The resort welcomes world-renowned restaurants, musicians, champagne houses and a tequila distillery for a memorable holiday season in the Maldives
Pool at Pool Villa
Maldives, October 17, 2017 – Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives announces its star-studded festive program for 2017 in collaboration with famed restaurants Buddha-Bar Beach and Barrio Latino, and world renowned musicians the Gipsy Reyes, SaxoKidand DJ Mario. From decadent sunset cruises to private winemaker dinners, guests can celebrate the holidays and ring in the New Year in style with Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Patron Tequila and more.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives
Celebrations include:
- Buddha-Bar Beach pop up at Dr. Ali’s Restaurant;
- Buddha-Bar Beach DJ residencies at Endheri Pool Bar;
- Barrio Latino pop up restaurant at Fashala with musical entertainment by the Gipsy Reyes;
- Beach-front Patron Tequila & Margarita Bar with custom cocktails and mixology lessons;
- New Year’s Eve White Party;
- Sunset cruise with caviar, bottomless Veuve Clicquot and live music by SaxoKid;
- Winepairing dinners with five 100 point wines;
- Santa’s arrival by parasail;
- And the Dom Perignon Villa Package with five bottles of vintage Dom Perignon, one for each night.
FromDecember 20, 2017 to January 20, 2018, the resort will welcome internationally-renowned Buddha-Bar and Buddha-Bar Beach for a special pop up at Dr. Ali’s Restaurant. The pop-up restaurant and bar will feature pan-Asian and Japanese specialties and a mixology corner headed by Matthias Giroud, executive bar chef of Buddha-Bar.
Buddha-Bar Beach will also take residency at the Endheri Pool Bar against the backdrop of Villingili’s pristine white beaches. Guests will be able to experience the subtle blend of house and lounge music with world famous DJ Mario from Buddha-Bar London and Buddha-Bar Beach Mykonos and Santorini.
Throughout the festive season, Barrio Latino will bring a vibrant atmosphere to Fashala restaurant. The leading Latin American restaurant and lounge concept from Paris will take diners on a culinary journey with a creative menu of exciting flavors. The al fresco dining experience will be accompanied nightly by the Gipsy Reyes, which was established by the son of Antonico Reyes, the founder of the famous Gipsy Kings.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives will host a beach-side Patron Tequila & Margarita Bar just outside of Fashala. The bar will boast an expert mixologist, who will create a customized range of tequila-based cocktails and “Patron Of The Day” mixology lessons. Guests will also be able to enjoy Barrio Latino signature “Ceviches and Tacos,” Iberico Bellota ham and caviar.
The island will ring in the New Year with a White Party. Celebrations will kick off at the resort’s restaurants, which will include: a special Buddha Bar New Year’s Eve Dinner at Dr. Ali’s with musical entertainment by DJ Mario; a set menu by Barrio Latino at Fashala with live music by the Gipsy Reyes; and a Mediterranean grill dinner at Javvu featuring fresh seafood and prime cuts in an al fresco seaside setting accompanied by the musical talents of DJ Shehzad, winner of the “Ministry of Sound DJ Academy” 2014, and superstar saxophone player, SaxoKid. The night will conclude with a fireworks display, which guests can watch from glamorous beach cabanas.
Throughout the festive season, the resort will take celebrations beyond the shores on its 21-meter private yacht. Available twice a week, the decadent sunset cruise will include caviar, bottomless Veuve Clicquot, and live music performed by SaxoKid.
From December 26 to January 3, guests can indulge in special Winemaker Dinners in Javvu’s private dining room. The experience will include a gastronomic five-course Mediterranean meal paired with five 100 point wines. Winemaker Dinners are priced at USD1,000 per person.
Completing the holiday festivities are a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa’s arrival via parasail on Christmas Eve, special Christmas Eve dining experiences, Christmas brunch with children’s activities, and a special fitness Master in Residence program led by celebrity personal trainer Faisal Abdalla.
The Dom Perignon Villa Package
Guests can experience an elevated level of luxury with the Dom Perignon Villa Package. The exclusive five-night villa package includes a vintage bottle of Dom Perignon with canapes and cheese per night. The package is available for USD2,000 for the five vintages. The price is in addition to the villa rate.
Festive All-Inclusive Package
For guests who want to experience all that Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives has to offer, the Festive All-Inclusive Package gives guests just that. Available from December 23, 2017 through January 9, 2018, the package includes: daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner at Jaavu Restaurant for 2 persons, or a credit of USD90 per person for dinner at either Fashala or Dr. Ali restaurants; an unlimited selection of white wine, red wine, beer, spirits and selected cocktails at restaurants and bars; New Year’s Eve Dinner for two adults; unlimited non-motorized water sports; 20 percent off motorized water sports; and 50 percent off spa treatments. Rates start at USD940 per night.
Note to editors:
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives Festive Calendar
December 22 – Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Guests are invited to start the festive season with the traditional lighting of the Villingili Christmas Tree accompanied by the Villingili Voices, a local choir on the island. The Christmas tree is made entirely of materials found on the island, including its main foundation of driftwood that is found along the resort’s Maldivian shores.
December 24 – Christmas Eve, Santa’s Arrival
As chimneys are few and far between in the Maldives, Santa Claus will arrive via parasail for his much anticipated arrival on Christmas Eve. Serving as a sleigh, the parasail will be piled high with gifts and treats for guests. This once-in-a-lifetime spectacle will delight both young and old and is sure to become a cherished Christmas memory.
On Christmas Eve, guests will have the option of three unique dining experiences, including: a bottomless Veuve Clicquot Christmas dinner at Dr. Ali’s Restaurant; an exquisite menu at Fashala; or a Christmas Eve buffet at Javvu Restaurant with an extravagant tribal fire show.
December 25 – Christmas Day
On Christmas Day, Javvu Restaurant will host a magnificent Christmas Brunch from 1 to 4 p.m. including Iberico ham and caviar stations with live musical entertainment by SaxoKid. Set to be a spectacular celebration, the hotel will also host festive children’s activities to ensure families have a Christmas Day filled with laughter and lasting memories.
For those wishing to experience a luxurious Christmas Day, the Veuve Clicquot cabanas package will be available for guests to book for December 25 and throughout the festive season. The island’s elegant cabanas will have a champagne butler on hand to keep glasses topped with bubbly and take care of guests’ every needs.
December 22, 2017 – January 5, 2018: Master in Residence Program
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives has partnered with world renowned celebrity personal trainer Faisal Abdalla for a two week residency. Abdalla is an ambassador for Men’s Health, internationally sought-after master trainer for both Nike and Barry’s Bootcamp, ranked alongside Andy Murray, Usain Bolt and Conor McGregor on Ask Men’s Flex 50 as one of the most influential people in the world of sport and fitness, and known as Mr. Positive Mental Attitude in the fitness world. With his expertise, Abdalla will help guests start the New Year off right with exciting fitness classes and sessions to suit all levels and needs.
For more information and reservations, please call +960 689 7888, emailslmd@shangrila.com or visit the website.
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU IN PARADISE: SHANGRI-LA’S VILLINGILI RESORT & SPA, MALDIVES PARTNERS WITH CELEBRITY PERSONAL TRAINER AND FITNESS INFLUENCER FAISAL ABDALLA
Nike and Barry Bootcamp Master Trainer Faisal Abdalla will bring his fitness techniques to the Maldives from December 22, 2017 to January 5, 2018
London, October 19, 2017 – Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives announced its partnership with celebrity fitness trainer Faisal Abdalla for a two week residency from December 22, 2017 to January 5, 2018. Abdalla will bring his world-renowned fitness techniques to the Maldives with PMA Beach Bootcamp workouts, Run Clubs, a Mount Villingili Triathalon Challenge and personal training sessions.
Abdalla is an ambassador for Men’s Health, ranked on Ask Men’s Flex 50 as one of the most influential people in sports and fitness alongside Usain Bolt and Conor McGregor, and a master trainer for Nike and Barry’s Bootcamp, the global military-inspired fitness group. Known as “Mr. PMA” or “Mr. Positive Mental Attitude,” Abdalla’s methodology focuses on positivity and the belief that resting the mind is just as important as training the body. Abdalla’s sessions will concentrate on positive mental attitudes and reaching a “life-changing state of mind” that will help guests improve their fitness regimens beyond the holiday season.
“Holidays are for having fun, letting go and enjoying yourself,” said Abdalla. “Even I like to indulge in far too much ice cream when I’m away, but that’s why I always maintain my fitness regime and keep moving. I’ve planned some fun sessions for guests, as I’m a big believer in exercise being enjoyable and something that boosts your mood. This is training for the mind and the body. However, that’s not to say it will be easy – honest training leads to honest results!”
Abdalla will take his fitness sessions to the island’s picturesque white sand beaches with PMA Beach Bootcamp workouts. To complement the interval training sessions, Abdalla will also lead a Run Club, guiding guests on a scenic run around the six-kilometer island through kept pathways lined with luscious Banyan trees, ending at the paradisiacal southern tip of the island.
For those who want to exercise in a team setting, Abdalla will also host a Mount Villingili Triathlon Challenge, in which guests can participate in a relay race consisting of three challenges through sand, jungle and water. The activity will end on Mount Villingili, where he will crown the winners.
For those looking for a more personalized experience, Abdalla will be available for one-on-one personal training sessions at an additional cost.
“I can’t wait to bring a dose of PMA to the island and create some seriously amazing workouts in an unbelievable setting,” said Abdalla. “Sunrise workouts on white sandy beaches. What’s not to love? See you there, no excuses!”
If Abdalla’s workouts aren’t enough, guests can continue their fitness journey at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa, Maldives’ state of the art gym with treadmills, dumbbells, kettlebells, sand bags and TRX equipment.
For more information and reservations, please call +960 689 7888, emailslmd@shangrila.com or visit the resort website.
About Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently operates over 95 hotels with a room inventory of over 40,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Australia, mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. For more information, please visit www.shangri-la.com.
About Faisal Abdalla
Faisal has been a Nike NTC Master Trainer since 2015 and has put clients at Barry’s Bootcamp through their paces since they opened their flagship London branch in 2013. Thanks to his infectious motivational & positive energy, he ensures that clients leave his training studios buzzing and his endless enthusiasm has earned him the title “Mr. PMA.” This ‘Positive Mental Attitude’ is the mantra he applies to absolutely everything in life and something he believes is the key to successful training. Faisal has featured in The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, London Evening Standard, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, and Men’s Health – for whom he is both a contributor and ambassador. Online, he has amassed more than 55,000 Instagram followers and recently collaborated with The Body Coach, setting a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest High Intensity Interval Training session. In 2016 he was ranked alongside the likes of Andy Murray, Usain Bolt and Conor McGregor as one of Ask Men’s 50 most influential experts and leaders in the world of sport and fitness. Faisal also regularly appears on popular ITV show This Morning as their in house fitness expert as well as Lorraine where he works with celebrities to perform televised body and mind transformations.
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PRESS CONTACT: Judy Reeves
Director of Public Relations, The Americas
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Tel: (212) 382-3155
E-mail: judy.reeves@shangri-la.com
Website: www.shangri-la.com
Twitter: @ShangriLaHotels
Instagram: @ShangriLaHotels
For digitized pictures of the group’s hotels, please go to www.shangri-la.com/imagelibrary.
Samantha Silvas, Public Relations Executive
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
419 Park Avenue South, Suite 404, New York, New York 10016, USA
(212) 382 3155 www.shangri-la.com
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