Maldives has won three prestigious destination awards at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA).

At a gala lunch held at The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai Saturday afternoon, Maldivian ambassador to India Ahmed Mohamed received the awards for South Asia’s Leading Honeymoon Destination, Leading Beach Destination, and Leading Diving Destination.

“Winning these awards will indeed enhance the image of the destination especially in the South Asian region. Winning of the awards is also an indication of the visitors’ love and confidence towards the Maldives,” state tourism promotion company Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) said, in a statement.

Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).

SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.

A record 500 plus nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal were filed for the 36 categories in 10 segments included in this year’s edition of SATA.

Cocoon Maldives has defended the title for South Asia’s Leading Designer Hotel/Resort at the annual South Asian Travel Awards (SATA).

The award was presented to the resort for the second consecutive year, at the SATA 2018 gala held at The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai Saturday afternoon.

Cocoon Maldives, located in Ookolhufinolhu Island in the northern Lhaviyani atoll, blends the best of Italian design with the Maldives’ stunning natural beauty. The five-star resort, which officially opened in March, houses 150 villas that are exclusively designed by Lago, one of Italy’s finest design firms.

The resort, accessible by a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, features three restaurants and two bars offering a variety of cuisines from around the world and romantic dining experiences.

The Cube Spa at Cocoon Maldives, meanwhile, is located in the heart of the island to ensure maximum privacy and intimacy, and offers variety of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments with qualified masseurs from Bali.

Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).

SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.

A record 500 plus nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal were received for the 36 categories in 10 segments included in this year’s edition of SATA.

Soneva has announced a unique partnership with the Michelin Guide for 20 dinner events which will be hosted at its resorts in the Maldives.

The dinners, which run from August 2018 until mid 2019, are part of Soneva’s Festival of Colour, a celebration of Soneva’s diverse array of visiting experts and designed to offer unique guest experiences.

Throughout the festival, some of the world’s most celebrated and decorated chefs, all of whom have come from Michelin starred restaurants, will be hosting highly exclusive dinner events at Soneva properties, each for a maximum of eight resort guests at a time.

It is the first time that the Michelin Guide has done any kind of event in the Maldives. The partnership is also designed to appeal to the international foodie scene and cement Soneva’s reputation as an epicurean destination.

“This partnership is an extraordinary opportunity for Soneva guests to celebrate culinary excellence in an outstanding environment. This collaboration is totally in line with Michelin’s desire to offer travellers unique fine dining experiences all over the world,” Alexandre Taisne, Michelin Group Food and Beverage Director, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Soneva and the Michelin Guide will be jointly promoting the following chef events, most of which feature chefs from restaurants worldwide with two or three Michelin stars:

1. Kiko Moya, from two starred Spanish restaurant L’Escaletta, cooked at Soneva Fushi between August 26-31, 2018
2. Gert de Mangeleer, from three starred Belgium restaurant Hertog Jan, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from October 7-12, 2018
3. Bruno Oger, from two starred French restaurant La Villa Archange, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from October 15-21, 2018
4. Yoann Conte, from two starred French restaurant Bord du Lac, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from November 5-12, 2018
5. Pere Planaguma, from two starred Spanish restaurant Les Cols who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from November 25 to December 02, 2018
6. Tim Raue, from two starred German Restaurant Tim Raue, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from December 5 t0 14, 2018
7. Ronan Kevarrec, from two starred French restaurant La Table de Plaisance, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani from December 22 to January 04, 2019
8. Tom Aikens, from two starred UK restaurant Toms Kitchen, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from February 14 to 17, 2019
9. Guillaume Bracaval, from two starred French restaurant Michel Troisgros, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from March 4 to 9, 2019
10. Maxime Meilleur, from three starred French restaurant La Bouitte, who will be cooking at Soneva Fushi from October 6 – 11, 2019

The remaining chef events are to be announced soon.

More than 30 chefs are confirmed to visit Soneva properties in 2018 and 2019, most of which have originated from restaurants that have received Michelin stars.

“Gastronomy is now one of the most important factors when deciding where to stay, especially in the luxury travel segment when ‘good food’ is no longer enough. We focus on creating rare, lasting experiences for guests and part of this is welcoming these incredible chefs to create their renowned dishes using our organic and locally sourced ingredients. We hope that our guests will experience a life changing meal when they stay with us, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to partner with the MICHELIN Guide,” Sonu Shivdasani, Soneva’s CEO and Co-Creative Director, said.

In addition to the chefs, Soneva will be welcoming explorers, free-divers, astronauts, astronomers, authors, wellness experts, wine producers, sake experts, and other people who will all be offering guest activities.

Soneva, a world-leading luxury resort operator, runs two resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.

Established in 1995, Soneva Fushi is the original Soneva. The No News, No Shoes blueprint for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways is located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. Soneva Fushi inspires the imagination with 65 spacious beachfront villas, ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms, hidden amongst dense foliage.

The iconic resort has bagged several international awards for eco-friendly tourism and green initiatives, including the 2017 Green Hotelier Award for the Asia Pacific region and the Sustainable Hotel Award by the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) as well as a spot in the Gold List compiled by Condé Nast Traveler China as the Best Hotel in the Maldives and amongst the best resorts in the world in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2017.

Opened in December 2016, Soneva Jani is Soneva’s newest property and its second resort in the Maldives.

Soneva Jani encompasses a collection of 24 overwater villas and one island villa set in a 5.6 kilometre private lagoon located in the northern Noonu atoll. The resort spans five islands surrounded by pure white beaches, covered in rich tropical vegetation, offering the ultimate in privacy and luxury.

Each of the resort’s multilevel water villas has its own private pool and a retractable roof that allows guests to sleep beneath the stars. Many villas also have slides that transport guests directly from the top level into the lagoon below. Other hotel highlights include a spa, an observatory — home to the largest telescope in the Indian Ocean — and an outdoor cinema.

Since its opening, Soneva Jani has created a lot of buzz amongst luxury travellers with its exciting features such as the retractable roofs and the water slides. It has been named the Best Over-the-Top Luxury hotel of the year by Jetsetter.com, the best new resort in the world by CNN, and the Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort in South Asia and Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort in Maldives.

Kuramathi Maldives has made changes to the menu of its Duniye restaurant.

Honouring the art of epicurean dining, Duniye is not simply a restaurant, but it is an idea shared at Kuramathi. The word itself reflects the world presented as a blend of culinary experiences. From the coasts and pebbled pathways of Europe to the secrets of the Far East, each recipe tells an excitingly unique story. Uncover the tastes of Maldivian cuisine with an artistic twist brought to yours plate while preserving the potpourri of authentic flavours. Your hosts are a team of dignified women flaunting quality skill and ability to present the experience that is, Duniye.

With the most recent changes to the menu, Duniye currently focuses on bringing elegance to the art of dining. Apart from the tasteful recipes you can pair old world, new world and dessert wines to fully complement the experience. The desserts itself wrap up the show with creative masterpieces in chocolate, bustling array of tropical touches, and even a pre-dessert item served complimentary.

Kuramathi is one of the first resorts to open in the Maldives and is part of Universal Resorts of Universal Enterprises, a 100 percent Maldivian company and the pioneers of tourism in the Maldives.

An emerald jewel in the turquoise Maldivian waters, Kuramathi is a stunning island retreat with acres of luxuriant vegetation surrounded by spectacular beaches tapering into an endless sandbank. Villas blend contemporary design and nature, and are set on the beach, amongst lush gardens or over water. Four poster beds, open-air bathrooms, rainfall showers or Jacuzzi, large outdoor decks with inviting daybeds or sun loungers, are just some of the creature-comforts enjoyed by guests.

Dining options are diverse with many restaurants, bars and great-value all-inclusive packages, topped off with Maldivian service – welcoming, genuine and friendly.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has appointed Dominic Scoles as its Resort Manager.

No stranger to life by the beach, Dominic has moved from the Turks and Caicos for his new role at the luxury private island resort.

A seasoned hospitality professional, Dominic brings more than 10 years of experience to The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. As hotel manager, he will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the resort, its staff and will also overlook financial management for the property. This includes planning, organising and directing all hotel services, including front-of-house, food and beverage operations and housekeeping.

“I am honoured to be a part of the St. Regis family once again. I have been privileged to be a part of the larger Marriott group for several years and am truly excited to overlook the operations of this luxurious property and its many unique offerings,” Dominic was quoted in a statement, as saying.

The American national kicked off his career in hospitality in 2005 as the General Manager for a lounge in Arizona. Two years later, he became the Project Manager for the launch phase of three hotels, including W Scottsdale, where he simultaneously took up the role of Director of Food and Beverage.

In 2009, Dominic moved to Los Angeles as Director of Food and Beverage for the dining venues at W Hollywood. The following year, he took up the role of Hotel General Manager at a coastal resort in Mexico.

After two years at the helm of the boutique hotel, Dominic joined Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in California as Director of Bars and Restaurants. In 2013, he adopted the same role at The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami, where he primarily overlooked pool and bar operations.

Dominic continued to work with a luxury hotel group in South Beach as the Regional Director of Food and Beverage for another year, before moving to Turks and Caicos as an Executive Assistant Manager.

“We are happy to have Dominic on board and are certain that his expertise in managing luxury resorts and top dining destinations will be an asset to the resort’s operations,” Alexander Blair, General Manager at The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, said.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is nestled on a private island in the secluded Dhaalu atoll, amidst thriving marine life. Just 40 minutes from the main Velana International Airport by seaplane, guests are transported to a newfound paradise.

Designed with great respect to its natural surroundings, the resort is surrounded by a large house reef and the island is defined by several distinct ecological areas: lagoon, beach coastal and jungle. At The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, guests have the luxury of staying in one of the 77 island and overwater villas, shrouded in lush tropical flora, each with a private pool.

There are six distinct dining venues, including an Asian specialty restaurant, a modern Italian restaurant that features a grand staircase, an underground wine cellar restaurant, a shack style restaurant, a signature overwater bar that rolls out stunning views of dramatic sunset, and a pop-up restaurant in the middle of the resort.

Additionally, guests can also enjoy the Iridium Spa, which presents six overwater treatment rooms, including two that are dedicated to healing Ayurvedic treatments. Spa guests can also enjoy a Blue Hole pool, which contains heated seawater with different water jets – a system with proven benefits to the body.

A newly developed runway at the Maldives’ main airport welcomed its maiden flight on Tuesday, as an Etihad Airways A380 jet made history with the first ever landing of the world’s largest passenger airliner in the island nation.

Piloted by Ali Ahsan, one of the few Maldivian pilots working in an international airline, the A380 jet made a successful landing at the new code-F runway around 4pm after a show flight around Maldives capital Male at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet.

The historic flight was greeted with a water salute, followed by a para-jumping session by the armed forces and a joint airshow by flagship carrier Maldivian and world’s largest seaplane operator Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).

The A380 from Abu Dhabi was carrying the Maldives national football team, the recently crowned SAFF Suzuki Cup champions.

Prior to landing, the official permission for the A380 to land was granted by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom who attended a special ceremony to welcome the team, which beat India to become the champions of South Asian football.

The new 3,400 metre by 60 metre runway is funded by a USD 400 million loan from China EXIM Bank, with designing and construction handed over to Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) of China. The runway is built on land reclaimed from the lagoon of the airport island of Hulhule.

The new runway, which can accommodate world’s largest passenger airliner Airbus A380, will begin welcoming scheduled flights later this year.

The new runway is part of a USD800 million mega project to expand and upgrade the Maldives’ main gateway to cater to at least seven million passengers per annum. The project also involves building a brand new passenger terminal, a seaplane terminal and other support facilities, including a fuel farm that can store 45 million litres and a 120,000 tonne cargo facility.

The airport is a key infrastructure that supports the Maldives multi-billion dollar tourism industry. Expansion of the airport is expected to boost tourist arrivals to the island nation as it aims to attract at least two million tourists by 2020.

Hurawalhi Maldives has opened a new overwater restaurant, Kashibo Restaurant and Bar.

The contemporary Kashibo Restaurant (kashibo is Dhivehi for sea urchin) hits the spot with a picture-perfect setting and a divine dining menu in equal measure. Executive Chef Warren Moore has created a sweeping menu of traditional delicacies with a light contemporary twist that all lovers of Asian street food will undoubtedly enjoy.

At Kashibo, guests can pamper their palate with everything they love about Chinese, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese cuisine, amongst others, and revel in a range of seafood staples and vegetarian dishes. From zesty Vietnamese Vegetable Tacos and Balinese Buffalo Wings to Thai Lobster Tail and Chai Masala Gateau, not to forget the ever-popular Teppanyaki, lunch and dinner at Kashibo deliver a taste of Asia at its best.

An eclectic beverage menu at Kashibo Bar will entice guests with creative, Asian-inspired Martinis, cocktails and mocktails made with fresh ingredients such as watermelon, lime, ginger, lemongrass, lychee, basil and cucumber, many of which are grown on the island. After having the Chili Margarita or the Gingspresso Martini, guests can get on the shochu bandwagon by sampling the in-house mixologists’ innovative cocktails paying homage to one of Japan’s most beloved spirits.

Officially inaugurated in January 2016, the five-star Hurawalhi resort is accessible by a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main airport, and offers 90 villas, including 60 Ocean Villas and 30 Beach Villas, for grown-ups who are seeking luxury and innovation. The villas are stylishly and beautifully conceived featuring soothing décor, sumptuous linens on king size beds, bleached wooden floors, and private terraces with panoramic views.

There is an ocean of delights to take in at Hurawalhi Maldives: dining at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, snuggling up with your darling under a blanket or sparkling stars on the iconic Dream Island sandbank, falling in love with the plethora of marine life on the island’s doorstep – in fact, one visit to the resort is hardly enough to experience it all.

The Residence by Cenizaro has announced the launch of its second Maldivian property, The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah.

The resort, nestled in the Gaafu Alif Atoll, will be adjacent to The Residence by Cenizaro’s first property in the island nation, The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi. The brand new resort is expected to open in January 2019, enabling guests to travel between the two resorts through a custom-built bridge – and forming one of the largest resort offerings in the Maldives.

“With The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah, we are creating a new offering for our guests. The hotel will — as always — be an authentic expression of The Residence philosophy; with its own story to tell and a combination of both Maldivian and global influences to give it a unique sense of place,” Gary Xie, Director at Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah will offer 173 beach and water villas, each featuring its own private pool. It will also use locally-sourced materials, designed to capitalise on natural lighting. Catering to families, the resort will provide 12 two-bedroom beach and water pool villas, with more on-land options, designed for younger children.

Dining options include all-day dining at The Dining Room, the resort’s beachfront restaurant and Li Bai, the resort’s signature Cantonese restaurant, serving classic Chinese dishes.

Other resort highlights include a 42-metre infinity pool, Dive & Watersports Centre, relaxation reading lounge, fully-equipped gym, two complimentary bicycles per room for all guests, and a diverse range of water sports and land-based activities.

“With The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah, we want to create a hotel that is both the perfect place to relax and an ideal spot for families to let loose and have fun. This is a really exciting time for The Residence by Cenizaro as we look to expand the portfolio and we are absolutely thrilled with this new opening,” Xie said.

Cenizaro Hotel & Resorts, the hospitality arm of Singapore-based Bonvests Holdings Limited, is a leading international property and hospitality company with a portfolio of independent luxury hotel properties in some of the world’s most desirable locations. The Residence by Cenizaro resorts are located in Mauritius, Maldives, Tunis and Zanzibar. In addition, the group’s hotel portfolio includes the Sheraton Towers Singapore and Four Points by Sheraton Perth.

Mirihi Island Resort is inviting guests to enjoy exhilarating days out swimming with one of the most impressive and elusive species in the world, the majestic manta ray.

Guests of all ages can dive into this once-in-a-lifetime experience and embark on a Manta Ray Safari off the South Ari Atoll in the Maldives, organised by the boutique hotel.

Guided by a team of local experts who know the waters like the back of their hand, guests will be taken day sailing aboard a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat or a beautiful 55ft pine-wood yacht in search of these mysterious creatures of the deep.

Manta rays, though daunting in terms of size with a wing span of up to 12 feet across, are harmless to humans, feeding mainly on plankton and small organisms. Unlike their close relative the stingray, the manta ray has no tail stinger or barb and is one of the friendliest creatures in the sea.

If lucky enough to spot the Maldives’ largest sea inhabitant, guests are encouraged to jump into the water and snorkel alongside these gentle giants. Often appearing inquisitive in nature, the rays are known to majestically swoop over and around swimmers, at times coming thrillingly close; a breath-taking and humbling experience.

When not swimming with the manta rays, guests can enjoy intermittent stints of snorkelling where they can spot turtles, dolphins and whale sharks that flit and soar beneath. After an energetic morning keeping up with all manner of marine life guests can retire aboard the luxurious yacht or Dhoni and return to the island to indulge in a lavish lunch.

“We are delighted to unveil a new adventure for guests of Mirihi Island,” Mohammed Shareef, the island resort’s General Manager, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“Spotting and swimming with manta rays is one of the most exhilarating experiences one can have in the Maldives, and this new excursion is sure to create memories travellers will treasure forever.”

Manta Ray Safaris at Mirihi Island take place from 9.30am until 3pm. Prices start from USD 115 (approximately £89) per person (excluding lunch) for a trip on a traditional Maldivian Dhoni boat or USD 160 (approximately £124) per person (excluding lunch) on the Mirihi Thari yacht, based on 10 guests sharing the excursion. Prices are subject to 10 percent service charge and 12 percent GST.

Located in the South Ari Atoll, Mirihi Island is an intimate resort with only 37 rooms, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere with friendly staff. Guests will immediately feel at ease in the safe and beautiful environment. With sand covered floors throughout much of the hotel, guests can relax upon arrival where they will be encouraged to abandon their shoes and enjoy their stay barefoot with the powder-soft sand between their toes.

Travellers looking to socialise and meet like-minded people can book sunset sailing trips, whale shark safaris, diving trips, visits to local islands, sessions tasting the most comprehensive selection of fine rum in the whole of the Indian Ocean, and can enjoy complimentary weekly beach cinemas, board games, table tennis, football and more.

Alternatively, guests can enjoy some time away from it all in their private water or beach villa, on a secluded beach or while enjoying a pampering spa treatment.

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) together with tourism industry representatives have taken part in Tourism EXPO Japan.

The Maldives delegation, which consists of 11 industry partners, is headed by the Maldives ambassador in Japan Ibrahim Uwaish. Together with MMPRC, embassy officials are representing the destination at the fair, being held in Tokyo from September 20-23.

Business meetings with industry stakeholders are planned at the Maldives stand in order to identify strategies to further improve the market performance.

To attract more visitors to the stand, several activities are being carried with contribution and assistance from the Maldives embassy in Japan. One such activity is a bingo game, where the winner will be given a free holiday package to the Maldives sponsored by Crown & Champa Resorts.

Visitors also have the opportunity to experience the underwater beauty of the Maldives through VR gears.

Launched as a comprehensive travel and tourism trade event in 2014, Tourism EXPO Japan is the largest travel trade event in Japan, and comes as the world’s greatest celebration of people’s freedom to cross borders and love of travel.

This year, the expo comes with a multitude of destinations, experiences and stage performances, which present the charms of more than 130 countries and regions. For everybody who loves traveling, the event offers travel information and a taste of new places by engaging all five senses with music, dance performances, ethnic cuisines, craft workshops, and many other exciting activities which are available during the show.

Last year, the fair recorded 191,577 visitors and 8,671 press visitors. In addition, 1,310 companies and organisations from 130 countries exhibited at the 2017 edition.

Japanese market is amongst the top source markets to the Maldives.

In 2017, a total of 41,133 tourist arrivals were recorded from Japan which is an increase of 3.1 percent compared to 2016. As of July 2018, 22,110 Japanese tourists visited the Maldives — an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Dhiraagu Maldives Road Race 2018, the largest annual run held in the Maldives, is set to take place in November.

Registration for the 4,000 slots allocated for the run, which is set to take place in the satellite town of Hulhumale on November 2, opened on September 16. The slots ran out in just two days.

Organised every year by local telecom giant Dhiraagu since 2007, the Dhiraagu Maldives Road Race is officially registered with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), making it the first international run held in the country. It provides the opportunity for Maldivian and international athletes to participate together.

Participants can either join the 5km run or 10km run.

The 10km run comprises the Open Male and Open Female category, while the categories of Open Male, Open Female, Above 45 (Male), Above 45 (Female), School Below 13 (Male), School Below 13 (Female), School Above 13 (Male) and School Above 13 (Female) are included in the 5km run.

Every year, the run is dedicated to a social cause and this year’s theme is to help protect children.

Participants can donate money to one of many endorsed NGOs by purchasing a special Dhiraagu Maldives Road Race t-shirt.

A new F&B complex at Maldives main Velana International Airport opened on Wednesday with several outlets of popular international fast food brands.

At a special ceremony held at the airport Wednesday afternoon, economic minister Mohamed Saeed inaugurated the new waterfront F&B complex, which houses outlets of KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee and Harvest Market.

Adil Moosa, the Managing Director of state owned airport operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), told attendees that current space limitations would not allow more brands to open their outlets at the airport. However, the brand new passenger terminal being developed at the airport would provide more space for additional F&B outlets, he added.

“We can’t match the demand at present,” Adil said.

MACL had signed an agreement early this year with global restaurateur HMSHost International to set up four international franchises, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee and Harvest Market at the airport.

These outlets are located in the new 14,000 square foot F&B complex, built using a prefabricated steel structure. The structure for the two-storey building was brought in from China, and was assembled by a Singaporean contractor.

Velana International Airport already features a number of international fast food franchises, including Burger King, The Coffee Club, Thai Express, The Pizza Company and Dairy Queen. The outlets are managed by Thailand-based Minor International, which also operates five resorts in the Maldives.

Apart from these additions and minor improvements, a separate USD 800 million mega project has been launched to expand and upgrade the airport. The project involves building a brand new runway, an international passenger terminal and a seaplane terminal as well as other support facilities, including a fuel farm that can store 45 million litres and a 120,000 tonne cargo facility.

The airport is a key infrastructure that supports the Maldives multi-billion dollar tourism industry. Expansion of the airport is expected to boost tourist arrivals to the island nation as it aims to attract at least two million tourists by 2020.

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has opened registration for a Destination Showcase event in London in November.

MATATO said it had signed up as a gold partner of the Travel Weekly Destination Showcase, set to be held at the Le Meridian Piccadilly in central London on November 7.

According to MATATO, up to seven partners will be allowed to participate in the event along with MATATO officials. The partners will have access to more than 150 travel agents, and have their logos featured on Aspire, an exclusive membership club for the sellers of luxury travel, it said.

Completed registration forms can be submitted before October 11. Registration costs USD 1,500, and includes counter space along with one exhibitor badge. Each additional participant has to pay an extra USD 200.

Set to take place right after the World Travel Market (WTM) London, the Destination Showcase is organised by Travel Weekly, the most successful B2B travel trade title in the UK, in association with European Tourism Association (ETA) and European Cities Marketing (ECM).

Each participating tourism office or supplier will have a dedicated stand space from which to showcase their destination, where they will meet face-to-face with the front line travel agents in order to gain insights on the UK travel industry, to promote their destination as well as launch booking incentives to drive bookings. This showcase will allow delegates to move freely between exhibitors in a relaxed and informal way where they will be rewarded according to the number of exhibitors they engage with.

Alongside the event, Travel Weekly produces a Destination Supplement, which is distributed at the event and with Travel Weekly to over 15,000 agents.

Europe is the single biggest source market for the Maldives tourism industry with a share of over 50 percent of total arrivals. According to official figures, the European marked observed an year on year increase of 15.9 percent in the first half of this year, with arrivals increasing to 419,991 from 362,354.

Britain is a major European source market, as more than 100,000 British travellers visited the Maldives last year — a 2.1 percent increase from the year before. That growth has continued this year, as 65,956 Brits visited the Maldives in the first six months of the year — an 11 percent increase from the 59,442 in the same period of last year.

A domestic airport being developed in a key population centre in the northern part of Maldives welcomed its maiden flight on Wednesday.

A test flight operated by flagship carrier Maldivian left the main Velana International Airport at 2.20pm and landed at the airport being built on the island of Kulhudhuffushi in Haa Dhaal atoll at 3.10pm with several dignitaries onboard, including tourism minister Moosa Zameer and top aviation officials.

Six hectares off the southern coast of Kulhudhuffushi and another nine hectares from the island’s wetlands were reclaimed for the airport.

Construction of a runway measuring 1,200 metres in length and 60 metres in width completed early this week. However, the terminal and other support facilities are yet to be built.

Known as the “Heart of the North”, Kulhudhuffushi is the economic capital of the northern Maldives and has a population of over 9,000, making it one of the biggest and most populous islands in the northern part of the country. The island is famous for its mangroves (kulhi), after which the island itself is named.

Up until recently, Haa Dhaal remained as the only atoll in the Maldives which did not have a tourist resort. That changed in March when Hondaafushi Island Resort became the first resort to open in the atoll.

However, plans to develop a resort on the island of Naagoashi in the atoll have stalled.

The new airport is expected to facilitate the development of tourist resorts as well as guesthouses in the region.

Over a million tourists from across the globe visit the Indian Ocean island nation every year to holiday in one of the 120 resorts and 400 plus guesthouses located in all corners of the country. The multi-billion dollar tourism industry, which is the country’s main economic activity, relies heavily on the domestic transport infrastructure, especially air travel.

Maldives, the most dispersed country on the planet with 1,192 islands spread over roughly 90,000 square kilometres, already has 11 airports, including three international airports. The government has contracted both local and international companies to develop additional domestic airports across the archipelago in a bid to boost tourism.

Photo: Avas Online

Adaaran Resorts Maldives has defended the award for the Most Marketed Hotel Brand in South Asia.

At the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2018 gala held at The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on September 15, Adaaran Resorts Maldives’ Assistant Vice President for Sales Marketing Suresh Dissanayake and Group Sales and Marketing Manager Aditya Raj Singh received the visitors’ choice award.

Adaaran Resorts Maldives had won the same title last year.

Adaaran, a subsidiary of Sri Lankan blue chip conglomerate Aitken Spence, runs four resorts in the Maldives, including Adaaran Club Rannalhi, Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi and Adaaran Prestige Vadoo.

Adaaran Select Meedhupparu is a fabulous four-star property located in the northern Raa atoll. Surrounded by powder soft beaches and sublime turquoise lagoons, the award-winning resort invites guests to surrender to their senses and bask in the majesty of the tropical island surroundings. Guests can relax in the sumptuous Mandara Spa and try their hand at a number of exciting water sport activities, including scuba diving, windsurfing and water-skiing.

The island of Meedhupparu is also home to Adaaran Prestige Water Villas, a five-star resort with 20 luxury water villas.

Set in the South Male Atoll, Adaaran Club Rannalhi includes 100 standard bungalows , which are tastefully adorned with tropically themed furnishings and bedding, and 30 water bungalows that offer a luxurious experience comprising of a private sun deck overlooking the stunning aquamarine ocean. The resort features three spectacular dining venues and a host of recreational activities, including diving, snorkelling and water-skiing.

Located in North Male Atoll, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi is blessed with thriving vegetation and pristine waters, and offers 165 land villas and 37 ocean villas. Set in 83 acres of lush tropical beach on Lhohifushi island, the resort’s design enables it to blend into its surroundings.

Accessible by a short 15-minute speedboat ride from the main Velana International Airport, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo offers 50 water villas with private spas, plunge pools and a glass-bottomed bathroom lounge with a view of marine life. Guests can take a dip in the outdoor pool or spa pool or go for an in-room spa treatment.

Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).

SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.

A record 500 plus nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal were received for the 36 categories in 10 segments included in this year’s edition of SATA.

This year’s evaluation process was carried out in the most vibrant cities in each country: Maldives capital Male, Sri Lankan capital Colombo, south Indian city of Bangalore, Indian capital New Delhi, Nepalese capital Kathmandu, and the Bhutanese town of Paro. The evaluation was carried out by an all-women jury, which comprised Amal Goonetilleke from Sri Lanka, Rinku Madan from India and Hinna Khalid from Maldives.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has hosted a training programme for its pre-opening team with The International Institute of Modern Butlers.

The US-based institute is dedicated to raising service standards in all service professions through innovative on-site and long-distance consultation, training, books, and articles in order to bring about intelligently executed, anticipatory, and invisible service in the style of the traditional British Butler adapted to modern needs and markets around the world.

Over the years, the institute has brought new services into being at hotels and resorts, defining and redefining what is a hospitality butler, in addition to introducing butler-style service and standards to other industries where the focus is on providing high levels of service.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, the first property in the Maldives in Westin Hotels and Resorts’ portfolio, is set to open in October.

Developed by Belluna Co. Ltd of Japan and Asia Capital PLC of Sri Lanka, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is set to herald the Westin brand’s wellness positioning in the Maldivian oasis.

Nestled on a beautiful coral island in the Maldives only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa atoll, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort will feature 70 villas and suites, 41 on island and 29 overwaters. Poised over the sea on stilts and with an area of almost 200 square metres each, the overwater suites are amongst the largest a resort has to offer in the Baa atoll region.

Assembled by award-winning Milan-based architects PEIA Associati, the resort’s design takes inspiration from the ocean with a visionary approach towards environmental sustainability.

Dining options at the resort include three restaurants and a rooftop bar.

The all-day dining experience at Island Kitchen stays true to the Westin brand’s Eat Well pillar through a thoughtful menu combining Chinese, Indian and Maldivian fare. The Pearl is the resort’s specialty restaurant and is the ideal venue to indulge in exquisite Japanese cuisine in an elegant setting with exceptional ocean views. At Hawker, guests can sample authentic Asian food in a casual and buzzing restaurant and bar with a live kitchen. The Sunset Bar is a relaxed lounge serving tapas and imaginative cocktails created by talented mixologists.

The idyllic resort also features Westin’s signature branded spa concept, the Heavenly Spa by Westin, the 24-hour WestinWORKOUT® fitness centre and the Westin Kids Club®.

Westin, a brand acquired by Marriott through its merger with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, runs hotels and resorts that are designed to enhance guests’ well-being through revitalising amenities and innovative programmes that help them be at their best while on the road.

Marriott runs several resorts in the Maldives, including The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa, and W Maldives.

Government on Wednesday announced plans to develop a 500-room city hotel in the southern atoll of Fuvahmulah.

Tourism minister Moosa Zameer told reporters that the integrated tourism project in Fuvahmulah will commence in six months, after the completion of a similar project to develop 60 guesthouses in the island of Kaashidhoo in Kaafu atoll.

The minister said that the project worth MVR 400 million (USD 25 million) will be financed through foreign loan aid. The city hotel will be developed in 20 blocks, with a separate convention centre accompanying the development, he added.

“Fuvahmulah has so many unique geographical characteristics like a diving spot just for tiger sharks. We can carry out this project in such a way that the natural beauty of the island’s wetlands and mangroves as well as the lifestyle of the people can be showcased to visitors,” the minister said.

“We receive complaints about the limited air connectivity to Fuvahmulah. But with this project, we will be able to develop at least 1,000 beds in the city and increase flight frequency.”

Being the only one-island atoll and the third largest natural island in the Maldives, Fuvahmulah features a diverse range of habitats, ranging from tropical woodlands and wetlands to freshwater lakes, well-vegetated marshland areas, white sandy beaches of different variations and pebble texture plus gravel beaches and fertile lands of humus greater in area than any other island in the Maldives. Two freshwater lakes in the island plus the many number of swamps and marshland areas in the island give habitat to different plant and animal species not to be found anywhere else in the Maldives.

A nature park developed to promote eco-tourism has recently opened in Fuvahmulah. Visitor centres and boardwalks have been built in Fuvuhmulah’s Eydhigali Kilhi, offering tourists access to the aesthetic beauty of the wetlands and various plants previously hidden from view.

However, the island lacks proper facilities for tourism, except a domestic airport. Only a handful guesthouses provide accommodation to visitors.

Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives has won the award for the Leading Surf Resort in South Asia.

At the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2018 gala held at The Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on September 15, Cinnamon Dhonveli was presented with two accolades: Leading Surf Hotel / Resort in South Asia and the Maldives.

The resort has defended these titles since the inception of SATA three years ago.

Located no more than a 25-minute speedboat ride from the main Velana International Airport, Dhonveli’s proximity and diversity combine to make it one of the most popular destinations in the Maldives.

The island is constantly buzzing with action as divers, surfers and beach bums alike find a common ground in the world of excitement this little island has to offer. Magnificent waves and a policy of sustainable surfing combine to make Pasta Point at Cinnamon Dhonveli one of the most sought after surfing locations by award-winning surfers from around the world.

Large families, groups of friends, divers and snorkelling buffs all seem to find a comfortable common ground in the heady atmosphere of the 16-acre island as well. Sink your teeth into our succulent seafood and indulge in the theme nights at each of the three restaurants with the best of international cuisine. Unwind at the spa or sink into the comforts of the 148 plush rooms.

Launched in 2016 by Maldives based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organisations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Liveaboard Association of Maldives (LAM).

SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multi national associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.

A record 500 plus nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal were received for the 36 categories in 10 segments included in this year’s edition of SATA.

This year’s evaluation process was carried out in the most vibrant cities in each country: Maldives capital Male, Sri Lankan capital Colombo, south Indian city of Bangalore, Indian capital New Delhi, Nepalese capital Kathmandu, and the Bhutanese town of Paro. The evaluation was carried out by an all-women jury, which comprised Amal Goonetilleke from Sri Lanka, Rinku Madan from India and Hinna Khalid from Maldives.

A contract has been awarded to Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) to construct a domestic airport in the tourist hotspot of Lhaviyani atoll.

At a ceremony held at Hurawalhi Maldives resort’s 5.8 Undersea restaurant last Monday, Kuredu Holdings director Mohamed Moosa and BUCG’s International President Li Dausan signed the agreement to construct the airport.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Moosa, who is amongst the leading businessmen in the country, said BUCG was awarded the project because of its technical capacity and experience in the Maldives, especially in building a new runway at the Maldives main Velana International Airport. Construction is expected to finish in eight months, with the airport being operational by next June, he added.

Government had in May awarded a contract to leading resort operator Kuredu Holdings to develop the airport on the island of Madivaru, which had previously been used for military training.

Kuredu Holdings will invest USD 13 million to develop and bring the airport to operation in a year. The project involves reclaiming some three hectares of land from the lagoon of Madivaru, building a 1.2-kilometre runway, and a training academy for aviation officials from flagship carrier Maldivian and seaplane operator Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).

The company can develop a city hotel to incentivise the airport operation.

Maldives on Sunday elected a new president as stakeholders in the tourism industry welcomed the incoming administration.

In an election that saw an all-time high voter turnout of 89 percent, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from an alliance of opposition parties secured a decisive victory over incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom with 58.4 percent of votes.

The Maldives electoral body confirmed the results Monday morning.

After meeting President-Elect Solih at the President’s Office Monday morning, President Yameen addressed the nation and ensured a peaceful transfer of power. He noted that he would continue to serve until the end of the his term, which expires on November 17.

President-Elect Solih, meanwhile, urged national unity and pledged to work for the betterment of Maldives.

“Regardless of who you voted for, I will be the president of all Maldivians,” he said, at a press conference late Monday evening claiming his victory.

The election results have been met with praise, with tourism organisations welcoming the president-elect and Vice President-Elect Faisal Naseem, an industry veteran who had worked at top posts in resorts in his career.

Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) said it hoped Maldives would attain new heights under Solih’s leadership. The association, which comprises Maldives tourism pioneers such as Mohamed Umar Maniku and Hussain ‘Champa’ Afeef, also pledged to work with the incoming administration.

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, the two organisations representing local travel agents and tour operators, congratulated President-Elect Solih and Vice President-Elect Naseem.

“Please know that you can count on our best wishes and support as you assume the duties of the President. We look forward to working with your administration, and may you and all those who serve with you be granted with wisdom and strength to take this country forward,” MATATO said, in a statement.

Guesthouse Association of Maldives (GAM) President Ahmed Akram expressed hope that the relatively new local tourism industry would flourish under the new government. He noted that the joint opposition’s manifesto already includes several aspects specific to the guesthouse industry.

“We met him during the campaign and requested him to create a special division within the tourism ministry to facilitate and promote guesthouses,” Akram told Avas Online.

The joint opposition has proposed to triple the tourism promotion budget, which is currently set at MVR 50 million (USD 3.3 million) every year.

The government has come under fire from private organisations representing industry stakeholders such as MATATO over the lack of effort and budget to promote the Maldives as a destination.

These concerns come as the world-famous holiday destination struggles to match an increased bed capacity.

Over the past five years, dozens of uninhabited islands have been leased to local and foreign resort developers. Several international brands have entered into the market, increasing the number of resorts to 130. That number is set to increase as the government has announced the opening of some 20 new resorts over the next two years.

Along with the new resort openings come the challenge of increasing demand from budget travellers who choose guesthouses over luxury resorts that the Maldives is known for. The guesthouse sector has rapidly expanded with over 500 guesthouses in operation today.

The government has recently announced new steps to maintain a structured growth in tourism, including a slowdown in leasing islands for resort development and increased marketing efforts in key markets such as China and the Middle East in order to reach an ambitious target of a record 1.5 million tourist arrivals this year.

Main photo: President-Elect Solih (centre, left) and Vice-President Faisal (centre, right) greets supporters after claiming victory in the presidential election. PHOTO/ MIHAARU