Four Seasons Resorts Maldives Honoured with HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award

Four Seasons Resorts Maldives won the 2026 HICAP Sustainable Hotel Award for Biodiversity Action & Education. The award recognizes 25 years of conservation, research, and environmental education at Kuda Huraa and Landaa Giraavaru.

Coral Reef Conservation
- Reefscapers partnership has restored reefs through more than 9,000 coral frames since 2001.
- One of the Indian Ocean's largest artificial reef restoration projects.
- Research uses long-term monitoring and AI-assisted analysis to improve coral restoration methods.
- Mature coral frames are now reproducing naturally.

Marine Science & Research
- Marine Savers operates conservation programs with partners including Reefscapers and The Manta Trust.
- During the 2024 bleaching event, teams relocated 28,000 corals to deeper, cooler waters.
- Research helped identify the world's largest known reef manta population.
- Findings contributed to Baa Atoll's UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve designation.

Sea Turtle Protection
- Turtle Rehabilitation Centres have cared for more than 500 sea turtles.
- Over 280 rescued turtles have been rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

Education & Training
- Since 2023, Landaa Giraavaru has hosted the Baa Atoll Marine Biology Internship Programme.
- The resorts' apprenticeship programme has produced 1,058 Maldivian graduates since 2001.
- Offers 14 career pathways, including Marine Conservation.
- A new fully funded four-year Marine & Environmental Science apprenticeship combines university study with fieldwork.

Guest & Community Engagement
- Guests can sponsor and transplant corals alongside marine biologists.
- Junior Marine Savers introduces children to ocean conservation.
- Trainee Marine Biologist Programme provides hands-on marine science experience for teenagers.
- Conservation findings are shared with students, researchers, and the wider hospitality industry through MarineSavers.com.

Leadership Comment
Armando Kraenzlin, Regional Vice President and General Manager
- Credited the award to the resorts' marine biologists, conservation partners, gardeners, trainers, guests, and young Maldivians who contribute to ongoing conservation efforts.

Key Impact
- Demonstrates how long-term conservation can be combined with scientific research, community education, and guest participation. - Serves as a model for sustainable hospitality and biodiversity protection across the Asia-Pacific region.