Hospitality

The Graduate’s Guide to the Maldives

Published

3 months ago

June 29, 2026

Graduation season lands differently when you’ve spent three or four years surviving deadline season, exam halls and budget pasta. The urge to go somewhere to treat yourself is entirely real.

For university and postgraduates mapping out a summer before recruitment season kicks in, Eri Maldives delivers the Maldives in its purest form, with a price point that makes a spontaneous booking feel less like a gamble and more like a very sensible decision.

An Easy Stop on the Asia Circuit

Male’ International Airport is where you can fly into from various Asian capital cities via direct flights, including regional hubs such as Singapore, Bangkok, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Mumbai, making Eri an easy and logical addition to a multi-destination itinerary that might already be taking in Southeast Asia.

From Male’, the resort is just 45 minutes by speedboat. There is no domestic flight, no inter-island transfer, no additional carbon footprint calculation. It is the perfect detour to bundle a Maldives taster into a longer trip, with the island fitting as a three-night stopover.

Graduate-Friendly Prices in One of the World’s Most Iconic Destinations

The case for Eri doesn’t require softening. A Studio or Beach Villa on Full Board is priced in the £170–£300 (approx. €200–€350) per night range.

To put that in context, a 3-night stay for two, Full Board, with a handful of activities – such as guided snorkelling, a snorkelling safari, an hour of catamaran sailing, and an hour on a SUP board can come in at approximately only £750 (approx. €870) per person, meaning that the total cost of a full stay can be less than the price of a single night at other ultra-luxury counterparts.

Current Summer Escape and Last Minute Island Reset deals offer up to 40% off all room types for stays before 31 October, alongside 10% spa discounts, 15% discounts on select excursions and non-motorised water sports, and other complimentary perks.

Come for the Reef

Eri’s house reef is among the most active and accessible in North Malé Atoll: clear, warm waters averaging 27–29°C year-round, strong marine biodiversity, and conditions that suit first-timers and seasoned divers alike. Reef sharks, manta rays and eagle rays are consistent sightings across the atoll.

Close to the resort, the most reliable residents are turtles. 14 of them are already individually identified by the resident dive team through distinctive shell markings, flipper formations and carapace patterns, each with a name and a documented history. In several cases, the names were given by guests. You can meet the full community in the Eri Turtle Spotting Guide & Directory.

Eri’s water sports menu also reads like an antidote to burnout. On the surface, there’s complimentary guided snorkelling on the house reef, dedicated turtle-search snorkelling tours, longer Snorkelling Safaris by boat, catamaran sailing, SUP, jet ski rides, waterski, wakeboard, and windsurfing lessons.

Why Graduation Is the Right Moment to Learn to Dive

The window post-graduation is time entirely yours. Learning to dive during this time means acquiring a certification valid for life, transferable across every ocean, and one that permanently changes your relationship with every coastal destination you’ll ever visit.

Eri’s Euro-Divers Dive & Water Sports Centre is a fully-equipped PADI 5-Star operation with access to 30 dive sites across North Malé Atoll, spanning coral gardens, channel dives, thilas, and drift dives through current-rich passes. Courses run from entry-level Open Water Diver through to Advanced Open Water, Drift Diver, and Rescue Diver, with all equipment included. For certified divers, the welcome lagoon dive is complimentary, with 5-, 10- and 15-dive packages scaling up to a 6-Day Intensive Plan with nitrox fill options, and boat trips available for single-tank, two-tank, and full-day dives.

When the fins come off, the Eskape Spa offers a natural close to the day. Healing Aromatherapy, the Maldivian Ocean Dream, and a Back to Life massage helps guests to recharge and restore their energy.

Hospitality

Stomping Grounds Marks International Coffee Day With Buy One, Get One Free Coffee and Bottomless Filter

Published

10 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Stomping Grounds, the Aussie-owned café in Jumeirah 1, is marking International Coffee Day with an offer built around one simple idea: have another cup or three! On Thursday, 1 October 2026, guests who buy any coffee can pick one of two ways to keep going:

•Taking it away? Buy any coffee and get a second one of the same, free.
•Dining in? Enjoy bottomless filter coffee all day.

This year’s International Coffee Day is the first since the United Nations General Assembly formally recognised 1 October in March 2026, acknowledging the millions of farming households whose livelihoods depend on coffee.

“Every cup we pour started with one hardworking farmer and their family. They put in the hard yards all year, then we grind a few grams, push a couple buttons, pull a lever or two, draw a little leaf with the milk and take all the compliments, ” said Ryan Godinho, founder of Stomping Grounds. “So have another cup, ask the team where it came from, and give a quiet nod to everyone who got it here. We’ve been at this since 2015, and the best part is still seeing someone who popped in for a quick coffee settle in an hour later, second cup in hand, chatting with our team. That’s the whole idea.”

The coffee is roasted in Dubai by its partners at Specialty Batch, who have been pioneering the UAE’s specialty coffee scene since 2011 and have filled every grinder at Stomping Grounds since day one. The menu runs from its house blends through to rotating single origins and seasonal micro lots.

On the day, the filter brews will rotate through exceptional coffees from Brazil, Kenya, El Salvador and Colombia. Four countries, no passport required.

The baristas are trained, know their stuff and love a coffee chat. Guests can discover a new favourite micro lot or simply get a recommendation based on what they normally drink.

Whether you stick to your usual order, try something new or settle in for a bottomless cup of filter, it’s a good day to drink a little more and find out what you like.

About Stomping Grounds
Tucked away in Jumeirah 1, off the main roads and away from the malls, Stomping Grounds is an escape from the hustle: close enough to the water for a post coffee wander, far enough from the traffic that you can actually hear yourself think. Owner-operated since opening in 2015, it has a warm, rustic vibe, a menu built for people who properly enjoy eating, and an exceptional coffee programme roasted locally by Specialty Batch. It’s pet-friendly, so four-legged regulars are welcome too, and the team are switched on hospo professionals who care about the details, from the first coffee of the morning to the last plate out of the kitchen.

There’s plenty of free parking nearby, which makes life that much easier. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, a quick cuppa, a laptop session, or one of those “I’ll just pop in for a coffee” visits that somehow turns into brunch. Happens to the best of us.

Terms:
Valid Thursday, 1 October 2026 only, during opening hours. Takeaway: one free coffee per coffee purchased; the free coffee must be the same drink, same size, and
is served on the same visit. Bottomless filter coffee is for dine-in guests only and runs all day with any coffee purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. While coffee stocks last.

Details
Location: Villa 98, 12D Street (corner of 51st Street), Jumeirah 1, Dubai | Phone: +971 4 344 4451 | Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7:30am to 8pm; Friday-Sunday: 7:30am to 11pm | Instagram: instagram.com/stompinggroundsdxb | Website: stompinggrounds.me

Hospitality

Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi

Published

12 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

TYAM – Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi. The project brings together emerging and independent artists, galleries, collectors, cultural institutions, and international experts from the art world.

The event will take place from September 25–27, 2026, at the National Palace of Youth, on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. TYAM is a new platform created to support young and independent artists, increase their visibility, and establish connections with the broader art market.

The first edition brings together artists working in Georgia and abroad under the theme “COEXISTENCE.” The concept reflects the meeting of different generations, artistic practices, perspectives, and approaches within one shared creative space.

The programme includes an Art Market section, public and panel discussions featuring international guests, opportunities for professional networking and the development of an artistic network, as well as a special VIP programme. TYAM aims to become a new point of attraction for Georgia’s and the international creative community, connecting artists with collectors, galleries, institutions, and the wider public.

TYAM 2026, September 25–27, 2026
National Palace, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi Youth Art Market

Hospitality

COFFEE PLANET CELEBRATES SAUDI NATIONAL DAY WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE STORIES, MEMORIES AND PRIDE OF THE KINGDOM

Published

14 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This Saudi National Day, Coffee Planet is inviting customers to celebrate the Kingdom through the memories, messages and everyday moments that make it feel like home.

As part of the celebrations on 23 September, Coffee Planet cafés in Hail and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, will be dressed for the occasion with Saudi flags and National Day decorations, creating a festive setting for customers to enjoy with friends and family.

At the centre of the celebration will be a Memory Board, where customers can leave a short message sharing their feelings, memories or pride for Saudi Arabia. The initiative will bring together personal reflections from visitors throughout the celebrations, creating a collective expression of what the Kingdom means to the people who live, work and spend time here.

Customers will also be invited to enjoy complimentary coffee and a dessert, adding to the relaxed National Day experience and giving visitors another reason to pause, gather and celebrate together.

The activation will take place at Garden Mall in Hail and KAFD in Riyadh, two locations that reflect the brand’s growing presence in the Kingdom.

For Coffee Planet, the National Day celebration is a natural extension of the role its cafés play in bringing people together, whether over a morning coffee, a catch-up with friends or a shared moment with family.

“Saudi National Day is about celebrating the Kingdom and the people who make it what it is,” said Allan Jones, Founder and Chairman of Coffee Planet. “We wanted to create an experience that gives our customers a chance to share their own memories and feelings of pride, while enjoying a simple moment together over coffee. It is a small gesture, but one that reflects the warmth and connection at the heart of the occasion.”

With Saudi Arabia’s coffee culture continuing to evolve, Coffee Planet has seen growing demand for premium specialty coffee and café experiences across the Kingdom.

“Saudi National Day is a proud moment for all of us at HB Brands and an opportunity to celebrate the Kingdom’s remarkable journey, its people, and its ambitions for the future,” said Abdullah Ihlaiel, Group Marketing & Business Development Director, HB Brands. “As Coffee Planet continues to grow in Saudi Arabia, our focus is not only on expanding the brand’s presence, but on building a meaningful connection with the communities we serve. We are proud to be part of this journey and to celebrate this special occasion together with our customers across the Kingdom.”

The celebration reflects the spirit of Saudi National Day 2026 and its theme, ‘Our Pride is in Our Nature’, while giving customers an opportunity to mark the occasion in a way that feels personal, social and rooted in community.