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Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Resort review: CROSSROADS, Maldives
The Maldives is one of those destinations where people can't help but respond 'ooh' or 'oh my god!' when you tell them you're going there. However, the tropical paradise may be shunned by those who declare they couldn't possibly be 'stuck on an island with nothing to do' for a week. I'll admit, even I thought I might get bored. But then I went to CROSSROADS, and realised there are resorts in the Maldives offering much more than pure romance, seclusion and beds covered in flower petals for honeymooners. Just a 15 minute speedboat ride away from Malé airport, you'll find a large island made for activity and adventure, with so much to do that even the most active of guests would struggle to find time to twiddle their thumbs. Rooms and facilities First of all, as CROSSROADS is so close to the mainland, you don't have to deal with the faff of seaplane weight restrictions and timings to get there. The speedboats leave from just outside of the airport at least once an hour, but usually more often. The difference with this destination is that there are three resorts on it: Hard Rock Hotel, SAii Lagoon and SO/ Maldives (which I didn't visit). That means you have a much bigger variety and choice of places to eat, stay and play. On the whole resort, there are four pools, 14 restaurants, four bars and three spas, as well as the Maldives' first and only marina. Let's start with the Hard Rock hotel. It's a fantastic option for young families travelling to the Maldives as there is plenty to do, it has a casual, relaxed atmosphere, children under 12 stay for free, and the hotel offers a babysitting service. There are 178 spacious villas set out on the beach and over water, the latter of which I was lucky enough to stay in. Decor is as you would expect from the Hard Rock brand – casual but elevated and in this instance, with a tropical twist. The huge bathroom was able to accommodate three of us, despite the room technically being for two people, but an additional bed and body wasn't a bother at all. The platinum overwater villa also features a plunge pool on the back deck and steps straight down into the sea should you fancy joining the occasional baby shark, ray and fish that swim by in the crystal clear water. Don't worry, they tend to disappear as soon as you get in. I was unfortunate enough to experience a bout of bad weather during my trip, which is certainly not what I spent all those hours on the aeroplane dreaming of. The storm meant that I lost WiFi connection a couple of times, and the air conditioning also stopped working one night. Rainy it may have been, cold it was not. However after the issue was flagged with reception, it was quickly resolved by the heroic rain-poncho clad, torch-wielding maintenance men. The villa was a good 10-15 minute walk to reception, although guests are allocated bikes to get around. For those who aren't up for the walk, a golf buggy can be ordered to collect you from your room, but be sure to leave plenty of time for it to arrive (especially if the weather is bad). The second part of my trip was spent staying in SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton – the more 'grown-up' option (although children are still welcome, there is a kids club). In contrast to Hard Rock, which can sometimes feel a tad gimmicky, SAii was much more of a boho chic, peaceful retreat. It also offers villas on the beach and over water – 198 rooms in total – which are decorated with art and natural textures. This time the overwater villa didn't have a pool on the back deck, but it did have a bathtub, loungers and overwater hammock. The bikes at SAii aren't complementary, but the hotel has its own app where you can book buggies, request amenities, see daily activities and message the team directly regarding any queries. Food and drink Now, I don't mean to brag, but this was my second trip to the Maldives. While it was heavenly the first time round, the limited food options on the much smaller resort became quite repetitive. So I was delighted to find that was not the case at CROSSROADS. There's a huge variety of cuisines and restaurant options spread out across Hard Rock, SAii Lagoon and the marina, and almost all of them are open to everyone. We all know you'll end up paying a pretty penny to visit the Maldives, but rest assured you'll get bang for your buck at CROSSROADS, even with the food – the portions were generous everywhere I ate. I was on a Full Board Plus package, which meant that breakfast, lunch, dinner and non-alcoholic drinks were included in the price, but there are various tiers to choose from at a range of prices. The Hard Rock Cafe stays true to the brand with an American menu and decor inspired by musical artists. I strongly recommend the live music performances in the evenings for a lively night. The breakfast buffet, however, is served in the Sessions restaurant and includes traditional Maldivian cuisine as well as the usual cooked breakfast and continental bits. Plus, you can order omelettes and eggs cooked to your liking. Over at SAii Lagoon, the breakfast is another generous spread, similar to Hard Rock. Ms Olive Oyl is a must-visit. A dinner booking is romantic but I'd suggest going before the sun sets so you can enjoy the stunning view of the sea. The menu offers simple Mediterranean food done very well, and it also hosts sundowner drinks. If there's one restaurant you can take off the must-visit list, it's Tom Yam in the pool area. Fine for a quick bite, but my least favourite meal from the whole trip. Definitely visit the marina for meals too. I ate at the Jiao Wu Chinese restaurant and Kinkao Thai bistro which offered familiar dishes packed full of flavour. There's an Indian restaurant there, too. The star of the Marina has to be the Ministry of Crab. Founded by Chef Dharshan Munidasa, it's sister restaurant in Colombo, Sri Lanka has been named in the top 60 of Asia's 100 Best Restaurants. The menu celebrates the Sri Lankan mud crab, but there are meat and prawn options too. Major food lovers who are happy to splash the cash should book the surf and turf dining experience. It's so exclusive that they only take a few people in one night, where you're collected via buggy and driven to the first of three restaurants. It starts in the Japanese restaurant Nihonbashi Blue, where you try small plates of sashimi and maki. Next, you're driven over to Ministry of Crab to tuck into the infamous mud crabs, which is then followed by a short drive to the steak restaurant Carne Diem. Not only will you be stuffed with some of the Maldives' best food, but the whole experience is incredibly special. Dining outside in front of the marina, treated liked a VIP, eating innovative, delicious meals while sipping on top quality wine? A truly unforgettable experience. What to do As I mentioned earlier, I had a rare unlucky week with the weather, but that didn't make the trip a washout. Hard Rock have plenty of wet weather activities to keep people entertained, including Ju Jitsu, kickboxing, yoga, meditation, trapeze and aerial acrobatics classes. The Hard Rock spa is also worth a visit. Just in case you're not relaxed enough already, a treatment is sure to do the trick. I even got to choose what soundtrack I wanted before my deluxe full body massage, based on the mood I wanted to create. For outdoor activities, complimentary snorkelling gear and kayaks are provided. But even if you're not confident snorkelling, you can sign up to beginner classes before heading out on an expedition. There's a whole host of water sports too, including jet skis, surf boards, parasailing, scuba diving and excursions. Both Hard Rock and SAii Lagoon also have 24 hour gyms. Over at SAii, I really recommend a visit to the organic garden for green-fingered guests and those who love cooking. We were given a tour of the garden, where the chef explained what produce was growing and how it's used in the food they make. We then had a private cooking session in the garden, followed by lunch where we scoffed down the fruits of our labour from the kitchen. The beach club area at SAii has a chic vibe – it's not too crowded but has a fun atmosphere. The pool is incredible spacious and there are 120 daybeds and 200 seats around it, so no chance of fighting for a lounger here. Those brave enough to face the heat can take to the padel tennis courts too. Resort highlights The rain really could have ruined my trip – the Maldives is almost entirely about the weather and gorgeous views, after all – but thankfully CROSSROADS has so much to offer that I was still able to enjoy myself. I'd recommend the dolphin cruise – it was such a special moment to have the dolphins swim right by our boat, as was snorkelling along the reef. The cherry on top was that the staff across the resort were incredibly friendly and helpful. Rooms at The Hard Rock Hotel Maldives start from around £300 (or $399 USD) per night including breakfast. Visit the website here to find out more. Rooms at SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton start from around £220 (or $299 USD) per night including breakfast. Visit the website here to find out more. To get more of what you love from your favourite Sunday supplement, follow us on Instagram (@youmagazine), Facebook (YOU Magazine) and X (@YOUMagSocial).
Politico
16-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Crossroads' new tax clients
With Daniel Lippman CROSSROADS LOBBYING ON 1099-K, CREDIT UNIONS: Crossroads Strategies has registered to lobby for two key constituencies that scored wins in the House GOP tax package (before the bill faltered earlier today in the House Budget Committee), according to a pair of newly filed disclosures. — The firm began lobbying last month for the Defense Credit Union Council, which represents credit unions serving current and former members of the military, as credit unions sought to protect their prized tax-exempt status in the reconciliation bill. — Big and small banking groups, bristling at credit unions' streak of acquisitions and high-dollar marketing campaigns amid community bank closures, urged lawmakers to eliminate the exemption or at least place limits on it. Eliminating the exemption was among the list of potential pay-fors circulated by Republicans on the Budget Committee earlier this year, but did not make it into the legislative text released this week. — Still, the industry's main trade group, America's Credit Unions, isn't getting complacent. The group's outgoing leader, former Rep. Jim Nussle, urged the House Budget Committee ahead of today's markup to leave credit unions' tax status untouched, and the association is currently gathering signatures for an open letter to Congress and meeting with lawmakers both in D.C. and their own districts. — Meanwhile, the Coalition for 1099-K Fairness, whose members include Etsy, eBay, Rover, StubHub, PayPal, Airbnb and more, hired Crossroads at the beginning of the year to work on raising the tax reporting threshold for small sellers and gig workers after it was lowered under former President Joe Biden's 2021 pandemic relief package. — That bill would have required those with more than $600 in earnings from such platforms over a year to report that income to the IRS — triggering complaints that the new threshold would hit casual sellers or gig workers with a new administrative burden. Amid the blowback, the IRS initially delayed the new threshold by a year and began phasing it in this tax season with a $5,000 reporting threshold. — But the tax measure advanced by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday would repeal the provision, reverting it to the previous reporting threshold of $20,000 in earnings through at least 200 transactions. The 1099-K coalition previously retained Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, to which it paid $100,000 in each of the last two quarters. TGIF and welcome to PI. Send lobbying tips. You can add me on Signal, email me at coprysko@ and be sure to follow me on X: @caitlinoprysko. IN MEMORIAM: CGCN Group co-founder Gary Lytle died on Wednesday following 'a sudden diagnosis of an aggressive form of leukemia,' the firm announced today. He was 82. Lytle worked government affairs roles at several telecom companies over the years, including serving as interim president and CEO of the U.S. Telecom Association, before striking out on his own and then helping start CGCN, where he was lovingly referred to by colleagues as 'POTUS.' — 'What began with Gary Lytle and Steve Clark sharing a single desk has grown into Washington's preeminent Republican advisory firm—a testament to their vision, integrity, and relentless work ethics,' the firm said in a statement. 'Gary's fingerprints are on every part of CGCN, from the culture he helped create to the client relationships he built with care and respect. His legacy continues to guide the work we do every day.' SODA BRANDS LOBBY UP: A pair of soda companies has brought on new lobbying help amid the rising influence of the Make America Healthy Again movement and efforts to bar food stamp recipients from using SNAP funds on soda. — Olipop, part of a burgeoning class of healthier soft drinks that boast a lower sugar content and gut-friendly prebiotics, hired its first federal lobbyist this week, according to a disclosure filing. Tom Quinn of LSN Partners is working on 'nutrition and SNAP related issues and initiatives' for Olipop, per the filing. — Coca-Cola, meanwhile, added Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid to its stable of outside lobbying firms. KDCR started lobbying last month on legislative and regulatory issues including trade, taxes and food issues for the soft drink giant, which has four other firms on retainer: Imperium Global Advisors, Empire Consulting Group, Squire Patton Boggs and Washington Tax and Public Policy Group. MORE NEW BUSINESS: KDCR has also registered to lobby for the online messaging app Discord after the app parted ways with Monument Advocacy earlier this year. The firm is working on many of the usual issues, including data privacy, artificial intelligence and online safety, as lawmakers renew their efforts to pass kids online-safety legislation. — Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck's higher education task force has added another new client, New Orleans' Tulane University. And General Motors has hired former Rep. Kevin Yoder of Venture Government Strategies to lobby on economic and tax policy impacting auto manufacturing and jobs, according to a disclosure. FARA NEWS YOU CAN USE: 'A Justice Department database documenting political operations carried out by foreign agents was updated Thursday morning after sitting dormant since September 2024,' according to the Washington Examiner's Robert Schmad. — 'On Wednesday, the Washington Examiner reached out to the Department of Justice to request information on when the agency's 'Foreign Principal Political Activities' dashboard would be updated, noting that the most recent entries displayed were nearly a year old. On Thursday morning, a DOJ spokeswoman told the Washington Examiner that the lack of updates had been the result of a technical issue and that it had been resolved.' — 'The dashboard contains information about who foreign agents are contacting and how, when the communications occurred, and for what purpose. For example, the newly released data shows that the firm Neale Creek, working on behalf of the Qatari Embassy, sent an email to Sen. Tim Scott's (R-SC) deputy legislative assistant on March 31 to discuss 'U.S.-Qatar relations.'' IN CASE YOU MISSED OUT ON THE INAUGURATION EVENTS: 'Donors are being offered a 'dedicated VIP experience' at several events that President Trump is planning with the U.S. military this summer,' they tell the Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey and Meridith McGraw. — 'Those who give to America250, a committee created to support what Trump envisions as a large national celebration next year for America's 250th birthday, will be given special access to three events, according to a pitch shared with donors. Those include a military parade Trump is planning on his birthday, a 'military readiness' event he is leading at Fort Bragg military base with thousands of troops and an Independence Day celebration in Washington, the people said.' — 'The America250 group — which was founded in 2016 as a nonpartisan group — is designed to support the celebrations next year. Several Trump advisers have begun working on the events, including fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke, who is handling some of the fundraising.' ANNALS OF ETHICS: 'In the run-up to the 2024 election, the House GOP's investigation into Hunter Biden's 'shady' business dealings was a centerpiece of their attacks on President Joe Biden,' NOTUS' Riley Rogerson writes. 'But when President Donald Trump accepted a $400 million jet from Qatar as a gift to replace Air Force One without seeking congressional approval?' House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) 'isn't sweating it. 'Everything Trump has done has been transparent,' the Oversight chair told NOTUS.' Jobs report — Sofia Chavez is joining the Center for Strategic and International Studies as media relations manager for external relations. She previously was deputy press secretary for Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). — Matt Sturges is now vice president of federal affairs at LA28, opening and leading the organizing committee's office in D.C. He previously was a senior adviser at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is a Transportation Department alum. — Jason Mashburn is launching Mash Dynamo, where he will be president. He previously was a vice president at Creative Direct and is a Brian Kemp and Karen Handel alum. — The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has added Leah Frazier as director of its digital justice initiative, Maya Raghu as national director of its protecting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, and Len Kamdang as director of its criminal justice project. Frazier previously was at the FTC, and Raghu previously was at the EEOC. — Jack Fleming is joining ACT | The App Association as director of global communications. He previously was chief communications officer at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. New Joint Fundraisers KISTNER VICTORY FUND (SKOL PAC, Kistner for Minnesota) New PACs AppalachipFirstPAC (PAC) Jobs, America, and You Inc! (Super PAC) Keystone Next (Super PAC) SOF Action Inc. PAC (SOFPAC) (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: Piedmont Healthcare Inc Alpek Polyester USa, LLC: Alpek Polyester USa, LLC Ballard Partners: Total Community Options, Inc. Dba Innovage Capitol Integration: Arnold Magnetic Technologies Checkmate Government Relations: Phibro Animal Health Corporation Continental Strategy, LLC: National Fish And Wildlife Foundation (Nfwf) Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: The Boeing Company Dogwood Strategies: Vls Environmental Services Dogwood Strategies: Starbucks Corp. Dogwood Strategies: D-Wave Government Inc. Earhart Turner LLC: Bio Neat Inc. Ernst & Young LLP (Washington Council Ernst & Young): Better Schools For Better Futures Inc. Holland & Knight LLP: American Center For Manufacturing & Innovation (Acmi) Group Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Discord Inc Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Frontier Infrastructure Holdings LLC Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Adt, LLC Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: The Coca-Cola Company Lot Sixteen LLC: American Fleet Leadership Coalition Lsn Partners, LLC: Olipop Inc. Mclarty Inbound LLC: Lear Corporation Nuclear Threat Initiative: Nuclear Threat Initiative Paragon Government Relations: Lake County Patel Partners LLC: Applied Research Institute, Inc. The Vogel Group: Persevere The Vogel Group: Castlerock Biofuels, LLC The Vogel Group: Vander-Bend Manufacturing Inc. The Vogel Group: Sany America Inc. Venn Strategies: Tris Pharma, Inc. Venture Government Strategies, LLC (Fka Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC): Vulncheck Inc. Venture Government Strategies, LLC (Fka Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC): Applied Research Institute, Inc. (Ari) Venture Government Strategies, LLC (Fka Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC): LLC Venture Government Strategies, LLC (Fka Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC): Turion Space Corporation Venture Government Strategies, LLC (Fka Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC): Air Space Intelligence Venture Government Strategies, LLC (Fka Hobart Hallaway & Quayle Ventures, LLC): General Motors LLC New Lobbying Terminations Blink Charging Company: Blink Charging Company
Business of Fashion
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
Anas Bukhash on Harnessing the Dubai's Potential as a Global Crossroads
The author has shared a Podcast. You will need to accept and consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies by our third-party partners (including: YouTube, Instagram or Twitter), in order to view embedded content in this article and others you may visit in future. Subscribe to the BoF Podcast here. Background: Over the last few decades, Dubai has rapidly transformed from a humble trading port into a global hub for business, tourism, and innovation. With favourable economic policies, strategic location, and an ambitious young workforce, Dubai has become a vibrant destination at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Entrepreneur Anas Bukhash has experienced and capitalised on this transformation firsthand. As the host of one of the Middle East's most-watched talk shows and founder of influencer marketing agency Bukhash Brothers, Anas embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of Dubai. 'It's a 50-something-year-old country. It's younger than our fathers and our mothers,' says Bukhash. 'So imagine if you come up with an idea and you just moved to Dubai – you could be the first one and then you have that edge of being the pioneer in that field.' This week on The BoF Podcast, Bukhash joins BoF Founder and CEO Imran Amed at BoF CROSSROADS in Dubai to discuss how the city's openness and youthfulness have shaped a thriving, innovation-driven culture. The author has shared a YouTube video. You will need to accept and consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies by our third-party partners (including: YouTube, Instagram or Twitter), in order to view embedded content in this article and others you may visit in future. Key Insights: Dubai's youthfulness provides a significant advantage for entrepreneurs. 'It's a 50-something-year-old country,' says Bukhash. 'It's younger than our fathers and our mothers. So imagine if you come up with an idea and you just moved to Dubai – you could be the first one.' Dubai offers entrepreneurs the unique possibility of becoming a pioneer. 'If you're fast and you actually have a dream, I think Dubai is one of the few places in the world where you could be the first,' says Bukhash. 'You have that edge of being the pioneer in that field. If you do that in London or you do it in New York, you're probably number 500.' The rise of Dubai as a content capital is both a blessing and a curse. 'Everybody has a smartphone, everybody can claim they are a life coach, or a media personality,' says Bukhash. 'But the beauty is the direct journalism and reviews from creators with integrity.' Still, Bukhash stresses that social media and content creation should be approached with balance. 'Let's not also get too hooked on it because then we don't live and experience things properly. In order to get better content as well, you need to travel and see and interview people and have dinners and just feel creative,' he says. Additional Resources: BoF CROSSROADS 2025: Unpacking Fashion's Future Markets
