine Talk’ where guests can learn about the importance of coral, how the resort is preserving it and delving into the wonderful wildlife which inhabits Vagaru Island. Through the FAMiLY by JW Little Griffins Kids Club, arts and crafts sessions aim at reducing waste and providing kids with tangible knowledge and experience on recycling and sustainability. Children can use a plethora of day-to-day items from plastic bottles to paper cups and toilet paper, or even leaves from around the beautiful resort, to create art and celebrate this idyllic island while understanding the impact of waste. The Kids Club facilitators teach children through interactive and fun activities, how each one of us can play a part to support climate change and sustainability.

“Supporting local” is not just a trend, but an important undertaking for travellers who directly contribute to empowering the local economy. The pandemic has underscored, for many travellers that everyone is in it together. Marriott International is committed to supporting local communities and embracing local businesses for sustainability. JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa uses Island Apothecary products – made from local natural ingredients, in some of the signature couple treatments at Spa by JW. This initiative supports women run businesses in the community as each bottle is mixed, bottled and shipped straight from the island homes. The resort also uses locally sourced fresh catch in their restaurants and handmade tipi tents to bring to life the FAMiLY by JW experience in villas for kids.

W Maldives

Whether you’re looking to follow your dietary discipline, or experience what sustainable dining entails even while you’re in the middle of the ocean – look no further! W Maldives is elevating it’s culinary offerings by collaborating with celebrity vegan chef & sustainable cuisine champion, Chef Priyanka Naik, who has created a pop-up menu that would be available exclusively at the resort until October 2023. With a focus on local and sustainably sourced ingredients while maintaining stylish presentation and bold flavors true to the brand, the menu is sure to entice not just vegans but also the non-vegans to give it a try.

The luxury playground in North Ari Atoll has also partnered with cutting-edge Hong Kong swimwear label Mazu Resortwear to create exclusive prints with a bold message in mind. Made out of salvaged plastic bottles, the limited edition swimwear collection is stealing the scene in style and is inspired by the team’s commitment to save the ocean since 2021.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

The Adopt a Coral initiativeat Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spainvites guests to participate in the fun and interactive coral-fragment plantation activity in an effort to promote reef habitats and generate new coral. The resort has teamed up with Reefscapers, a coral propagation organisation appointed by the Maldivian Government as custodians of the coral colonies in the Gulhi Falhu lagoon which was slated to be destroyed as part of a reclamation project. The activity is led by experts and offers a hands-on experience to participants while also providing an alternative business to the 250 inhabitants whose sole previous source of employment was fishing. The resort witnessed coral spawning, a milestone in the resort’s coral propagation initiative that started in February 2020. To date, over 6,000 coral fragments from 15 different species of corals have been transplanted.

The resort also runs its own ‘water bottling plant initiative’ as part of the resort’s sustainability programme that is dedicated to removing large amounts of plastic bottles from the resort. This initiative is an important aspect of the property’s commitment to protecting and preserving their environment through day-to-day operation, encompassing Marriott International’s wider “Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction” campaign.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort

As part of Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy™, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort offers guests an experience to be able to contribute meaningfully to the community by promoting the traditional art of lacquer to travellers coming to Maldives, making it profitable and helping to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Liyelaa Jehun for future generations. Lacquer work, known locally as Liyelaa Jehun, is a traditional art believed to have come to the Maldives centuries ago from Chinese traders and settlers. It is now only practiced by a few locals and is at risk of being lost forever. At The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort guests are invited to join the interactive workshop with local lacquer workers, to learn the art and help preserve one of the oldest traditional crafts in the Maldives. Guests can learn and mold the intricate craft themselves with local artisans guiding them. Guests participating in the experience play a key role in supporting the local artisans and the industry. The workshops not only give guests the chance to create something of their own, but also to help keep the art alive. By buying crafts directly from the producers, they directly support the local economy, and by taking pieces of the art back home, guests are helping to preserve the traditional craft and heritage and spread awareness about it too.

The resort has also launched a new project to protect and restore coral reefs. The team at AQUA, the watersports centre at the resort, leads this exciting project, one of the biggest of its kind in the Baa Atoll area. It is specific to the local reef topography and will focus on restoring the reefs from top to bottom. Trial nurseries have been set up to see if this method will be successful and healthy coral colonies can be transplanted back onto the reefs.

To know more about the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of resorts in Maldives click here. For more information, please visit www.marriott.com

Up Next

Singapore’s Revolver goes to W Maldives for two-day grill-off

Don't Miss

Russia’s Azur Air begins Maldives flights for winter season

Action

CROSSROADS Maldives welcomes international padel stars for historic women’s tournament

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2026

m@ldives

The Maldives is set for an electrifying sporting spectacle as CROSSROADS Maldives welcomes the country’s first FIP Silver Women’s Padel tournament, taking place from 5–8 November 2026 at SAii Lagoon Maldives. Organised in collaboration Asia Padel Events, the event brings international sporting excellence to paradise, with professional competition, exclusive masterclasses, and exciting opportunities for the public to experience the game firsthand.

The tournament will feature 26 international professional players, including eight athletes ranked among the world’s Top 100. Headlining the competition are Spanish padel stars Nuria Rodriguez (World No. 24) and Marta Talavan (World No. 36), alongside an impressive line-up featuring Finland’s No. 1 player Martina Minetti, UK’s No. 3 Rosie Pooley, an Italian national champion, European champions, Malaysia’s No. 1 player, and national team representatives from multiple countries.

Beyond the championship, CROSSROADS Maldives is opening the courts to everyone. From 5–8 November, padel enthusiasts can train alongside Nuria Rodriguez and Marta Talavan through exclusive masterclasses, available at USD 450 per day or USD 1,200 for the four-day experience. The programme includes:

Four hours of intensive training and matches daily, divided into two sessions.
An exclusive dinner with the professionals on 5 November.
Access to watch all FIP Silver Women’s Padel tournament matches.

For those seeking a personalised experience, exclusive training sessions with Finland’s No. 1 Martina Minetti and UK’s No. 3 Rosie Pooley will also be available from 2–4 November, offering one-on-one private coaching at USD 200 per hour, or an exciting one-hour matchplay session with two professionals at USD 400.

The tournament is open for everyone to watch, welcoming resort guests, Maldivian residents, expatriates, and visitors to witness world-class padel against the spectacular backdrop of the Indian Ocean. Masterclasses and private coaching sessions are likewise open to the public, with limited slots available.

As a multi-island lifestyle destination, CROSSROADS Maldives, home to SO/ Maldives, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, and The Marina at CROSSROADS, continues to elevate the island experience through international sporting events, entertainment, and lifestyle programming that connect travellers with the local community.

This November, the CROSSROADS Maldives isn’t just one destination. It’s centre court.

Event Details

2–4 November | Private Training & Matchplay:

One-on-one training with international professionals: USD 200 per hour
One-hour matchplay with two professionals: USD 400

5–8 November | Padel Masterclasses:

Daily Pass: USD 450 per person
Four-Day Pass: USD 1,200 per person
Includes four hours of daily training and matches across two sessions, dinner with the professionals on 5 November, and access to watch tournament matches.

5–8 November | FIP Silver Women’s Padel Tournament (Open to spectators):

5 November: Round of 16
6 November: Quarterfinals
7 November: Semifinals
8 November: Championship Final

Venue: SAii Lagoon Maldives, CROSSROADS Maldives

Bookings & Enquiries: KoimalaandMaalimi@crossroadsmaldives.com

Masterclass packages exclude food and beverages beyond the stated dinner inclusion, accommodation, and transfers. Public access and participation are subject to event arrangements and availability.

Action

W Maldives welcomes Olympic badminton champion Wang Chi-Lin for exclusive coaching experience

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2026

m@ldives

This December, W Maldives is set to elevate the island getaway experience as two-time Olympic badminton gold medalist Wang Chi-Lin takes up residence at the luxury private island resort from December 1 to 3, 2026. During his stay, the badminton icon will host a complimentary one-hour badminton coaching session for resort guests, adding an exciting sporting dimension to a tropical escape in one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for families, groups of friends, and solo travellers.

A Taiwanese badminton player specialising in men’s and mixed doubles, Wang Chi-Lin is widely regarded as one of the sport’s biggest stars. He has earned global recognition through a remarkable career winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals in men’s doubles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Paris 2024 Olympics. Known for his dynamic playing style and relentless determination, Wang continues to inspire a new generation of athletes and badminton enthusiasts around the world.

Located in the heart of North Ari Atoll and reached via a scenic 25-minute seaplane journey from Malé, W Maldives is a private island playground where luxury, adventure, and vibrant island living come naturally. Guests can discover the resort’s award-winning house reef teeming with marine life, savour bold dining concepts, and recharge with wellness experiences designed to inspire every sense. Every stay embodies W Maldives’ signature spirit of energy, freedom, and unexpected discovery.

From snorkelling vibrant coral reefs and encountering nurse sharks to sunset cruises and relaxing by the water, guests can experience the many sides of island living at W Maldives. For those seeking even greater seclusion, Gaathafushi, the resort’s private castaway island, provides the perfect setting for bespoke experiences and private dining amid untouched natural beauty.

As part of this collaboration, W Maldives is also unveiling a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through Marriott Bonvoy Moments, where members can bid on an Exclusive Badminton Coaching Experience with Olympic Champion Wang Chi-Lin paired with a four-night stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa from December 2 to 6, 2026.

“We are always looking for unexpected ways to bring together passion, play, and meaningful experiences for our guests,” said Amila Handunwala, General Manager of W Maldives. “Welcoming Wang Chi-Lin to W Maldives adds an exciting new dimension to the guest experience. Whether you’re passionate about badminton or simply looking for something unexpected during your island escape, this is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime moment that perfectly captures the energy, adventure, and sense of discovery we love creating at W Maldives.”

Package for the bid winner and one guest includes:

Four-night stay in a Premier Overwater One-Bedroom Villa
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner with non-alcoholic beverages at select dining venues
A private one-hour badminton coaching session with Olympic Champion Wang Chi-Lin on the paddle court
An intimate sunset experience with drinks and canapés on Gaathafushi, W Maldives’ private castaway island
One 60-minute signature treatment per person at AWAY® Spa
Guided snorkelling at the resort’s award-winning house reef
Shared roundtrip seaplane transfers from Velana International Airport

Members can now bid on this once-in-a-lifetime experience from now through November 14, 2026 through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. For more information, visit www.wmaldives.com or contact reservations.wmaldives@whotels.com.

Action

Kandooma Maldives adds pickleball to recreational offerings

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2026

m@ldives

Kandooma Maldives has introduced a new pickleball court, expanding its recreational facilities as the paddle sport continues to gain popularity worldwide.

Combining elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, pickleball is a sport that is relatively easy to learn and suitable for players of different ages and abilities. The new facility allows guests to participate in singles or doubles matches, offering an additional recreational activity for families, couples and groups staying at the resort.

The pickleball court is open daily from 6am to 6pm, with paddles and balls available for guests to borrow from Reception.

Court reservations can be made through the resort’s Recreation or Front Office team. Each villa is entitled to one complimentary hour of court use per day.

The introduction of pickleball forms part of Kandooma Maldives’ efforts to expand its recreational offerings and provide guests with more opportunities to participate in sports and group activities during their stay.