Ten resorts came together on a sandbank in the biosphere reserve last Thursday for the inaugural ceremony of Baa Atoll Summer Festival’s second edition.
The ceremony saw management and staff from Amilla Fushi, Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Finolhu, Dusit Thani, Royal Island, Anantara Kihavah, Reethi Beach, Soneva Fushi, The Westin and Dreamland gather for an afternoon of festivities.
Minister of tourism Ali Waheed was also in attendance – he lit the ceremonial torch and helped draw the names of participating resorts.
“I’m really thrilled that these resorts have come together again to do this,” he said speaking to Hotel Insider. “It’s an exciting initiative that works within the ‘Sunny Side of Life’ brand [the Maldives’ tourism slogan]. So, here we have the atoll being promoted as a destination by competing brands who’re collaborating during the low season to liven things up. It’s a fantastic initiative and cheers to them.”
When asked if this can be replicated in other atolls the minister said: “Definitely, I don’t see why not. If it can happen here, it can happen elsewhere if everyone works together.”
The summer festival officially begins on 7th July, and has two other properties, Coco Palm Dhunikolhu and Vakkaru Maldives, joining in, making it a twelve-resort event.
A press release from Amilla Fushi states:
“[The event commences] with a series of exclusive sunset cocktail events for guests, and will see each participating resort welcoming their neighbours’ guests for a special set menu dinner in their featured dining restaurant on designated nights over two consecutive weeks. Each resort will showcase its own dining scene via a 3-course set menu priced at $120++ per person including a glass of wine, with special children’s menus also available.”
Meanwhile, each resort will maintain an activity-filled calendar to entertain the entire family throughout the two-week duration of the festival. This year, visitors to these Baa Atoll properties can look forward to a round-robin inter-resort volleyball tourney between staff and guests and a full-moon island cleanup day. The festival’s closing ceremony will again be on a sandbank in the biosphere reserve where guests and staff from the twelve participating properties will gather for a beach party. It will also see the final match of the round-robin volleyball tourney being played out and the hit catamaran regatta competition.