Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) has donated a state-of-the-art model kitchen, named the ‘Studio of Culinary Excellence’, to the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS) of The Maldives National University, with the facility officially opening today.

The Studio of Culinary Excellence is a modern, practical learning environment designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to the equipment, technology and working methods used in contemporary professional kitchens. Equipped with professional and industrial kitchen equipment as well as audiovisual facilities, the Studio will support practical culinary education, live demonstrations, chef masterclasses, workshops, industry training and knowledge-sharing.

The initiative was envisioned by Ismail Hilmy, Chairman and Managing Director of BBM, as part of BBM’s broader efforts to contribute to the long-term development of the Maldivian hospitality and culinary sectors. Rather than serving solely as a teaching kitchen, the Studio is intended to become an ongoing platform connecting culinary students with chefs, industry practitioners, emerging technologies and professional kitchen practices.

The project forms part of a series of BBM initiatives undertaken under its banner, “… because tomorrows start today”, reflecting the company’s belief that the strength of tomorrow’s hospitality industry depends on the investments made in people, skills and opportunities today.

“The Maldives has built one of the world’s most recognized hospitality industries, and its future will depend on the people we prepare today to lead it forward,” said AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM. “It is an investment in young people, in practical education and in the future capability of our culinary industry. Through our ‘… because tomorrows start today’ initiatives, we want to create opportunities that connect students and professionals with knowledge, technology and international expertise. We hope that this Studio will continue to serve generations of students, chefs and hospitality professionals for many years to come.”

Speaking on the partnership, Dr Shehenaaz Adam, Vice Chancellor of The Maldives National University, said: “At The Maldives National University, we place great importance on ensuring that our students have opportunities to connect their academic learning with professional practice. For our students, the gap between the classroom and a working resort kitchen has always been the hardest one to close. The Studio of Culinary Excellence closes it. Our students will now train on the same equipment, to the same standards, that they will meet on their first day in the industry. We are grateful to BBM for a partnership that goes well beyond a donation, and we look forward to the Studio becoming a place where the university and the industry learn from each other, share knowledge and contribute to the continued development of the Maldivian hospitality sector.”

Michelin-Starred Chef Romain Dupeyre Leads Inaugural Masterclass

As part of the inaugural programme, BBM is welcoming Chef Romain Dupeyre, Executive Chef and Founder of Racines in Hong Kong, to the Maldives to conduct the Studio’s first masterclass as part of the opening programme on 20 September.

The masterclass will provide FHTS students with an opportunity to learn directly from a Michelin-starred chef and observe professional culinary techniques first-hand. Chefs from across the Maldivian hospitality industry will also participate in the masterclass on an invitation basis.

A native of Nice on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, Chef Dupeyre began his professional culinary journey at the age of 15 as an apprentice at the two-Michelin-starred La Chèvre d’Or. His career later took him through Ireland, Paris, Melbourne and Bangkok before he moved to Hong Kong in 2019, where he led the kitchen at Petrus at Island Shangri-La.

He founded Racines in November 2022, building the restaurant around the culinary traditions of southern France and the Mediterranean. Racines received its first MICHELIN star in 2024 and retained recognition in 2025 and 2026.

Chef Dupeyre’s cooking remains closely connected to his Provençal roots, including childhood dishes such as aioli and ratatouille, which Racines brings into a contemporary setting.

The masterclass reflects one of the central purposes of the Studio of Culinary Excellence: bringing international culinary expertise directly to Maldivian students and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between students, chefs and industry professionals.

Investing in the People Behind Maldivian Hospitality

As a supplier and distributor serving resorts, hotels, restaurants and food-service businesses across the Maldives, BBM works closely with culinary teams and hospitality professionals throughout the country. The Studio extends this relationship beyond the company’s commercial activities into education and skills development.

For BBM, the opening of the Studio marks the beginning of an ongoing initiative rather than a one-off event. Through future masterclasses, workshops and industry collaborations, the company aims to establish the Studio of Culinary Excellence as a platform where the next generation of Maldivian culinary professionals can develop the skills and practical experience needed to pursue careers in one of the country’s most important industries.

BBM is a leading importer and distributor serving the Maldivian hospitality, food-service, retail and professional sectors. The company represents a portfolio of international brands and provides products and solutions to businesses across the Maldives.

Through its “… because tomorrows start today” philosophy, BBM supports initiatives focused on long-term industry development, professional growth and opportunities for the people and communities connected to the Maldivian hospitality sector.

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa has announced wellness expert Vanessa Goodman as its resident practitioner for Vibrance Week, a six-day wellness programme taking place from 21 to 26 September 2026.

Held under the theme “Relax, Restore, Revive”, the programme will introduce guests to a series of experiences centred on movement, recovery, mindfulness and personal wellbeing.

According to the resort, Vibrance Week reflects its approach to wellness as an ongoing, holistic practice rather than an experience limited to a holiday. The programme is intended to help guests reconnect, recharge and develop practices that can support balance in their personal and professional lives.

Goodman brings 14 years of practice and research into the relationship between movement, breath, emotions and the nervous system. Her approach considers movement not only as physical exercise, but also as a tool for developing strength, confidence, self-awareness and a deeper connection between physical and mental wellbeing.

During the week, Goodman will guide guests through a framework built around three areas: purposeful movement, safe physical challenge, and the balance between performance and recovery.

The resort said the programme will encourage participants to work towards physical goals while remaining mindful of their individual limits, with recovery and restoration incorporated alongside more active sessions.

“Vanessa’s philosophy aligns perfectly with this vision. For her, movement goes far beyond physical exercise — it is a strategic pathway to building inner strength, confidence, self-awareness and deeper cognitive connection,” Pullman Maldives Maamutaa said in announcing the programme.

Vibrance Week forms part of the resort’s wider focus on experiences designed around wellbeing and lifestyle, combining guided activities with its island setting in Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

The programme will run at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa from 21 to 26 September 2026.

Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort, has been named Best Design Resort in the Maldives at the Global Destination Awards by World Fashion Channel, celebrating the resort’s distinctive approach to design, creativity and contemporary island living.

The award was announced at the Global Destination Awards ceremony in Moscow, an international luxury travel event bringing together leading hospitality professionals, international hotel brands, travel experts, celebrities and prominent travellers. The awards recognise outstanding destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants and personalities shaping the global luxury travel landscape.

Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Finolhu is known for an aesthetic that deliberately departs from conventional interpretations of Maldivian luxury. The resort’s design, conceived by London-based design studio Muza Lab, brings together bold colours, expressive patterns, natural textures and playful details to create a contemporary interpretation of island life.

Across its 125 villas, restaurants, bars and social spaces, Finolhu’s visual identity is characterised by an eclectic mix of influences and a sense of individuality. From beachfront and overwater villas to the resort’s celebrated two-kilometre sandbank and the barefoot setting of Crab Shack, design is woven throughout the guest experience.

The recognition also reflects Finolhu’s wider identity as the Island Playground, where design is complemented by a year-round programme spanning art, gastronomy, wellness, sport and entertainment. Visiting artists and creative collaborations form an important part of this approach, allowing guests to engage with creativity through immersive experiences and encounters throughout their stay.

World Fashion Channel is an international lifestyle television network covering fashion, beauty, travel and luxury lifestyle, with an audience of more than 30 million viewers. The channel is distributed through major Russian cable and satellite operators, including MTS, Beeline and NTV-Plus, as well as across premium hotels, shopping destinations, luxury boutiques, restaurants, beauty salons and wellness clubs. It is also an official media partner of Moscow Fashion Week, Sochi Fashion Week and other major fashion and lifestyle events.

The Best Design Resort in the Maldives title adds to Finolhu’s growing portfolio of international recognition and reinforces the resort’s position as one of the Maldives’ most distinctive design-led destinations, where creativity, individuality and the natural beauty of Baa Atoll come together in an unmistakably playful island experience.

For more information and to learn more, visit finolhu.com.