After Five Years, Huvafen Fushi Continues to Weave Dreams
Award-winning Per AQUUM retreat, Huvafen Fushi Maldives, is celebrating a major milestone as it carries its benchmark-setting concept of providing ‘A Waking Dream’ into its fifth year. Huvafen Fushi ushered in the world’s first – and only – underwater spa and the Maldives’ first pool villa retreat.

Huvafen Fushi Bags 'Best Green Resort Global' Award
Leading business travel magazine Business Destinations awarded Huvafen Fushi for its long-term environmental sustainability with the 'Best Green Resort Global' trophy.

Time Out Dubai Lauds Luxury Newcomer Desert Palm
Despite being open for just a year, Desert Palm is already generating a buzz with a series of award wins, including the highly coveted award for ‘Best Steakhouse’ and ‘Best Newcomer’ for Rare and ‘Best International Restaurant’ for Epicure at the 2009 Time Out Awards. Leading travel magazines Condé Nast Traveler and Tatler Travel Guide also named Desert Palm on their 2009 ‘Hot List’ and ‘101 Best Hotels’, respectively while the retreat’s iconic LIME spa was named one of the top three spas in the Middle East by VIVA Magazine and one of the top six spas in the world by Elle Magazine.

New Generation Website to be Launched Soon
Constantly evolving, creative and passionately dynamic, Per AQUUM will soon launch its new-generation website, which will be sleek and innovative in design, yet easy to navigate, and will combine information on all properties under one roof.

Camilla Franks Hosts Huvafen Fushi’s First Ever Catwalk Event
World-renowned Australian designer Camilla Franks graced Huvafen Fushi’s iconic “Dream Calendar“ in May this year with her high-profile fashion event – the retreat’s first-ever catwalk show – showcasing her 2010 Summer Collection ‘Soleil’ with unique pieces created especially for Huvafen Fushi.

Per AQUUM Celebrates Future of Fashion
Maintaining its position at the cutting edge of the style and design frontier, Per AQUUM sponsored the Creative Marketing Award at the 2009 UK Graduate Fashion Week. At the gala award show, Per AQUUM’s Managing Director of Branding and Communications, Mark Carson, presented the Creative Marketing Award to Christina Duggan of Northumbria University for her line of luxury men’s underwear called Package, conceived to be the male counterpart to renowned UK women’s lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.

Huvafen Fushi’s Coral Cultivation Program Reaches out to Children in the UK
The Government of Maldives and Huvafen Fushi partnered to organise a competition at the Hay Festival UK this year to find a winning name for the retreat’s coral reef system. Ten-year-old Zsuza Maygar of Notting Hill came up with the winning entry, ‘Stingray Reef’ or ‘Madi Faru’ in Dhivehi. The competition was a joint effort to raise awareness amongst UK children to the adverse effects of global warming and human activities on marine ecosystems.

Desert Palm on the Global Polo Calendar
Desert Palm is fast becoming the social hotspot for polo enthusiasts, with four championship polo fields playing host to four key polo tournaments each year. This year, the world’s number-one polo player, Adolfo Cambiaso, led the UAE team to victory in the Desert Palm Nations Cup. Meanwhile, the Cartier International Dubai Polo Challenge, held for the fourth time at Desert Palm in March, was presided over by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Per AQUUM’s Luxury Partnerships Move Forward
Always staying one step ahead of the competition, Per AQUUM has been working closely with exclusive companies whose visions align with that of Per AQUUM, including Smallbone, Bang & Olufsen, Camilla Franks and Cartier. Expect to see more alliances taking shape throughout 2009 and into 2010.

Desert Palm’s LIME Spa Launches Anne Sémonin Treatment Collection
The luxurious Anne Sémonin brand has debuted in Dubai at Desert Palm. For the first time in the UAE, spa enthusiasts can indulge in a complete head-to-toe Anne Sémonin experience, designed personally for each individual guest in combination with LIME’s bespoke “Made to Measure” massages.

Desert Palm’s LIME Spa Shortlisted in VIVA Awards
LIME Spa at Desert Palm was one of only three spas in the UAE to be shortlisted for the coveted ‘Best Spa in the Middle East’ award from VIVA Magazine. These awards are the highlight of the UAE’s beauty industry and showcase the very best spas, products and treatments in the region.

Milan Josipovic Captures Priceless Moments at Huvafen Fushi
Serbian-born fashion and portrait photographer and short film director Milan Josipovic landed on the exclusive island of Huvafen Fushi in March to offer guests once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be captured on film while indulging in the retreat’s breathtaking surrounds. His timeless portraits command up to 2,000 Euros per shoot.

Chilling with Shillings at Huvafen Fushi
Charles Shillings returned to Huvafen Fushi in August to host a night of melodic beats, electro funk, soul, groove, touches of rock and 70s tunes. Charles has played at some of the best clubs throughout the world, whilst also spinning tunes for celebrities and fashion houses, including Celine, Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi and Valentino.

Neil Palmer appointed
CEO of Per AQUUM

Neil left his role as Senior Vice President, Operations, for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific division to join Per AQUUM, where he will oversee and grow the company’s ventures in desired locations around the world as well as develop the management of the executive board.

Tilesh Rathod

Chief Financial Officer

Tilesh navigates the financial direction of the company and brings extensive experience in high level negotiations. His keen monetary vision and direction will work in tandem with Per AQUUM’s branding and project development to offer exceptional financial guidance.

Dennis Herft

Vice President Project Development & Technical Services

An engineer by profession, Dennis’ expertise within the engineering and technical services department spans over 25 years, at various internationally recognized hotels and resorts. His role will be to oversee all of Per AQUUM’s forthcoming projects in desired locations.

David Jones

Vice President Sales & Marketing

David has recently joined the Per AQUUM team as Vice President Sales & Marketing, overseeing all sales and marketing activities. He has garnered experiences across the sales and marketing spectrum with international companies and will bring a vast amount of experience to the team.

Huvafen Fushi welcomes Noel Cameron as General Manager

Noel’s extensive experience spans over 20 years in operating award-winning luxury hotels and resorts across the UK, Africa and the Indian Ocean. His passion for volunteer work will put him at the helm of Per AQUUM ’s social responsibility team, where he will help drive community initiatives and source fair trade products whenever possible.

Huvafen Fushi brings Alan Ball on board as Director of Sales & Marketing

Alan has recently joined the Huvafen Fushi team following his previous role as Agency Sales Manager for UK-based Abercrombie & Kent. At Huvafen Fushi, Alan will lead the day-to-day operation of sales & marketing as well as devising long-term strategies in order to drive the company's business forward.