News
JOALI BEING invites multigenerational travellers to join exciting weekend of wellbeing experiences
JOALI BEING, the first wellbeing island of its kind in the Maldives, has announced the celebration of World Wellness Weekend on 20th, 21st, and 22nd September 2024. Guests are invited to take part in an extensive line-up of activities that will take place on the island during three consecutive days. The 8th annual World Wellness Weekend will be celebrated in 8,000 venues in 160 different countries this year. Every September, the World Wellness Weekend opens its doors to encourage people across the world to live a healthy lifestyle. The concept “September is the new January” inspires transformation after the summer period.
At JOALI BEING, transformative journeys await year-round where new beginnings transcend. Multigenerational guests are invited to participate in a range of joyful, wellbeing activities that are centred around the pillars of the World Wellness Weekend: Sleep and Creativity, Nutrition and Immunity, Movement and Vitality, Mindfulness and Serenity, and Purpose and Solidarity. Highlights include:
- Muay Thai: Chanel your inner warrior with Muay Thai boxing as you master the techniques of lower body strikes, and defences in a high-intensity workout.
- Movement Meditation: Embark on a transformative journey of inner peace and self-discovery, where every graceful gesture becomes a pathway to mindfulness and tranquillity.
- Yoga Marathon: Join an exhilarating, hour-long Yoga Marathon that immerses you in the art of Yoga, flowing through poses, breathwork, and finding balance amidst a community of like-minded souls.
- Beach Pilates: Rekindle your energy and ignite your happy hormones as you synchronise with the harmony of the ocean breeze and grace the nature around you.
- Functional Training: Indulge in a strength-boosting session that includes fundamental movements which improve your daily life and amplify your longevity.
- Yogic Breathwork and Yoga Nidra: Harness the ancient wisdom of pranayama to cultivate vitality, clarity, and a profound sense of inner peace, awakening your body’s innate capacity for balance and harmony. Yoga Nidra allows you to immerse yourself in a state of conscious relaxation where stress melts away, leaving you refreshed, renewed, and deeply connected to your inner calm.
- Walking Mediation: Every aspect of life can be meditative. Mindful walking is an excellent way of being grounded and integrating meditation into your daily life.
- Somatic Movement: An invigorating somatic movement class where you will unlock the secrets of fluidity and freedom through innovative techniques that blend mindfulness with physical expression, leaving you energized and empowered.
- Communal Table with Wellbeing Consultants: Dive into JOALI BEING’s Four Pillar wellbeing concept and Earth-to-Table cuisine with an expert team of resident consultants. Guests will have the chance to engage and learn holistic insights along with first-hand tips on nutrition and mindful eating, women’s health, healthy aging and longevity, gut health, sleep and mindfulness, yoga and breathwork, and so much more.
- Visiting Master Practitioner: JOALI BEING will host Dr. Leonard McGill during the month of September and the World Wellness Weekend. Dr. Leonard is the developer of Structural/Energetic Integration Therapy and a highly esteemed holistic physician with 30 years of experience. He focuses on transformative bodywork and pain relief, where guests can experience a powerful integrative approach to bodywork that addresses pain and musculoskeletal conditions such as neck, shoulder, low back, hip and knee challenges, and promotes overall wellbeing.
Designed to restore natural balance and facilitate personal transformation, the wellbeing offerings are woven around the Four Pillars of JOALI BEING – Mind, Skin, Microbiome and Energy. Families can indulge in the finest wellbeing facilities and unique transformational spaces, offering signature experiences such as Sound Healing and Watsu, whilst being grounded in the calm-inducing effects of nature. From exhilarating adventures and soulful relaxation to personalised nutrition and interactive learning, JOALI BEING creates wellbeing experiences tailored to individual lifestyles and goals. Culinary offerings are expertly curated with the help of the island’s nutritionists, offering a selection of flavours and cuisines with healthy and indulging dining options. JOALI BEING offers a range of daily activities for its guests to enhance their wellbeing, such as yoga, meditation, breathwork classes, mat Pilates, wellbeing conversations and health insights with resident consultants, functional training and mobility, HIIT workouts, sauna rituals, as well as tennis and padel tennis sessions. The herbology centre, AKTAR, offers workshops for guests to learn about the health benefits of herbs, essential oils and therapeutic teas, led by the resident Herbologist.
Guests of every generation can discover the best of nature and holistic wellbeing, guided by our expert team of naturopaths, herbalists, chefs, sound healers and fitness specialists. B’Kidult invites all guests to ‘be a kid again as an adult’ and experience the best of family vacations. The multigenerational zone is dedicated to wellbeing, sustainability and early learning that fosters a joyful environment. Daily activities include herbology sessions, botanical workshops, sound healing journeys, as well as kids-special fitness, yoga, Qi Gong, and sustainability initiatives. Guests can also enjoy marine adventures that explore the underwater world and an array of water sports.
JOALI BEING has villas from $2700 per night based on two persons sharing an Ocean Pool Villa on a B&B basis. Wellbeing Programmes start from $1,693 per person based on a five-night programme. For bookings and further information, please contact reservations.being@joali.com.
News
Sun Siyam Iru Veli introduces new treatments at Ocean Spa
Sun Siyam Iru Veli, part of the Privé Collection within the House of Sun Siyam, enhances its wellness offering with a variety of curated treatments at Ocean Spa, bringing together Maldivian heritage, time-honoured healing practices, and personalised spa journeys.

Available daily, these treatments range from Haveeru Harmony – The Iruveli Ritual, a signature couple’s experience inspired by island twilight, to Nirvana, an Ayurvedic therapy combining Abhyanga and Shirodhara, and the Hiyala Head & Scalp Massage, a locally inspired treatment rooted in traditional coconut oil rituals. Each experience is designed to restore balance, encourage reconnection, and deepen the resort’s holistic approach to wellbeing.

Haveeru Harmony – The Iruveli Ritual
This 150-minute couple’s experience is timed to coincide with the island’s transition into evening, drawing inspiration from the calm and stillness of a Maldivian twilight. Designed as a private experience for couples, the treatment brings together key elements of a full spa journey, including exfoliation, massage, and hydrotherapy. It is curated with couples in mind, creating a more intimate approach to relaxation and shared wellbeing. With only one session available per day, the ritual is positioned as one of the most exclusive offerings within the Ocean Spa’s wellness portfolio.

Ayurveda Treatment Nirvana
Ayurveda forms an integral part of the wellness philosophy at Ocean Spa, offering time-honoured therapies designed to restore balance between body and mind. Building on this, Nirvana offers a 90-minute treatment that focuses on full-body balance, combining both Abhyanga and Shirodhara therapies. The treatment uses warm herbal oils to support circulation, ease physical tension, and promote mental clarity. Designed to restore equilibrium, it reflects the spa’s continued emphasis on holistic wellbeing.

Hiyala Head & Scalp Massage
Rooted in local tradition, this massage offers a 50-minute treatment inspired by Maldivian beauty rituals passed down through generations. Using homemade coconut oil prepared on the island, the treatment focuses on nourishing the scalp and strengthening hair while offering protection against the effects of sun and saltwater. Guests may also witness and take part in the coconut oil-making process during the resort’s Maldivian Roots experiences, connecting the treatment to its cultural origins.

Through this curated collection, Ocean Spa at Sun Siyam Iru Veli continues to evolve its wellness offering, blending global techniques with local knowledge to create treatments that are both meaningful and restorative.

For more information and to book your tropical island getaway, please visit Sun Siyam Iru Veli Offers page.
Cooking
Anantara Veli Maldives continues Michelin guest chef series with female lineup
Ventive Hospitality Limited continues with the fourth edition of its Michelin Star Guest Chef Series at Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, featuring exclusive dining experiences from world-class chef residencies. This year’s edition features an all-female lineup of Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs from across the globe, reflecting the company’s continued focus on delivering differentiated, experience-led offerings while championing greater diversity in global cuisine and gastronomy.
The Michelin Star Guest Chef Series is a proprietary platform developed by Ventive to drive premium guest engagement, strengthen brand equity, and enhance culinary capabilities across its hospitality portfolio. Through this initiative, the company integrates global culinary expertise into its operations while creating high-value, experience-driven propositions for its guests.
At Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, the series is being delivered through curated formats including exclusive tasting menus, collaborative dining experiences, and interactive engagements. These are designed to deepen guest interaction, increase on-property spend, and reinforce the positioning of Ventive’s assets as destinations for experiential luxury.
The participating chefs represent a cross-section of leading culinary markets across Europe and Asia, bringing diverse perspectives shaped by innovation, technique, and cultural storytelling. The all-female lineup further underscores a progressive shift within the global culinary landscape and aligns with Ventive’s commitment to enabling broader representation within the industry.

Residencies Already Completed
Chef Caterina Ceraudo kicked off the series in January, bringing her Calabrian-rooted cuisine that reflects the landscapes and traditions of Southern Italy through a contemporary lens. Known for her thoughtful approach to ingredients and refined techniques, her dishes honoured the connection between land, heritage, and modern Italian creativity.
Chef Gabriela Chamorro brought the vibrant spirit of Dubai’s cosmopolitan dining scene to the island last February. Her residency showcased bold flavours and contemporary flair, with standout dishes such as a Buñuelo with tuna tartare, guava jam, and black garlic aioli, balancing sweetness, richness, and bright coastal notes in a single elegant creation.

Upcoming Residencies
Chef Kelly Rangama, a Michelin-starred chef and winner of Top Chef France, is known for weaving her Creole heritage into refined French cuisine. Her signature Rougail Saucisse elevates the beloved Réunion Island classic of smoky sausage, tomato, and aromatic spices with contemporary finesse.
Chef Emily Roux, of the legendary Roux family, brings elegant and inventive French-inspired cuisine to the series. Having earned her Michelin star through her restaurant Caractère in London, Chef Emily holds a proud place within one of Britain’s most iconic culinary dynasties. Her seared John Dory with beurre blanc and seasonal vegetables showcases her refined technique and mastery of balanced, expressive flavours.
Chef Nao Motohashi of Restaurant JULIA brings the precision and quiet elegance of Japanese cuisine to the series. Known for her refined approach to seasonal ingredients and meticulous technique, Chef Nao creates dishes that balance purity, harmony, and visual artistry. Her cooking reflects the philosophy of Japanese gastronomy, where flavour, texture, and presentation come together in thoughtful simplicity —offering guests a dining experience that is both delicate and deeply expressive.

Rising Chefs
Expanding the chef list beyond its usual Michelin-starred lineup, visiting chefs for the rest of the year include Chef Iris Jordan Martin of Restaurant Ansils in Aragón, Spain, winner of the 2025 Michelin Guide Young Chef Award; Chef Ash Valenzuela-Heeger of Riverine Rabbit in Birmingham, UK; and Chef Niyati Rao of Ekaa in Bombay, India.
“As a hospitality platform, our focus is on building assets that stand out through differentiated experiences. Culinary plays a central role in that strategy. The Guest Chef Series enables us to bring together global talent, local context, and immersive formats to create experiences that go beyond traditional dining. The all-female lineup this year is both timely and important, reflecting the changing dynamics of the global culinary industry while reinforcing our commitment to inclusive growth,” said Ranjit Batra, Chief Executive Officer, Ventive Hospitality Limited.

“We’re excited to have an all-female lineup this year. The culinary scene is a male-dominated industry, but there are many female chefs out there whom we believe deserve the same recognition and our team of chefs would benefit tremendously from this experience,” said Chef Francis Purification, Culinary Director, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort.
“Each residency features collaborative dinners with our chefs, cooking classes and a long table dinner, hosted by a member of our family, allowing guests to engage not only with delicious food but with the stories and inspirations behind it.”
Awards
Villa Park recognised with CHECK24 Top Hotel Award
Villa Park has been recognised with the CHECK24 Top Hotel Award 2026, awarded based on outstanding guest reviews submitted on the CHECK24 platform. The award reflects strong guest satisfaction and reinforces Villa Park’s growing visibility in the German-speaking travel market.
As part of the recognition, Villa Park will be featured with the official Top Hotel Award seal on CHECK24’s travel portal, supporting traveller confidence and strengthening the resort’s positioning across the DACH region. CHECK24 is one of Germany’s best-known travel comparison platforms, and the award is positioned to provide additional exposure through their hotel and package holiday listings.
Villa Park is widely known as a vibrant tropical escape for families, combining lush island greenery and bright lagoon views with a strong mix of experiences. From year-round whale shark encounters in the South Ari region to signature moments like treetop dining at ZERO, the resort offers a wide variety of ways to spend the day. Its broad range of family-friendly accommodation also makes it a natural choice for couples, groups, and multigenerational travel.
The CHECK24 Top Hotel Award adds to Villa Park’s recent momentum in the market, alongside continued recognition across tour operator channels and positive performance on leading review platforms used by German-speaking travellers.
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