Atmosphere Core has achieved a significant milestone in experience-led luxury hospitality with the successful completion of its 100th Wine Masterclass, celebrated through the Bottega Gala Gold event at Atmosphere Kanifushi on 6 December 2025. The landmark occasion reinforces the group’s long-standing commitment to authentic winemaker partnerships and immersive guest experiences.

The centenary masterclass offered guests an exclusive opportunity to interact directly with representatives of Bottega SpA, one of Italy’s most renowned sparkling wine producers. Guests explored the stories, terroir, and craftsmanship behind the label, creating a deeper appreciation for the artistry of winemaking within a resort island setting.

Atmosphere Core’s wine masterclass journey began in September 2021 with a Champagne Guy Charbaut session at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO. Since then, the initiative has grown into one of the Maldives’ most distinctive wine and hospitality programs, spanning nine island resorts. Each complimentary masterclass is integrated into the brand’s signature Holiday Plan, allowing in-house guests to enjoy guided tastings and immersive encounters hosted by partner winemakers.

Over the past four years, Atmosphere Core has collaborated with five terroir-driven producers known for authenticity and craftsmanship. These include Champagne Guy Charbaut from France, Bodegas Viñátigo from the Canary Islands, Glenelly Estate from Stellenbosch, Martín Códax from Galicia, and most recently, Bottega SpA, whose masterclasses debuted in 2025. Each partnership reflects the evolving preferences of global travellers seeking meaningful and story-rich wine experiences.

From formal tastings and intimate vineyard-style dinners to sundowners and gala evenings, the wine experiences highlight both the diversity of the partner wineries and the growing expertise of Atmosphere Core’s culinary and sommelier teams. Notably, all 100 masterclasses have been offered as part of the resorts’ inclusive Holiday Plans, an innovative approach within luxury hospitality.

Commenting on the milestone, Nicolas Laguette, Director of Wine at Atmosphere Core, said, “We aimed to create a wine culture that allows creativity in storytelling and pairing, while maintaining discipline in selection, partnerships, training, and service. Reaching our 100th Wine Experience reminded us why we began this journey, to make wine knowledge accessible, spark curiosity, and give generously to guests and colleagues alike. The Joy of Giving has shaped every one of these moments.”

The award-winning wine program is structured around three pillars: in-resort guest experiences, vineyard expeditions for culinary teams, and in-market engagements with travel and media partners. Winemakers regularly travel to the Maldives to host masterclasses, while Atmosphere Core’s teams visit vineyards across Europe and South Africa, fostering shared learning and deeper collaboration.

With the successful completion of its 100th Wine Masterclass, Atmosphere Core is now looking ahead to an expanded calendar of wine experiences, with the 2026 program already in development. As the initiative evolves, the brand continues to be guided by its ethos of the Joy of Giving, ensuring guests discover something new and memorable with every expressive bottle and story shared.

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has announced the signing of a 300-key Taj hotel in Cairo, marking the brand’s debut in Egypt. The signing represents a significant milestone in IHCL’s international growth strategy and strengthens the presence of the Taj brand in key global gateway destinations.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “Cairo in Egypt with its rich cultural heritage and strategic location at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, has long served as a vital hub for global tourism and trade. Debuting the iconic Taj brand in Cairo aligns with IHCL’s international growth strategy of being present in key gateway cities of the world and extending the brand’s hallmark warm and sincere service. We are excited for this landmark development and thank Hon’ble Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly for his support.”

The hotel, to be known as Taj Cairo, will be developed in partnership with E.G.O.T.H (Egyptian General Company for Tourism & Hotels) and will involve the transformation of the historic Grand Continental Hotel.

Speaking on the collaboration, Mr. Hisham El Demery, Chief Executive Officer of E.G.O.T.H, said, “The transformation of the Grand Continental Hotel into Taj Cairo is a defining moment in our mission to restore Egypt’s architectural heritage. As the custodians of this iconic landmark, EGOTH is committed to ensuring that its legacy is honored through thoughtful redevelopment and world-class standards. Our partnership with IHCL brings trusted expertise to this endeavor, and together we are creating a destination that will contribute meaningfully to Cairo’s tourism landscape and its continued revitalization.”

Located at Opera Square, one of Cairo’s most historically significant districts, the 300-key Taj Cairo will overlook the iconic Azbakeya Garden, one of the city’s oldest public parks. Situated within the heritage zone and a short drive from the Nile, the hotel will offer guests easy access to major landmarks while placing them at the heart of the city’s rich cultural fabric.

The property will retain key architectural elements of the historic building’s façade while introducing contemporary design, world-class amenities, and Taj’s signature hospitality. Planned facilities include all-day dining and specialty restaurants, wellness offerings, and expansive banqueting spaces for corporate meetings and social gatherings.

Often referred to as the ‘City of a Thousand Minarets’, Cairo is Egypt’s cultural, political, and economic epicentre. The city is home to globally renowned attractions such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum, alongside vibrant bazaars and historic mosques, making it one of the most compelling destinations in the world.

Dhanarak Asset Development Co., Ltd. (DAD), the state-owned enterprise managing Thailand’s Government Complex, has announced the completion of a landmark transformation that positions the site as Thailand’s first green government city. The initiative reimagines the role of public-sector land, placing sustainability, walkability and human wellbeing at the centre of urban planning.

Led by Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, President of DAD, the multi-year redevelopment shifts the Government Complex away from traditional, closed administrative design toward an open, people-first civic environment. The concept, titled “City of Green Lifestyles,” focuses on how citizens move, rest, breathe and interact with nature within an urban government setting.

“For decades, government districts in Thailand were designed to manage paperwork, not people,” said Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit. “We wanted to reverse that logic. A city, especially a city owned by the state, must first work for human life.”

At the heart of the transformation is a newly opened 5.1-rai landscaped green connector linking Buildings B and C. Once a traffic-heavy buffer zone, the space has been converted into a pedestrian-friendly green corridor connecting offices, public transit points and communal areas. The redesigned landscape acts as a climate buffer, helping reduce heat, improve water absorption and encourage daily walking and outdoor activity.

Over the last six years, DAD has expanded green spaces within the Government Complex by more than 47 rai. When combined with surrounding landscaped zones, the total green area now exceeds 138 rai, creating one of the largest continuous public green spaces in northern Bangkok. Importantly, previously restricted government land has been opened for wider public use, dissolving the boundary between administrative infrastructure and the city beyond.

The project aligns closely with Thailand’s national sustainability goals, including ESG principles and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model. Design elements prioritise expanded tree cover, permeable surfaces and flexible open spaces that support exercise, informal gatherings and community interaction.

DAD’s approach has gained international recognition. In 2025, the organisation became the only public-sector entity to win the Asia-level International Innovation Awards for two consecutive years, honouring its Government Complex Smart City initiative and the GCC Super Application, a digital platform integrating transport, navigation and public services.

Unlike large-scale urban megaprojects, the Bangkok Government Complex transformation relies on incremental, system-based upgrades rather than new land acquisition. Urban planners and policy experts view this model as a scalable blueprint for governments across Asia, particularly in rapidly growing cities where the public sector remains one of the largest landowners.

“This is about proving that sustainability is not an added cost,” Dr. Nalikatibhag added. “When green infrastructure improves health, reduces stress and invites public use, it becomes both economically rational and socially essential.”

With this initiative, Dhanarak Asset Development is redefining how government spaces function, demonstrating how public-sector leadership can set new standards for humane, sustainable and inclusive city-making.