Industry News

Baros Maldives has won the “Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort 2022” award from the World Travel Awards for the tenth consecutive year. Recognised for the exceptional romance delivered on the island, Baros constantly strives to live up to the promise of extraordinary service, private and elegantly luxurious villas, exquisite culinary offerings, and memorable romantic experiences. For nearly 50 years, iconic Baros has been curating outstanding and memorable romantic moments for guests through personalised yet discreet service and unique experiences. It is a destination offering an array of choices for every kind of couple, irrespective of their preferences, be it a romantic cruise or an intimate dinner over the lagoon for two. Every space in Baros is designed to exude warmth and guarantees total privacy, enabling truly meaningful connections. From honeymoons to anniversaries and all the special milestones in between, Baros delivers moments of magic enveloped in cocooning intimacy. Guests can treat themselves to absolute bliss with the multitude of romantic adventures provided at the iconic island resort. Adding to the tantalising adventures, Baros is introducing even more activities, including a highly romantic cruise on Nooma, its traditional Maldivian Dhoni, as well as a movie night on the iconic Piano Deck. In addition to enjoying the magnificent culinary compositions atop the blue lagoon, guests can now create unique moments as they savour the sunset over the waters. Couples looking for a romantic escape can book the special Romantic Moments package designed to create unforgettable memories. Baros invites couples to a romantic escapade this festive season with “A Magical Baros Tale”. This timeless enchanted journey invites guests to bountiful adventures with a special festive itinerary. “It is an honour and privilege to deliver magical moments to our beloved guests and to be recognised as the most romantic destination in the Indian Ocean for the tenth consecutive year. We are determined to deliver enchanting romance and intimacy on Baros and continuously seek to create the most extraordinary romantic moments. With new offers and experiences, we are looking to take the romance at Baros to a new height and deliver our guests the ultimate romantic escape,” comments Ibrahim Shijah, General Manager of Baros.

The Maldives, 27 October 2022 – October is a successful month for LUX* South Ari Atoll, the renowned Maldives destination of The Lux Collective. Once again, the property confirmed its status as one of the leading resorts in the tropical country with a series of notable wins. The spacious resort with a playful and modern soul is made for travellers looking for a distinctive experience and exquisite dining options with an ocean view. The 6th edition of South Asian Travel Awards not only named LUX* South Ari Atoll the “Leading Luxury Resort” in the Maldives but also recognised its continuous strive to conscious hospitality with the “Leading Eco-Friendly Resort” award. The Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards 2022 named LUX* South Ari Atoll among “The Best Resorts In The World” for Indian Ocean. Offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for every guest, the resort was ranked once again in the coveted list. The signature LUX* Shining Service also resulted in receiving the “Travellers’ Choice 2022” award by TripAdvisor. With the consistent rating of 5 out of 5, LUX* South Ari Atoll was recognised as one of the top 10% of destinations listed on the international platform. The talented culinary team of LUX* South Ari Atoll is the reason why the resort is one of the best tropical destinations for foodies. It won nine awards from this year’s Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge. Competing in a variety of categories, from hot cooking to artistic showpieces, the team ofresort’s chefs received one Gold, four Silver, and five Bronze medals. With eight restaurants offering different cuisines to its guests, LUX* South Ari Atoll turns every holiday into a culinary journey with crafted menus. The Group’s signature Keen On Green concept, highlights delectable vegetarian and vegan specialties at every outlet.

The Boutique Hotelier Awards 2022 took place on 4 October, the evening of the first night of The Independent Hotel Show, at The Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London. There were 15 award categories in total on the night, including four new categories for this year: Wellbeing Champion; Accessibility Innovator; Best Boutique Hotel Restaurant; Best Boutique Hotel Bar. The Best Spa/Amenities Product of Boutique Hotelier Awards recognises suppliers that are helping to supercharge bookings and improve the spa experience for both hotel staff and guests. Core by Premier Software provides hotel spas and health clubs with the support they need to manage a successful business. Core’s dashboard offers a complete business overview at the touch of the button, helping to maximise profitability, manage day-to-day operations, and highlight areas of growth. As part of the nomination submitted to the Boutique Hotelier team, Core by Premier Software included a testimonial from the Crown Spa Hotel.  Stuart Russell, Health Club & Spa Manager, said of the product: “Online integrates seamlessly with Core by Premier Software and we have complete control of the date, time and treatments available. In the first month, we saw spa treatment booking increase by 20% and we are looking to maintain this level going forward, whilst expanding the treatments that can be booked.” Finalists in the hotly contested category included:  Tribe517 Ltd OTO ADA Cosmetics Vanity Group Molton Brown.

Couples looking for a relaxing honeymoon to create everlasting memories and start their married chapter on a high should look no further than JW Marriott Maldives Resort and Spa – the resort where honeymoon dreams are made. The resort’s luxurious Spa by JW has just been awarded Favorite Honeymoon Spa - Global at the GlobalSpa Awards 2022, with judges applauding the spa for its service, treatment selections and industry-leading excellence, guaranteed to leave honeymooners mesmerized by their experience.     The annual awards by GlobalSpa magazine recognizes international excellence in the spa and wellness industry, including superior services, products and best practice and is audited by a panel of industry experts to ensure authenticity.  Spa by JW is a tropical sanctuary hidden away in a secluded corner of the breathtaking Vagaru Island, where luxury and indulgence blend seamlessly. Known as a favorite for honeymooners to unwind and refresh their senses during their post nuptial holiday, the award puts the spotlight on Spa by JW as the epitome of indulgence – the ultimate destination where honeymooners can relish in couple’s treatments among stunning natural surroundings and absolute tranquility.  “We are thrilled to have been recognized for this award. We strive to master the magic of creating unique romantic staycation experiences, filled with thoughtful details special touches of The Maldives. Couples are continuously looking for ways to reconnect and discover one other. Our team works tirelessly to deliver unforgettably romantic experiences on every corner of the resort.” Says Pari, Manager at Spa by JW during the event held at the Spa.  Offering a range of therapies inspired by some of the world’s most ancient practices, Spa by JW ensures that each guest’s mind, body, and spirit are prioritized through a range of beauty and wellbeing treatments with four distinct benefits: Calm, Indulge, Invigorate, and Renew.  Spa by JW is equipped with a Deluxe Treatment Room which is a favorite among couples and offers guests the ultimate in privacy and luxury with a steam room, an ice room, and plunge pool.  Couples can also bond over a selection of activities offered at the spa with some of the resort’s inspiring wellness classes including yoga at the open-air pavilion, fitness classes at the overwater gym or simply take time to relax and rejuvenate with one of the healing treatments including soothing massages and body wraps. Some of the signature treatments at Spa by JW include body scrubs, wraps, couple’s massage, and facials.  A special His & Hers package, an ideal option for honeymooners, allows for a romantic escape to this island idyll for a getaway in the dreamiest of settings. Included in the package is a villa with private pool, daily breakfast at Aailaa, the all-day dining venue, a one-time interactive Steak Masterclass with red wine pairing at the overwater restaurant, Shio, followed by a BBQ session and plating techniques by the resort’s expert chefs and more. In addition to gastronomic surprises, guests can indulge in the Ultimate Aromatherapy Treatment, the Spa by JW’s signature massage for two at the award-winning spa. 

Marking as a leader in sustainability, the property implemented six new sustainability features, receiving the eco-rating from Green Key Global. The newly transformed Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel earned a 5 Key Eco-Rating from Green Key Global, marking the hotel as a leader in sustainability in the hospitality industry. To earn the rating, Sheraton met all five of Green Key Global’s pillars of sustainability, initiating several new sustainability practices, many of which directly resulted from the hotel's largest renovation in its 50-year history. “We recognize that our sustainability efforts do much more than benefit our bottom line,” said Tim Reardon, Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel General Manager. “They improve the quality of life for our community as well as our guests and employees.” Green Key Global’s eco rating consists of five key pillars: Develop a sustainability policy, engage employees, hire green suppliers, measure and track progress, get certified by a third party. Sheraton Centre achieved all five pillars, led by Director of Engineering, Nabil Mansour. Mansour attributes this success to the guidance of Green Key Global. “The hospitality industry has a lot of potential for growth in sustainability,” said Rebecca Bartlett-Jones, Manager of Business Development at Green Key Global. “Sheraton Centre Toronto is a pinnacle of sustainable accommodations, leading the way for our industry.” One of Sheraton’s major initiatives which contributed to this certification is its partnership with suppliers like Lightenco. The seemingly simple act of switching from halogen to LED light bulbs reduced Sheraton’s annual electricity consumption by approximately 480,000 kWh and reduced its annual carbon footprint by more than 14,000 kg. Another update in Sheraton’s suite of sustainable processes includes distilling all food waste into compost. The water released from the compressed food can be used for cleaning and watering plants, and the remaining, dry compost goes to local farms. Other sustainable adaptations Sheraton has made include recycling water where appropriate, installing a rooftop garden, installing high-efficiency LED lighting with smart technology in newly renovated areas and adding chiller plant manager to the building automation system. Sheraton Centre Toronto joined Green Key Global in 2013 with the goal of reducing operating costs, carbon footprint and food waste. The result of Sheraton’s commitment to sustainability is receiving the 5 Eco-Rating from Green Key Global.

Honoured once again to be placed among the giants of the travel industry, Six Senses Resorts and Spas win 14 Readers’ Choice Awards as rated by travellers. The quintessentially romantic Six Senses Ninh Van Bay tops the list of resorts in Asia and places seventh in the best overall place to stay.   The Readers’ Choice Awards reflect what the Condé Nast Traveller in the UK and its sister title in the US audience loves, remains loyal to, and can’t wait to experience again within every sector of travel. This year, over 240,000 readers cast their votes and shared their recent travel knowledge of the world’s top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, spas, trains, airlines, airports, cruises, and more.  Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam: #1 Top Resorts in Asia, #7 Top Resorts in the World  Six Senses Bhutan: #2 Resorts in Asia, #17 Top Resorts in the World  Six Senses Kocataş Mansions, Turkey: # 2 Top Hotels in Turkey, #37 Top Hotels in the World  Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey: #3 Top Destination Spa Resorts in the World  Regional Top Resorts winners:  Six Senses Shaharut #10 – The Middle East  Six Senses Uluwatu, #10 – Indonesia  Six Senses Laamu #15 – Indian Ocean  Six Senses Con Dao, #15 –Asia  Six Senses Ibiza #19 – Europe 

Located in Baa Atoll, a renowned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve,  Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas became the first resort in the Maldives to achieve a Green Growth Platinum Certification. The certification is the highest level recognition offered by Green Growth 2050 Global Standard exclusively to members who meet all requisite criteria and continuously drive exemplary efforts on sustainability and CSR. The Green Growth 2050 criteria is based on a range of internationally recognised environmental and hotel industry sustainability standards. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas invites you to imagine your barefoot luxury paradise. Savor the luxury of space in your private pool beach villa or overwater villa. With over 80 beaches and over water pool villas and residences, Anantara Kihavah is the home to the Maldives-only over-water observatory.

Heavenly Spa at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort recognized as 'The Best Hotel Spa in the Indian Ocean' by Haute Grandeur Global Awards. The award came as recognition for the resort spa’s offer that integrated service and attention to details, following Westin’s commitment to wellness, allowing guests to replenish the mind and body with a personalized sensory experience. The Haute Grandeur Global® Spa Awards recognize excellence in the provision of dependable, first-rate experiences in the luxury hospitality industry worldwide, through feedback from guests. The fair and transparent process guarantees unbiased results – a concept exclusive to the Haute Grandeur Awards brand. According to Brendan Corcoran, General Manager at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, “This recognition shows the effort of our wellness resort to bring the best version of each of our guests while they are staying with us. Nevertheless, I would like to appreciate all the guests who have shared their honest feedback and visited us throughout this year”. The awarded spa incorporates the advance well-being approach featuring overwater treatment rooms, including a couple room treatment suite with a Jacuzzi and sweeping Indian Ocean views, which radiates a cozy and peaceful atmosphere. The treatments provided at The Heavenly Spa By Westin™ represent the resort's dedication to well-being and enable guests to disconnect from their daily routines while they are away. he Heavenly Spa Manager Ika Khasanah says that “The holistic spa experience comes not only from the facilities, treatments, and products, but from having the time and space to disconnect, separation from technology and as personal reflection and contemplation; something sought after by most of our guests when they come to a destination like Maldives”. The therapies provided at The Heavenly Spa by Westin™ represent the hotel's dedication to wellbeing and enable guests to rejuvenate both body and mind through a unique sensory experience. Its 90 minutes of Heavenly Sanctuary Ritual stays true to the Westin brand pillar of Well-Being: Feel Well. All types of skin can be treated, soothed, and nourished with the help of this magnificent ritual of nourishment and protection. A light body polish is used at the start of the process to exfoliate and refresh the skin. After taking an aromatherapy bath to revive one's energies, the routine is completed with a sumptuous full-body Heavenly massage.

amã Stays & Trails Villa Siolim, Goa - a new concept of homestays from the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has been recognised as ‘Villa of the Year’ by MakeMyTrip

Thanks to its innovative and restorative approach to celebrations, the luxury resort in the Maldives was recognised by the LUXlife Global Wedding Awards. Launched in 2016 and now returning for the sixth consecutive year, LUXlife 2022 Global Wedding Awards aims to join the finest businesses across the wedding industry, from wedding planners and stunning venues to high-end caterers and bespoke stationers. Regarded as South Asia's Most Sustainable Wedding Resort, LUX* South Ari Atoll brings together wanderlusters from all over the world for moments and experiences that will last a lifetime, helping people Celebrate Life. With a stunning tropical backdrop, the island is an ideal place for a wedding, vows renewal or a honeymoon trip, and this luxurious island knows how to craft a day one will never forget. From flower petal showers to bodu beru drummers and sand bank candle-light dinners, the possibilities of personalization are lavish and endless. LUX* South Ari Atoll not only aims to touch hearts of its guests but also improve lives of people around the world. Say 'I Do' in Paradise — it's everything and more that guests can dream of at no additional cost to nature. Ensuring the co-existence of low-impact destination weddings and luxury, the wedding catalogue features three fresh themes — Wanderlust, Boho and Tropical Paradise, while highlighting chic sustainable hallmarks as part of its fabric. While all offered wedding themes unique in their own ways, they all have one common aspect – care for the planet. The resort is very proud of promoting its Zero Waste Weddings, as part of its latest sustainability proposal. LUX* South Ari Atoll will make sure happy couples can celebrate their special day worry-free of the impact on the beautiful Maldivian nature. While the team does not compromise on guest’s wedding expectations, they still believe in taking care of the environment and giving back to the community. Purchasing a wedding package also funds the education of an underprivileged child and a visit to the children’s shelter during a stay can be organised. The couple can also choose to support the ocean and help to restore local marine ecosystem by adopting a coral frame. The resident Marine Biologist will be happy to share regular updates on the growing baby corals. To ensure that everything about the special day is truly that – special – LUX* gives its full attention, dedication and commitment to each couple who has booked their wedding at the resort. Rather than hosting multiple occasions in one day, the resort has a policy of only one wedding per day on the island. For more information on wedding and honeymoon offers at LUX* South Ari Atoll or to make a reservation, please visit www.luxresorts.com, contact stay@luxmaldivesresort.com or call +960 668 0901.

It takes a truly special company or individual to distinguish themselves on the global wedding landscape. Indeed, while all industries demand a certain dedication to excellence, the luxury events sphere seeks only the best, and only the best can find enduring success. For this reason, LUXlife launched the Global Wedding Awards to highlight those that have remained steadfast and unwavering in this commitment and pursuit towards perfection. Awards Coordinator Emma Pridmore took a moment to comment on the success of the winners: “The wedding industry has long been a difficult one to excel in, and all of our winners are made of outstanding stuff.  I am proud of each and every one of my winners and I hope to hear more about your success in the years to come. I offer a heartfelt congratulations to you all.” To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the dedicated establishments that have been selected for them, please visit https://www.lux-review.com/lux_awards/wedding-awards/ where you can view our winners supplement and full winners list.

The Readers' Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. More than 800,000 transatlantic readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to provide a full snapshot about the places they can’t wait to return to next. The voting for all participating properties and destinations is now open at the link https://www.cntraveler.com/RCA/VOTE Every time you submit a completed rating between April 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022, you'll be entered for a chance to win a sailing for two from Stockholm to Bergen with Viking Cruises. The more you vote, the more chances you'll have to win! If you are a U.K.-based reader, you need to head back to cntraveller.com/rca2022 once you have entered the survey here to enter the U.K. competition to win a holiday to South Africa–worth £20,000!