LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort Villas contributes to local NGO Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme

30 December, 2021

LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort Villas rounded off the year by celebrating its community initiative with a donation of USD 10 092 ((€8 700 to a local nonprofit organization and long-term partner Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (The donation was raised in October 2021 in conjunction with LUX* Resorts Hotels’ 10th anniversary, where a 10-night stay was auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Through the group’s Instagram page LUX* South Ari Atoll presented a prize of a 10-night stay in a Romantic Pool Water Villa to support their chosen local nonprofit organization.

The Mal- dives Whale Shark Research Programme is a research-based conservation charity dedicated to the study of the gentle giants and fostering community-focused conservation initiatives in the Maldives as well as the greater Indian Ocean.

“We are grateful to all the followers that have participated in this auction and helped us celebrate our milestone 10 years of helping people celebrate life. Our Marine Biology team has been working closely with MWSRP over the past 9 years by collecting data on the whale sharks that we spot on the excursions and submitting it to MWSRP’s research database as one of the largest resort islands in the destination we are committed to leading the way with eco-tourism and marine conservation work in our community and region said Patrice Aira General Manager at LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort Villas.

Richard Rees co-founder and managing director of MWSRP was equally excited about this celebration Like many grassroots conservation organizations, this pandemic has hit our charity hard. This donation is hugely appreciated and will be used to fund the redevelopment and relaunching of our Whale Shark App and the Big Fish Network an active citizen science portal that aims to increase community and stakeholder involvement in the research and conservation of whales sharks in the Maldives.

This donation will also be a great help in creating more training and briefing tools for guides as well as expanding the awareness campaigns.

About resort: LUX* South Ari Atoll is run by Mauritius-based LUX* Resorts. Cutting-edge designer villas and world-class dining can be found only a 30-minute seaplane flight away from the main Velana International Airport, making LUX* South Ari Atoll one of the most exciting resorts in the Maldives. With 193 private villas dotted at the water’s edge along four kilometres of powder fine beach or perched on stilts above a crystal clear lagoon, these spacious pavilions and villas bring an entirely original vibe of coastal, beach house chic to the Maldives.

Excellent eating and drinking is always a cut above the rest at LUX*, and at LUX* South Ari Atoll, there is authentic South East Asian street food in the Maldives’ only over-the-water gourmet night market and world-class Chinese cuisine at East, along with the Japanese restaurant Umami, which offers live teppanyaki and dazzling selection of sakés.

While the resort has a PADI-certified dive centre, two infinity pools, a floodlit tennis court, a fitness centre and a renowned spa which hosts a wellness concierge and a menu of indulgent treatments, what sets the property apart from its neighbours are surprises, or better known as #ReasonstogoLUX.

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