Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort Invites Guests to Choose AI-Created Festive Theme

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort Invites Guests to Choose AI-Created Festive Theme

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on October 18, 2024

Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is inviting the public to take part in selecting this year’s Christmas theme, with a unique twist. The resort has used artificial intelligence (AI) to generate four festive concepts, giving Instagram followers the chance to choose which one will shape the celebrations.

The four AI-designed themes—Tropical Wonderland, Candy Cane Christmas, Frosted Paradise, and Santa’s Surf Shack—will be presented on the resort’s Instagram page, @AvaniMaldives, on October 15 at 10 am MVT. Followers will have 24 hours to vote through a poll, with the winning theme set to inspire festive activities throughout the remainder of 2024. The final selection will be announced on October 16.

AI-Generated Themes Overview

Tropical Wonderland: A blend of snowy charm and island paradise, this theme features a grand Christmas tree surrounded by palm trees, with seashells and coral flowers decorating its branches. Candle-lit paths lead visitors toward the beach, enhancing the magical feel.

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Candy Cane Christmas: This playful theme offers giant candy canes designed as beanbags and light structures along the shore. It also includes cozy campfires perfect for s’mores and cocoa, evoking childhood joy with bright pink hues.

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Frosted Paradise: Bringing the spirit of a snowy Christmas to the tropics, this theme channels Lapland’s winter magic. Guests can enjoy snow-castle building on the beach and sip eggnog under twinkling lights in a festive gazebo.

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Santa’s Surf Shack: A relaxed, beachside Christmas atmosphere, this theme features Santa at a surf-themed shack surrounded by surfboards and sun loungers. The scene reflects the laid-back spirit of an Australian holiday, complete with beach BBQs and ocean paddles.

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“We are thrilled to combine creativity and technology to offer our guests an unforgettable experience,” said Judd Rabbidge, General Manager of Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort. “Each theme showcases something unique, and we look forward to seeing which one resonates the most with our followers.”

To participate in the poll and learn more about the festive celebrations, guests can follow @AvaniMaldives on Instagram. For bookings and further details, visit Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort or contact reservations at +960 664 4111 or reservations.fares@avanihotels.com.

About Minor Hotels

Minor Hotels operates over 550 properties across 56 countries through eight distinctive brands, including Avani, Anantara, and NH Collection. The group aims to expand its portfolio by adding 200 more properties by 2026.

Image Credits: Minor Hotels


Beyond Palaces and Ballrooms: Indian Weddings Redefine Tradition

Beyond Palaces and Ballrooms: Indian Weddings Redefine Tradition

By Hariharan U

Published on October 1, 2025

Indian weddings have always carried the weight of grandeur, but today’s celebrations are moving beyond the palace-and-ballroom template. Guest lists may be getting smaller, yet the experiences are becoming more imaginative, meaningful, and deeply personal. Couples are rewriting tradition with destinations that offer far more than backdrops they create stories.

 In Ras Al Khaimah, weddings feel like they belong in a dreamscape. Here, mehendis unfold in centuries-old coral-stone courtyards, while adventurous celebrations take flight on the Jebel Jais zipline. At Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, haldis take place barefoot on private beaches, where the golden sun mirrors the turmeric hues. Evenings shift seamlessly from ballrooms glowing with sangeet lights to pheras under desert skies painted in fire.

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 Thailand’s charm lies in its intimacy. Pheras take place on terraces that seem to float above the Andaman, framed by limestone cliffs. Sangeets glow under paper lanterns in tropical gardens, while mornings start with Thai wellness rituals. At Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, weddings begin with a dawn blessing by monks a moment of serenity before the festivities unfold. Each celebration here feels uniquely curated, never copied.

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 Seychelles transforms weddings into experiences that feel elemental. With its scattering of islands—from cultural Mahé to untouched Platte couples celebrate amidst nature that feels otherworldly. Pheras glow on pristine beaches, mehendis spill into palm groves, and starlit sangeets bring families together in landscapes so pristine they feel eternal.

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 Kenya offers backdrops where nature writes half the story. In Nairobi’s wildlife conservancies or the Maasai Mara, vows unfold as elephants graze in the distance and golden skies turn to star-filled nights. Safari lodges double as venues, blending game drives with evening sangeets. Along the coast, Mombasa and Diani host barefoot pheras on soft white sand, followed by Swahili feasts and music carried by the sea breeze. No two weddings here are alike each one shaped by the wild or the ocean.

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 Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas feels designed for Indian weddings. With its vast coastline, palatial ballrooms, and villa clusters, every ritual finds a fitting stage. Lantern-lit courtyards host mehendis, pheras glow beneath Gulf sunsets, and sangeets spark to life in waterparks or glittering ballrooms. It’s luxury and drama, woven seamlessly into days of celebration.

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Sri Lanka offers something different intimacy as the ultimate luxury. Teardrop Hotels’ boutique estates host weddings that feel more like family tales than events. Within Galle Fort, pheras unfold to the rhythm of the ocean. In Nuwara Eliya, misty tea fields wrap couples in a fairytale haze. Along southern beaches, barefoot ceremonies gather only the closest circle, turning vows into cherished secrets.

For Indian couples, weddings have never been just about two people, they’re about family, rituals, and memory. Today, as celebrations shift toward immersive and personal experiences, the future of Indian weddings lies not in how big they are, but in how deeply they resonate.


Banyan Tree Spa Krabi Honoured at Thailand Tourism Awards

Banyan Tree Spa Krabi Honoured at Thailand Tourism Awards

By Hariharan U

Published on September 30, 2025

Banyan Tree Spa Krabi has been recognised at the Thailand Tourism Awards, taking home the Outstanding Award in the Hotel & Resort category and the Sustainability Award in Health & Wellness Tourism. Both accolades reflect the spa’s dedication to personalized care, sustainable practices, and use of locally sourced ingredients.

While Banyan Tree Spa Krabi secured second prize in both categories, its sister property, Banyan Tree Spa Samui, also made the Top 5 for Outstanding and Top 10 in Sustainability, underscoring the Banyan Tree brand’s growing reputation in luxury, wellness, and sustainability.

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Montira Vichiankoo, Spa & Gallery Manager at Banyan Tree Spa Krabi, said, “Our treatments draw from Krabi’s heritage, using ingredients like coconut, turmeric, and tamarind to create authentic experiences. Sustainability is at our core—we support the local community while ensuring our team shares these values with guests. Personalized care is key, from our signature ‘Scent of the Day’ welcome ritual to treatment consultations and self-care guidance after the visit.”

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The spa features eight treatment suites with private gardens and adaptive “colour-calm” lighting designed to balance guests’ chakras. It is also home to Krabi’s first hydrotherapy spa, The Rainforest, offering a holistic wellness journey with a Rain Walk, Steam, Sauna, Ice Fountain, Vitality Pool, Outdoor Cold and Hot Plunge Pools, Jet Pool, and Heated Bed.

Banyan Tree Spa Krabi was recently recognised by the MICHELIN Guide as one of Thailand’s seven most luxurious spas and received 2 Keys for its hotel listing. Its Wellbeing Sanctuary programme, led by Ayurvedic specialist Dr Subhash Shanbhag, combines meditation, yoga, massage, nutritious diet, and sleep therapy to deliver a holistic wellness experience.

The resort itself offers 72 suites and villas, all sea-facing with private infinity and jet pools, alongside recreational activities like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, Thai boxing, hiking, and fine dining with Thai and international cuisine.

About Banyan Tree Group:
Founded in 1994, Banyan Tree Group is a global hospitality leader focused on sustainability, wellbeing, and exceptional design-led experiences. With 58 operating hotels in 17 countries and 47 properties under development, the group has received over 2,900 awards and recognition for its environmental and community initiatives through the Banyan Tree Global Foundation. Strategic partnerships, including a collaboration with Accor, support its global growth and guest loyalty programmes.


Wyndham Garden Opens in Conegliano, Italy

Wyndham Garden Opens in Conegliano, Italy

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 30, 2025

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Wyndham Garden Conegliano, a four-star hotel located in the heart of Italy’s Veneto region. Known for its cultural heritage and world-class winemaking, the region is home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prosecco Hills, offering guests the chance to explore rolling vineyards, medieval villages, and family-run wineries.

The Wyndham Garden Conegliano combines contemporary design with a wide range of amenities for both leisure and business travelers. Its 51 refurbished guestrooms feature modern furnishings, premium bath products, a pillow menu, and mini fridges, along with bright, airy interiors. Guests can enjoy fresh Italian and international dishes at the Nice & Vice self-service restaurant, Starbucks coffee, and a continental buffet breakfast at the Garden Lounge Bar, which transforms into a relaxed evening space.

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Positioned near Conegliano’s train and bus stations and only half an hour from Treviso Airport, the hotel offers easy access to local attractions, including Venice and the Dolomites. Prosecco Road, Italy’s first official wine route, is just a short distance away, inviting guests to enjoy vineyard tours, tastings, and regional cuisine.

The hotel also provides a fitness centre, free parking, and pet-friendly facilities. For business and events, it offers 70 square meters of event space with a meeting room that accommodates up to 50 guests, supported by catering services and audiovisual facilities.

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Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said, “With the rising demand for meaningful experiential travel, Wyndham Garden Conegliano is ideally positioned to attract this growing audience. Located in the heart of the Treviso wine-making region, the hotel is set to drive further footfall to local wineries, cultural heritage sites, and historic landmarks.”

Alberto Reggidori, CEO, All In Italia Hotels & Resorts, added, “In our third collaboration with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, we’ve created a traditional but modernised destination, where the soul of Veneto is poured into every experience. From the rolling vineyards to the timeless charm of Treviso, guests are invited to savour the beauty, culture, and warmth that define this region.”

This is the third hotel developed under Wyndham’s partnership with All In Italia Hotels & Resorts, following openings in Siracusa and Florence. Guests at Wyndham Garden Conegliano can also benefit from Wyndham Rewards, named the number one hotel rewards program by readers of USA Today.

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