The Maldives had a good week on the awards circuit. Veligandu Maldives Resort Island picked up a One MICHELIN Key in the Guide's 2026 hotel selection, while Coco Bodu Hithi, .Here Baa Atoll and Milaidhoo all landed separate honours — a useful snapshot of where the country's luxury resort scene is heading.
The MICHELIN Key is the hotel world's equivalent of a restaurant star. Inspectors judge architecture and design, consistency of service, character, value for money and how well a property connects guests to the local area. Veligandu earned One Key — the tier for a "very special stay" — placing it among 2,020 One Key properties worldwide out of 2,832 recognised hotels in the 2026 selection.
The timing makes sense. Veligandu, in North Ari Atoll, reopened in November 2024 after an 18-month renovation that turned the 1984-vintage island into a five-star property. It now runs 100 beach and overwater villas, many with private pools, on a nine-hectare island known for its sandbank and house reef. Getting there takes 20 minutes by seaplane or an hour by speedboat from Velana International. Management is rolling out upgrades ahead of the festive season: a semi-buffet breakfast at Raalhu for ocean pool villa guests, refreshed menus, destination dining for couples, free snorkelling gear on every meal plan, and pre-arrival planning via dedicated Lifestyle Hosts.
Elsewhere, Coco Bodu Hithi in North Malé Atoll won Best Commitment to Sustainability at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards 2027 — its third consecutive year on the podium, after Best Service in 2025 and Best Waterside Hotel in 2026. The 100-villa resort runs coral restoration, single-use plastic elimination and in-house water production, and invites guests into the effort with clean-ups and marine conservation sessions.
.Here Baa Atoll took three titles at the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2026, including World's Best Luxury New Resort. The retreat spans two islands — Somewhere and Nowhere — inside the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with nine residences, a private eight-bedroom island option and a yacht for marine excursions. It has already featured on the Condé Nast Traveller Hot List this year.
Milaidhoo, also in Baa Atoll, saw its overwater Serenity Spa named Best Hotel Spa at the same Condé Nast Johansens awards, announced at a ceremony at The Montcalm Mayfair in London on 2 November 2026. The spa pairs personal programmes with daily yoga and tech-forward treatments like the LYMA Laser, plus villa-based sessions.
For travellers, this cluster of awards is a shortcut through the Maldives' crowded resort market. If sustainability drives your booking, Coco Bodu Hithi has the track record; if you want ultra-private luxury, .Here's two-island setup is unusual even by Maldivian standards; if wellness is the priority, Milaidhoo's spa is now formally recognised; and Veligandu's Key makes the North Ari Atoll a compelling all-rounder at a newly elevated standard.
