Finolhu, a Seaside Collection Resort, has been named Best Design Resort in the Maldives at the Global Destination Awards by World Fashion Channel, recognising its distinctive blend of design, creativity and contemporary island living. The accolade highlights a resort experience that brings expressive interiors and playful details together with the natural beauty of Baa Atoll.
The award was announced at the Global Destination Awards ceremony in Moscow, an international luxury travel gathering attended by hospitality professionals, international hotel brands, travel experts, celebrities and prominent travellers. The awards recognise destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants and personalities contributing to the global luxury travel landscape.
Located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, Finolhu offers a colourful interpretation of Maldivian luxury. Its design, conceived by London-based studio Muza Lab, combines bold colours, expressive patterns, natural textures and playful details, creating an island environment with a strong sense of individuality.
This approach gives the resort a recognisable visual identity while keeping its tropical surroundings central to the experience. Colour and texture introduce character throughout the property, allowing guests to encounter different expressions of the design concept as they move between accommodation, dining venues and shared spaces.
Across its 125 villas, restaurants and social spaces, Finolhu draws on an eclectic mix of influences. Beachfront and overwater accommodation provide different ways to experience the island, with the resort’s creative aesthetic connecting these settings through a consistent emphasis on contemporary comfort and personality.
The celebrated two-kilometre sandbank adds a defining natural feature to Finolhu’s appeal. Alongside the barefoot setting of Crab Shack, it illustrates how the resort’s identity extends beyond interiors to encompass the wider island experience. The combination of distinctive design and open coastal surroundings gives guests opportunities to enjoy both creative spaces and the simplicity of life beside the ocean.
The recognition also reflects Finolhu’s identity as the “Island Playground,” supported by a year-round programme spanning art, gastronomy, wellness, sport and entertainment. These experiences complement the resort’s visual character, making creativity part of how guests spend their time as well as what they see around them.
Visiting artists and creative collaborations contribute to this approach through immersive experiences and personal encounters. By integrating these activities into the stay, Finolhu gives guests opportunities to engage with artistic expression and discover different aspects of its island personality.
For travellers seeking a distinctive luxury holiday, the resort’s design provides a clear point of appeal. Its combination of expressive accommodation, dining settings, creative programming and natural scenery presents an experience shaped by both individuality and a connection to place.
World Fashion Channel, which presents the Global Destination Awards, is an international lifestyle television network covering fashion, beauty, travel and luxury living, with an audience of more than 30 million viewers. Its reach places the recognition before an international audience interested in design, hospitality and premium travel experiences.
The channel is distributed through major Russian cable and satellite operators, including MTS, Beeline and NTV-Plus. It also reaches audiences across premium hotels, shopping destinations, luxury boutiques, restaurants, beauty salons and wellness clubs, and serves as an official media partner of Moscow Fashion Week, Sochi Fashion Week and other major fashion and lifestyle events.
The Best Design Resort in the Maldives title adds to Finolhu’s portfolio of international recognition and reinforces its position as a distinctive destination for travellers who value creativity alongside island hospitality. It also brings further attention to the variety of experiences available within the Maldives’ luxury tourism sector.
At Finolhu, the award celebrates an approach in which design runs throughout the guest journey—from beachfront and overwater villas to the sandbank, dining venues and creative experiences. Set against Baa Atoll’s natural beauty, that approach continues to define a playful and individual expression of Maldivian island living.
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