Industry News

JA Manafaru Maldives is pleased to announce that it has once again received the respected Worldwide Kids (WK) Accreditation for the second consecutive year, highlighting its commitment to providing a family-friendly experience. This independent seal of excellence recognises resorts that uphold the highest international standards in childcare training, health and safety, and consistently enhance the experience for families and young guests. Photo credits: JA Manafaru Maldives Nestled in the heart of this idyllic all-natural island paradise, JA Manafaru offers a wealth of dedicated facilities for families. The resort's CoolZone play area, complete with a separate family pool, Recreation Pavilion, and the ChillZone indoor games room, provide young guests with the perfect space to play and explore, all while their parents enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. With this thoughtful offering, the resort ensures that both families and couples can enjoy the best of both worlds – a serene escape and a safe, fun-filled environment for children. JA Manafaru's childcare facilities have successfully passed the rigorous WK audit, underscoring the resort's commitment to a safe and nurturing environment for its younger guests. The resort's dedicated childcare team has undergone extensive accredited training by Worldwide Kids, equipping them with the specialised knowledge and skills to provide exceptional care. Parents can feel confident that their children are in good hands while they enjoy the resort's spa and dining experiences. Photo credits: JA Manafaru Maldives "I am incredibly proud of my team for receiving this recognition for two consecutive years. It underscores our commitment to guest safety, particularly for our young visitors. Our thorough health and safety audit, combined with rigorous training, ensures we adhere to the highest international standards. This accreditation not only highlights our dedication to safeguarding our guests but also reinforces our mission to create memorable experiences for families during their stay,” says Rita Gupta, Director of Spa & Recreation. Jason Kruse, General Manager of JA Manafaru Maldives, says, "We are thrilled to receive the Worldwide Kids accreditation for the second time, as it reflects our continued commitment to providing a memorable experience for our youngest guests. The range of activities we offer allows families to enjoy the beauty of the Maldives together, while parents can relax, knowing their children are being well cared for." The Worldwide Kids Accreditation reinforces JA Manafaru's dedication to offering not just a luxurious retreat for families, but a resort that prioritises the well-being and enjoyment of young guests. This prestigious recognition highlights the resort's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of childcare and ensuring that all guests – whether young or old – enjoy a memorable, worry-free stay. With this accolade, JA Manafaru Maldives continues to stand out as one of the Maldives' top resorts, offering families and holidaymakers exceptional service and unforgettable experiences. For more information, visit our website.

Stademos Hotels is proud to announce outstanding achievements at this year's Golden Chef Hats Awards, hosted by the Phileleftheros Media Group. Matsuhisa at AMARA earned the prestigious Golden Cap with an impressive 15/20 rating, while Ristorante Locatelli at AMARA and Ristorante Bacco at Elysium both secured the esteemed Top-Notch Award with scores of 14.75/20 and 14.5/20, respectively. “We are honoured to receive these prestigious awards from the Phileleftheros Media Group,” says Mr Luciano Sozzo, Chief Operating Officer of Stademos Hotels and General Manager of AMARA. “As the proud owners of AMARA, Elysium, and MedBeach in Limassol, Stademos Hotels manages a total of 800 rooms across Cyprus. We remain committed to enhancing our guests' experiences, as demonstrated by the €10 million investment in refurbishing Elysium's 48 suites with private pools. “Another key focus for us is delivering world-class dining experiences. The awards received by Matsuhisa and Ristorante Locatelli at AMARA, as well as Ristorante Bacco at Elysium, are a testament to this commitment. We are equally proud of the nomination for BeefBar at AMARA, which we launched less than a year ago. These accolades reaffirm that we are on the right path in offering top-quality cuisine within a luxurious setting, in a destination blessed with fantastic year-round weather.”

The 123-year-old luxury icon is the only hotel in Vietnam to receive the recognition for 2025  

Alma Resort Cam Ranh has taken out first place in three global categories of this year’s UK-based Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers’ Travel Awards, named “Best Beach/Coastal Hotel”, “Best Hotel for Families” and “Best Hotel for Sustainability”. In the readers’ choice contest, Alma Resort was also voted runner-up in the worldwide “Best Hotel for Food” award. Photo credits: Alma Resort Cam Ranh “Luxury hotels, destinations, cruise lines, airlines and travel companies across the world have been competing to be crowned the very best in the seventh annual LLM Readers’ Travel Awards,” said Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. “Our awards recognise and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the luxury travel and tourism industry, and we were pleased to be able to shine a light on those making waves in the UK and all across the globe. After months of deliberation and votes from our discerning readers – with a record number of voters this year at 32,405 – the votes have been counted and the results are in.” The full list of 2024 LLM Readers’ Travel Awards winners can be accessed here: https://www.luxurylifestylemag.co.uk/travel/all-the-winners-of-the-llm-readers-travel-awards-2024-full-results-list/ Alma Resort’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler said he and his team were “over the moon” to be named the top hotel worldwide by the magazine’s voters for its beach location, family facilities and services, and sustainability measures, as well the No. 2 hotel worldwide for its dining landscape. Photo credits: Alma Resort Cam Ranh “We feel so honoured on the global stage, topping off what has been a fantastic year for our resort on the awards front, following Alma Resort being named as the top resort in Southeast Asia, the No. 2 resort in Asia and No. 9 resort worldwide in the 2024 Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards,” he said. Bold, spacious and emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the independently owned and operated luxury resort Alma is making waves in Cam Ranh, a peninsula on Vietnam’s south-central coast that first found fame as Southeast Asia’s greatest deepwater harbor and is now rising as an upscale alternative to nearby Nha Trang. Alma is home to an awe-inspiring host of world-class facilities, such as an eclectic range of restaurants helmed by leading chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, a classical bar, pool bar and beach bar, and mini supermarket. Other drawing cards include a science museum, waterpark with a lazy river, wave pool slides and kids pool, 13-treatment room spa, cinema, convention centre, amphitheatre, youth centre, kid’s club, gymnasium and yoga room, an 18-hole putting green, onsite gourmet organic farm and more.  Alma is embarking upon what is believed to be Vietnam’s most ambitious solar power project yet. For further information or to make a booking, visit www.alma-resort.com or contact Alma on +84 258 399 1666, or email info@alma-resort.com.

Banyan Tree’s signature restaurant in Koh Samui is recognised by the esteemed French culinary guide.

Desert & Delta Safaris Is Honoured with the Global Sustainability Award

Park Igls Medical Spa Resort has been voted Best Destination Spa in Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2025. This is yet another accolade to add to the resort’s glittering résumé, and testimony to its uncompromising high standard of comfort and care.  Photo credits: Park Igls Medical Spa Resort Managing Director Andrea Gnägi MAG accepted the award on behalf of her team at a black-tie dinner in London on 6 November.  She said: ‘It’s always pleasing to have our work endorsed, and especially by such a prestigious organisation, whose judgements have been a reference for discerning travellers for over 40 years.’ Park Igls was chosen for its pioneering Modern Mayr Medicine and world-class integrated healthcare. The holistic approach includes treatment programmes adapted exclusively to each individual. The latest diagnostics and therapies, administered with expertise, discretion and care, form the basis of the guest experience, enabling visitors to enjoy the health benefits for years to come. Perched above Innsbruck in Austria’s beautiful Tyrolean Alps, Park Igls Medical Spa Resort (www.park-igls.com) offers health-conscious individuals the chance to boost physical and mental wellbeing in inspiring Alpine surroundings. Five-star services and facilities, gourmet Modern Mayr Cuisine, and a wide range of on- and off-site activities complete the picture. There’s nowhere better for a life-enhancing stay.  

Best companies accreditation recognises hotel’s commitment to positive HR practice and a happy work culture

LUX* South Ari Atoll is proud to announce it has been named Best for Families in the Africa, Asia and Middle East regions at the 2025 Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence. This esteemed accolade highlights the resort’s dedication to delivering exceptional family-friendly experiences in the Maldives. Photo credits: LUX* South Ari Atoll Condé Nast Johansens, a trusted luxury travel guide, is renowned for its expert recommendations of the world’s finest hotels, restaurants, and travel experiences. The Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence are among the most prestigious in the hospitality industry, with winners selected by an independent panel of experts who assess accommodation quality, service, dining, and overall ambience. “We are honoured to receive this recognition from Condé Nast Johansens,” says John Rogers, General Manager of LUX* South Ari Atoll. “Our goal is to provide families with the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation, ensuring each guest, young and older, has a memorable experience. Our commitment to high standards is reflected through our family-friendly accommodation, engaging PLAY kids’ club and island experiences.” This recognition from Condé Nast Johansens emphasises LUX* South Ari Atoll’s status as a premier destination for family travellers. From cinema under the stars and coral planting workshops to snorkelling with whale sharks and island treasure hunts, the resort continues to set the benchmark for luxury family travel globally. For bookings and enquiries on family experiences, please visit www.luxresorts.com, contact stay@luxmaldivesresort.com, or call +960 668 0901.

The MICHELIN Guide’s inaugural hotel recognition programme, MICHELIN Keys, has awarded Two Keys to Banyan Tree Krabi, a luxury resort on tranquil Tubkaek Beach on the Andaman coast of Southern Thailand. Photo credits: Banyan Tree Krabi The French-based MICHELIN Guide, famed for its accreditation of “stars” to the most exquisite restaurants, has for the first time introduced a ranking system of “keys” to acclaim the most outstanding hotels in the world. The 2024 MICHELIN Guide hotel selection in Thailand included a total of eight Three-Key hotels (its highest decoration), 19 Two-Key hotels, and 31 One Key hotels. Each hotel had been anonymously visited and assessed by MICHELIN inspectors. Banyan Tree Krabi was among only four resorts or hotels in the Krabi region decorated with a key award. According to the MICHELIN Guide, distinction is based on five criteria: excellence in architecture and design; quality of service; overall personality and character; value for money; and meaningful contributions to the local community. In addition, the prestigious French-based guide also recommended the resort’s spa, Banyan Tree Spa Krabi, as one of the seven “most luxurious” spas in Thailand. Banyan Tree Spa Krabi’s signature experience is The Rainforest, the region’s first luxury hydrotherapy facility, described by the MICHELIN Guide as a place “where tropical serenity meets holistic wellness”. “Dive into a luxurious hydrothermal circuit featuring a Rain Walk, Steam Room, Sauna, Ice Fountain, Vitality Pool, Outdoor Cold and Hot Plunge Pools, Jet Pool, and Heated Bed,” the MICHELIN Guide said. “Let the Tropical Rainmist take you away as the soothing Rain Shower helps you relax before an invigorating body scrub boosts your skin’s moisture. Experience true tranquillity as a skilled therapist works their magic, kneading away all your tension.” The spa has eight private treatment rooms, each with a selection of “Colour-Calm” choices. The theory behind colour-calm therapy is that the spectrum of light carries electromagnetic energy, and therefore affects energy or chakras. This month, Banyan Tree Spa Krabi introduced a new treatment idea for guests — complimentary weightless therapy classes. Weightless therapy is a holistic technique that involves floating in water, whereby the buoyancy helps alleviate pain and stress. Also known as flotation therapy, this sensory deprivation treatment is renowned for inducing a state of deep relaxation. At Banyan Tree Spa Krabi, trained therapists guide and glide their clients gently upon the water in one-on-one sessions usually lasting half an hour. Photo credits: Banyan Tree Krabi “Weightless therapy is an alternative way to heal your body and mind,” said Banyan Tree Spa Krabi Manager Ms Montira Vichiankoo. “The meditative state obtained by floating in the water helps us relax as well as exercising muscles, joints and bones.” The new weightless therapy experience is just one of several innovations at the award-winning spa, a self-styled “Sanctuary for the Senses” that offers massage and wellbeing treatments, including traditional Thai and oil massages such as the Restorative Detox massage, a deep tissue technique designed to stimulate the body’s circulatory system. Alternatively, the Sleep Essentials massage is a unique ritual that brings the mind and body to a deep state of rest. Each therapist at the resort has undergone intensive training at the Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy, which introduces students to its very own “8-Pillar Philosophy.” The 8-Pillar Philosophy — involving the concepts of Connection, Growth, Groundedness, Nourishment, Rest, Movement, Practice, and Mindfulness — is also evident in Banyan Tree’s “Wellbeing Sanctuary” programme which was launched in 2021. Setting aside a selection of suites dedicated to holistic and wellness pursuits, the “Wellbeing Sanctuary” provides guests with an opportunity to combine a leisure vacation with a daily itinerary designed to enrich mind, body and soul — from meditation to Thai boxing, from massage and hydrotherapy to nature trails and sailing lessons — complemented with a nutritious diet and personal consultations. Located on a tranquil beachfront, and tiered into a lush hillside facing westward towards the Andaman Sea and the sunset, Banyan Tree Krabi has 72 pool suites and villas, among them seven two-bedroom options, one three-bedroom villa, and a majestic seven-bedroom Presidential Beachfront Pool Villa. Facilities include two restaurants and a beach bar, a beach club, a kids’ club, a fitness centre, meeting rooms, and the aforementioned rainforest-themed spa. For more information or reservations, contact +66 075 811 888 or email krabi@banyantree.com

Ba Na Hills Golf Club has added to its impressive accolades, securing the title of Best Golf Course Asia 2024 in the golf category at the World Luxury Travel Awards. Photo credits: Ba Na Hills Golf Club Designed by Ryder Cup-winning Team Europe captain Luke Donald, the club is renowned as one of the premier golf courses in Vietnam and Asia. This reputation was further solidified when it was recognized as one of the continent's most exciting golf venues by the esteemed panel of World Luxury Travel Awards judges. In addition to its recognition at the awards ceremony, Ba Na Hills Golf Club was also featured in the October issue of Travel Temptations, a bespoke publication linked to the World Luxury Travel Awards. “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award,” said Simon Mees, General Manager of Ba Na Hills Golf Club. “It’s gratifying to have our efforts acknowledged on the global stage by the World Luxury Travel Awards as one of the finest courses in the world.” The club’s success comes during a standout year for Ba Na Hills, a key player in the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC) initiative, a newly revitalised marketing collective promoting the top golf courses of Central Vietnam. Last year, Golf.com, one of the world’s foremost golf publications, listed the club among Asia's 11 best golf resorts. Photo credits: Ba Na Hills Golf Club This latest recognition reinforces Ba Na Hills Golf Club's position as Vietnam's most awarded golf destination, reflecting its consistent ability to deliver a world-class golfing experience. Managed by IMG, the club features a fully floodlit, 18-hole championship course designed by Donald, offering players an unparalleled golf experience. Nestled at the foot of a majestic mountain range, just 30 minutes from the rapidly expanding city of Danang, Ba Na Hills Golf Club is known for its scenic parkland-style course. The layout flows seamlessly over rolling hills, with sweeping views of lush greenery, sparkling streams, and tranquil lakes enhancing the experience. “Our goal is to continuously elevate the guest experience,” added Mees. “By staying true to this mission, we expect the accolades to keep coming. These awards reflect our team's dedication and passion for creating unforgettable experiences that keep guests coming back.” For more information about Ba Na Hills Golf Club, please visit www.banahillsgolf.com.

Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious Agoda 2024 Customer Review Award, a testament to the exceptional experiences it provides to guests from around the world. This recognition, based on consistently high ratings and positive feedback from travellers, reflects the resort’s commitment to delivering unparalleled hospitality and service excellence. Photo credits: Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa Nestled amidst lush greenery and offering world-class amenities, Clarks Exotica has long been a preferred destination for leisure, business, and events. The resort’s dedication to ensuring the utmost comfort and satisfaction of its guests has earned it a reputation as one of the leading luxury properties in India. The Agoda 2024 Customer Review Award highlights the resort’s continuous efforts to enhance guest experiences through personalized services and a serene environment. Speaking on the achievement, Mr. Balaji M, CEO of Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa, said, “We are honoured to receive the Agoda 2024 Customer Review Award. This recognition reaffirms our commitment to creating memorable and delightful stays for our guests. It is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team, who go above and beyond to ensure that every visitor feels at home. We will continue to elevate our services to meet and exceed guest expectations in the years to come.” Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa continues to be a leader in the hospitality industry, consistently raising the bar with its state-of-the-art facilities, including the award-winning Ocean Convention Centre, premium dining options, and a holistic wellness spa. The resort’s latest accolade from Agoda further cements its place as a top destination for travellers seeking luxury, comfort, and unforgettable experiences.