Back by popular demand, Maldives Association of Human Resource Professionals (MAHRP) is to host a second session in the series, The Great HR Best Practice Share.

The event will be held on October 27 at the Maldives National University’s Faculty of Education Auditorium, which is located on Ameenee Magu. The session will take place from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

“We are pleased to bring the second forum on this topic of HR Best Practice Share. We believe success secrets and stories should be always shared and it will add value to the nation, HR community and overall human capital development,” MAHRP President Hussain Afeef, who also serves as the Regional Director of Training, Development and Quality Assurance at LUX* Resorts, said.

Speakers for the upcoming event are from some of the best local organisations.

Ibrahim Fayaz, Senior Manager for Customer Installations and Cable Networks at telecom giant Dhiraagu, will give a presentation on the topic of employee engagement and key achievements of Dhiraagu in the area of creating brand ambassadors through employee engagement. Mohamed Ashraf, Learning and Development Manager at the Bank of Maldives (BML), will speak about performance management and how the process works at the bank, which has been recognised as an employer of choice.

Neil Shorthouse, Founder and CEO of Shorthouse Hospitality International, will also join the local experts. The industry veteran will present concepts and case studies of the best recruitment practice one can follow in the Maldives environment.

The Great HR Best Practice Share series is a special knowledge sharing forum where participating organisations will present their great HR practices in various aspect of human resources management. The October session is aimed at sharing best practices in performance management, recruitment and employee engagement.

“We believe that this new segment of HR Best Practice Share and other sessions by MAHRP would further enhance the level of HR awareness amongst the Maldives business leaders, HR network and professionals, and will lead to pathways in taking various actions to add value to bring the best out of their people,” Afeef added.

MAHRP is the first professional association registered in the Maldives, dedicated to human resources and people development.

The association’s mission is to serve the needs of HR professionals by providing the most current and comprehensive resources, and to advance the profession by promoting HR’s essential values, setting professional standards and providing the know-how. It is committed to linking and connecting HR professionals and practitioners locally and oversees through signature events and membership activities.

As part of its aim to develop human resources, MAHRP regularly hosts knowledge share events. The association also organised an exclusive training event in Maldives with world’s leading customer experience consultant Ron Kaufman.

Maldives has defended several prestigious destination awards at the African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards, further cementing the island nation’s place as the most sought after holiday destination in the world.

Held at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in South Africa on October 6, the red-carpet Africa and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony gathered hospitality leaders from across the region to see who amongst them had been voted the best in the business.

At the ceremony, the Maldives once again beat rival African and Indian Ocean destinations, including Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion Islands, to defend the awards for Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination, Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

The 2018 African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – a series of regional events to acknowledge the world’s outstanding travel brands. Events on the tour include Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), Athens (Greece), Hong Kong, Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

The regional winners will progress to the Grand Final 2018, which is being hosted in Lisbon (Portugal) on December 1.

Cathay Pacific has celebrated five years of operations in the Maldives.

A special cake cutting ceremony was held Sunday afternoon at the offices of Ace Travels Maldives, the recently appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) for Cathay Pacific in the Maldives. Cathay Pacific’s Regional General Manager for South Asia, Middle East and Africa Mark Sutch, the airline’s Country Lead for Sri Lanka and Maldives Vishnu Rajendran, and its Port Lead in Maldives Harish Kiran along with Mohamed Firaq, the Managing Director of Ace Travels, attended the ceremony.

Mark told journalists that Cathay Pacific would strive to expand its service to the Maldives with additional frequency and seating capacity during the tourist peak season. Through its regional wing Cathay Dragon’s wide network across China, Cathay Pacific would also be able to connect the Maldives to more cities in the island destination’s biggest tourist market, he added.

“We are very elated that in the last five years we have been able to offer quintessential travel experience to our passengers travelling to and from Maldives based on our service ethos – Service Straight from the Heart. We endeavour to continue and enhance the overall travel experience for our customers,” Mark said.

“Owing to our strong network, for our customers from Male we offer seamless connections to Mainland China, Japan and Australia. Maldives is a popular tourist destination and we also see a big influx of inbound tourists from these counties. With the support of our ground handling partners and agencies we are happy to celebrate this milestone and committed to continue to deliver a premium travel experience to our customers at every step.”

Meanwhile, Ace Travels is offering special fares to mark the fifth year anniversary of Cathay Pacific’s service in the Maldives.

Cathay Pacific, which began its service to the Maldives on October 27, 2013, operates a non-stop, four days a week service from Hong Kong International Airport to the Maldives main Velana International Airport. It utilises the Airbus A330-300 aircraft, featuring award-winning fully flat-bed Business Class seats, convenient Premium Economy class seats together with ergonomically designed Economy Class seats.

With a fleet of 146 wide-body aircraft, the flagship carrier of Hong Kong serves 80 destinations (including cargo) in 46 countries and territories on five continents, with a well-developed Asian network. The airline is in the process of getting new A350 jets in an effort to expand its services to destinations such as Washington DC in the US, Cape Town in South Africa and Brussels in Belgium.

Ace Travels Maldives is a joint venture between Inner Maldives Holidays, one of the leading Destination Management Companies (DMCs) in the Maldives, and Aitken Spence Travels, the leading DMC in Sri Lanka. In addition to being the the Passenger Sales Agent (PSA) for SriLankan Airlines and General Sales Agent (GSA) for Scoot, Ace Travels handles several other major airlines and provides hotel packages.

For bookings and special fares, please contact Ace Travels on +960 3006886 / +960 7931334 or email to sales@acetravels.mv.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi has been named amongst the top resorts in Indian Ocean.

At the 31st annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, Fairmont Maldives was ranked at the 11th with a score of 98.38.

Located on the Shaviyani atoll, the stunning new Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi offers 112 luxury villas, each with a private pool. Sirru Fen Fushi, which means ‘secret water island’ in the local Dhivehi language, is set on an exceptionally lush island bursting with flora and fauna. The picturesque locale is also surrounded by powder white sand beaches, peppered with thatched-roofed villas overlooking an endless turquoise sea.

The all-villa resort is ideal for couples or families, and features 200 metres of infinity pools as well as luxury safari-style tented villas nestled in the island’s lush interior jungle.

Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi is the sole hotel on the pristine atoll, and its previously untouched location has allowed marine life to flourish, with manta rays, turtles, large pods of bottlenose dolphins and spinner dolphins regular visitors in the crystal-clear waters of the 600-hectare lagoon. The nine-kilometre-long house reef, directly accessible from the beach, is home to vibrant corals and a thriving ecosystem teeming with life. Uniquely, a manta ray cleaning station at the house reef, offers guests a rare close and extended glimpse of one of the world’s most majestic marine creatures, many of which drop by in a beautiful display of aquatic symbiosis with smaller sea life.

The 112 villas are categorised based on the island’s stunning topography, and include Beach Villas, Water Villas, and Tented Jungle Villas. Copper bathroom fittings and carved wood detailing on furniture lend the villas a bohemian rustic chic vibe. Specially adapted to the Maldives, the unique tented jungle villas offer privacy and a romantic castaway vibe; other guests can also experience the verdant island interiors with glamping BBQs or jungle cinema.

A strong connection to nature guides guests throughout their stay, even at the resort’s contemporary dining outlets. These include an international all-day dining spot called Raha Market; an overwater Japanese restaurant, sushi bar and sea lounge named Kata, where Chef Dharmen brings creative flair to add modern and Maldivian twists to Japanese dishes; and the overwater fine dining destination, Azure, where fresh seafood and fish-market displays of daily local catches are complemented by fantastic wines and Champagnes.

Adjacent to the main all-day dining restaurant, the intimate Raha Market Bar is a relaxed space for aperitifs or digestifs to round off a meal at the water’s edge. At the all-bamboo Onu Onu, loungers and fire pits add to the laid-back poolside atmosphere, while sunsets are best enjoyed with a sundowner at the Kata Roof Top Bar and lounge which overlooks the entire western side of the island. Destination dining experiences draw guests further into nature with private meals enjoyed under the stars and powder-soft sand beneath the toes.

It’s the same tranquil natural surroundings from which the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Maldives draws its energy and vitality. The 2,000 sqm wellness area has been adapted to Maldivian island chic in its concepts with the use of endemic herbs and Indian Ocean-inspired treatments. The architectural design features hand-carved wooden doors, with sea breeze passages designed to draw fresh sea air into the treatment rooms. A dedicated Olympic size Jacuzzi pool is provided for spa guests for pre or post treatment immersion.

The Readers’ Choice Awards epitomises authenticity, personalisation and the unexpected in the travel industry. This year, nearly half a million Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted a recording-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences across the globe.

Niyama Private Islands Maldives has partnered with holistic therapist Jade Wood to offer guests mindful touch and awareness through movement.

From the rice terraces of Bali to the Northern foothills of Thailand and the deserts of Arabia, Jade Wood has wandered the world in search of wisdom. Born in England and with a mixed heritage of European and Asian descent, it is perhaps fitting that she returns to this part of the world each year to teach and heal. Jade is certified as a Yoga teacher by the School of Sacred Arts in Ubud and as a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist from the Body Intelligence Institute and Franklyn Sills, and will be in residence at Niyama from October 22 to November 22 for private consultations.

Embody your Yoga practice in a deeper way with dawn one-on-one sessions of yin yoga. Release patterns of tension and learn from your body through the slow deliberate practice of Feldenkrais Method. Jade is an all-round practitioner of somatic movement drawing on many disciplines — yoga, conscious visualisation, dance and touch — she also teaches meditative mindfulness through the ancient art of qi gong.

Jade’s specialty is craniofacial massage, a perfect beauty-bliss balance of soothing facial massage with a special organic essential oil blend of rose geranium, frankincense and rosemary combined with lymphatic drainage, acupressure around the head, ears, face, neck and shoulders with craniosacral head holds. This modality draws upon on the body’s natural ability to self-regulate and heal as Jade listens in to the natural tides of life, releasing stagnant energy and resulting in an overwhelming sense of calm. Emerge feeling renewed and glowing with inner peace.

End your day with an exploratory session of yoga nidra guided meditation. Jade’s soothing voice leads you into a deeply relaxed state somewhere between waking and sleep, systematically sensing and releasing each part of your body to improve self-awareness and connect with the creative subconscious.

A highly sought-after practitioner and trainer of yoga teachers, Jade is one in a series of Drift Spa wellness consultants. From traditional Chinese medicine to body transformation through diet and exercise to holistic beauty treatments, Drift brings the know-how of London, New York and Dubai to the unrivalled majesty of Nature’s Playground.

Drift Spa offers cutting-edge beauty and wellness in a stunning overwater-garden setting. Offering the Maldives’ only Intraceuticals facials, revitalising Anne Semonin and Gentlemen’s Tonic treatments, and beautifying at The Salon by Pedro Sanchez, the sanctuary is also home to a continual roster of visiting practitioners jetting in from around the globe.

Niyama offers more than a luxury retreat in the Maldives. Going beyond conventional concepts of lavish accommodation, sumptuous cuisines, and lavish services, Niyama  presents every visitor with myriad opportunities to create their own exceptional island experience.

With twin islands Play and Chill, Niyama offers you the true luxury of choice, with everything expected from an island resort and so much more.

Chill is true to its name. You can discover new depths of relaxation at the Drift Spa, or take in a movie under the stars at the outdoor cinema. Just off the coast, enjoy a fine dining experience at Edge accessible only by speedboat, while Subsix invites you the world’s finest underwater seafood restaurant and night club.

Play provides delightful diversions for those looking for more active pursuits. On the water, you can kayak around the islands or discover why Niyama is amongst the hottest surfing destinations. Bicyclists can explore the island at their own pace, perhaps lured by the aromas from the chef’s spice gardens.

Sign up now for a private session with Jade. For more information, visit niyama.com/en/niyama-spa or spa@niyama.com.

Simply Maldives Holidays has defended Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency title at the 2018 World Travel Awards.

The award was presented at the African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards, which took place at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in South Africa on October 6.

Simply Maldives Holidays is a travel company offering specialist destination and resort information, with travel consultants that are highly experienced in guiding, planning and booking the perfect Maldives Holiday for each and every customer. Headquartered in the UK and established for over 25 years, the company’s highly experienced staff are committed to providing the best customer support possible. ATOL protected.

The travel agency offers tailored Maldives holidays, including flights and luxury resorts, to travellers throughout the UK and beyond. As a three time British Travel Awards winner, and having been featured in both The Times and The Guardian newspapers, winning a World Travel Award for two consecutive years has firmly established Simply Maldives Holidays as a household name in the global travel industry.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

The 2018 African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – a series of regional events to acknowledge the world’s outstanding travel brands. Events on the tour include Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), Athens (Greece), Hong Kong, Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

The regional winners will progress to the Grand Final 2018, which is being hosted in Lisbon (Portugal) on December 1.

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has announced plans to host the third edition of the Maldives Travel Conference in November.

Themed around growth and sustainability, the third Maldives Travel Conference will take place on November 22. Registration for the conference is now open for all sectors of travel industry, with more than 250 people expected to attend the conference this year.

As part of the Maldives Travel Conference, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will stage the second edition of the PATA Human Capacity Building Programme in the Maldives under the theme, ‘Growth Hacking: How to Scale Your Business Exponentially’.

In response to the success of the first ever PATA Human  Capacity Building Programme in Maldives in July 2017, the second edition of this intensive and interactive training programme will incorporate classroom interactions conducted by leading travel industry experts and practical sessions as well as networking opportunities.

The programme content is based on the successful PATA Academy event held at the association’s Engagement Hub in Bangkok. Participants will gain hands-on experience by working both individually and on team-based projects where presentations are shared at the end of the programme.

From this intensive high-value training, participants will take home practical marketing strategies to be applied and implemented in their respective organisations.

Launched in 2016 as part of the annual Maldives Travel Awards, the Maldives Travel Conference aims to create a platform in Maldives to lead international dialogue and debate on challenges and opportunities that the tourism industry unfolds.

In 2016, the conference focused on four main topics with the importance of promoting the Maldives overseas, changes to the nation’s luxury travel industry, the ongoing transformation of the archipelago’s tourism sector, and the opportunities and challenges faced by the industry.

The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah has announced plans to host recruitment open days next week, as the brand new resort prepares to welcome its first guests early next year.

Two recruitment sessions will be held in the southernmost atoll of Addu on October 26, with the first taking place at 9am at Boduge in Feydhoo ward and the second at 4pm at City Council Hall in Hithadhoo ward. A third session for walk-in interviews with interested candidates will take place at Feydhoo Avashu Office Hall in Feydhoo ward the following day.

On October 27, the team from The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah will also visit the neighbouring atoll of Fuvahmulah, where they will host walk-in interviews at Fuvahmulah City Council Hall at 9am.

The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah, 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.

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.

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.

Fushiafru Maldives has proudly celebrated its one-year anniversary.

The exquisite island of Fushifaru, home to an extraordinary landscape above and below the waterline, officially opened its doors on October 24, 2017, ushering in a new era of Maldivian chic getaway to Lhaviyani atoll, one of the country’s most vibrant atolls destinations.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our first anniversary, which represents a significant milestone for our
resort,” Ahmed Siaar, General Manager of Fushifaru Maldives, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“I could not be more proud of the success that our resort have experienced so far but am even more excited to see what the future holds. We will keep encouraging creativity and enthusiasm at our resort. We are confident Fushifaru Maldives will continue to inspire travellers from around the world to visit and experience all that this extraordinary destination and exquisite island have to offer.”

Residents hosts and guests at Fushifaru Maldives celebrated the first anniversary in style with a sunset cocktail reception and gala dinner followed by the beach party with DJ.

With continuous celebration vibe at the resort, guests are invited to enjoy the Anniversary Package, which offers complimentary room upgrade and 30 percent discount on Heylhi Spa treatments. This offer is valid for stay until December 26, 2018.

Only a 35-minute breathtaking seaplane flight away from Velana International Airport, Fushifaru Maldives is nestled between a national Marine Protected Area and three of the Maldives’ most iconic dive sites. Fushifaru Maldives is a with an endless promise of adventure, excitement, discovery and serenity all in one diverse landscape.

Merging quintessential Maldivian design with modern aesthetics, this boutique Maldivian chic resort’s 49 Beach and Water Villas exude a sense of cosines yet luxurious in space and amenities. Each of the villas feature open-air bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, private verandas with dining areas and breath-taking views of the surrounding area – some villas feature private plunge pools.

Dining experiences focus on regional and international flavours to suit every taste and dietary requirement. Scrumptious breakfast buffets and palate pleasing international cuisine are offered at Korakali while flavourful Asian delicacies and mouth-watering varieties of freshly caught seafood can be savoured at Raakani. Signature cocktails and detoxtails are complemented by the best sunset views on island whilst lounging by the pool at Fanihandhi. A range of international dishes and snacks can be served straight to the privacy of your villa, 24 hours.

Above the waterline — to up the ante on adventure, a fully equipped gym overlooks the Indian Ocean, while a multi-sports court hosts regular matches between residents and guests. Alternatively, take your game to the water with jet skis, kayaks and catamarans. Off-island visits include the largest tuna canning factory in the Maldives or numerous social and sustainable activities.

Below the waterline — Fushifaru Kan’du, a national Marine Protected Area home to three iconic dive sites including the renowned Fushifaru Thila, is teeming with marine life, unique cave formations and a marine cleaning station and sits right beside the resort. A true haven for diving enthusiasts and snorkelers alike.

Private wedding celebrations, picnics and desert island getaways are available at the resort’s own sandbank – only a few metres away in a crystal clear turquoise lagoon.

Maldives has reported an increase of 1.5 percent in tourist arrivals in September, as the Chinese market shows signs of a rebound after a prolonged period of negative growth.

Official figures for the month of September released by the tourism ministry show that a total of 107,620 tourists visited the Maldives during the month — a 1.5 percent increase over the 105,984 tourists in September 2017.

Europe, the largest regional source market, posted an overall growth of 10 percent over September 2017, as arrivals increased to 44,008 from 40,014.

The UK, which is the single biggest European source market, made a gain of 8.1 percent, while several other major European markets such as Italy, France and Spain also posted gains of 15.5 percent, 22.3 percent and 24.7 percent respectively. Arrivals from Germany, the second largest European source market, also increased by 3.6 percent in September, following a decline of 7.7 percent in August.

Russian travellers continued to show their appetite for the Maldives, as arrival numbers jumped 7.6 percent in September to reach 3,790 from 3,522 in September 2017. This strong performance last month translated into an impressive growth of 20.3 percent in arrivals from Russia in the past nine months of the year.

Arrivals from Asia, the second largest regional source market, decreased for the second consecutive month.

However, the Chinese market posted a gain of 2.9 percent after double digit declines for the past two years, as arrivals increased to 27,997 from 27,214 in September 2017. This performance narrowed the decline in arrivals from the Maldives’ single biggest source market for the January-September period to 6.2 percent.

Several major contributors to Maldives tourism from South East Asia, which has been posting strong gains over the past year, rebounded after declines in August, with arrivals from countries such as Malaysia and Singapore increasing by 37.3 percent and 11 percent respectively. However, arrivals from Thailand decreased by 32.4 percent.

South Asia, which has become one of the fastest growing source markets, also extended its decline for the third consecutive month after posting major gains for the first seven months of the year. The latest decline of 29 percent is due to negative growth in arrivals from almost all South Asian markets, including India (down 22.7 percent) and Sri Lanka (down 25.5 percent).

Despite mixed performance in established markets, growth in relatively new markets such as the Americas rebounded after declining in August — the first negative growth in emerging markets in almost a year.

Arrivals from the US, which last year secured a place amongst the top 10 contributors to the Maldives tourism industry, increased by 14.2 percent to reach 3,133 last month compared to the 2,744 in September 2017, while the number of visitors from Australia also increased by 33 percent. South Africa, which has been on the recovery, also posted an increase of 48.8 percent.

Middle East, which has proven to be a volatile market, posted another decline of 27.3 percent in September, as arrivals from almost all major Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates posted negative growth of 17.5 percent, 19.7 percent, 33.6 percent, 25.4 percent and 36.1 percent respectively.

According to the September statistics, total arrivals for the past nine months of the year increased by 8.3 percent to reach 1,080,459 compared to the 998,009 in the same period of last year.

Maldives had early last month welcomed the one millionth visitor of 2018.

In addition to a new wave of recent political turmoil and presidential elections, the Maldives is currently experiencing the traditionally low season.

May to November is considered the low tourist season, as these months constitute rainy season in Maldives. Between May and November, the islands boast of wet weather, making it less ideal for tourists to travel and enjoy the tropical environment.

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 120. 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 450 guesthouses in operation today.

The government last year 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.

Photo: Kihaa Maldives

Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has been crowned Indian Ocean’s Leading MICE Hotel at the 2018 World Travel Awards.

The award was presented at the African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards, which took place at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in South Africa on October 6.

Located in the South Male Atoll, a mere 40 minutes by speedboat, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives is a 32-acre resort housing 160 contemporary, comfortable and chic beach and overwater villas.

The Kandoo Kids Club – one of the largest children’s facilities in the Maldives with an outdoor splash pool — and daily activities coupled with the “Kids Stay & Eat Free” programme makes this the perfect retreat for family travellers.

The Kandooma Spa by COMO Shambhala, the proximity to world class diving and surf spots guided by the onsite PADI five-star dive centre and surf school, and “The Marquee” – a fully-fledged indoor event space catering up to 180 attendees — mean that there is something for everyone at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

The 2018 African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – a series of regional events to acknowledge the world’s outstanding travel brands. Events on the tour include Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), Athens (Greece), Hong Kong, Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

The regional winners will progress to the Grand Final 2018, which is being hosted in Lisbon (Portugal) on December 1.

Jumeirah Vittaveli has announced its festive programme for this year, with an exciting ‘circus’ theme and a host of entertainers, magicians and acrobats making their entry in the Maldives to create a celebration in the style of The Greatest Showman.

Jumeirah Vittaveli will celebrate a traditional tree lighting ceremony – another much anticipated surprise given the outstanding creations from previous years, such as the Underwater Coral Tree and the Floating and Glowing Recycled Bicycle Tree.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, guests can join the Silent Night gala dinner, decorated in sparkling gold. Guests can enjoy the best creations the resort’s innovative chefs have worked on throughout the year. The next day, Santa Claus will stop by the island to entertain children and guests young at heart. Watch out to see if he makes his entry by jet ski, catamaran or maybe he will parasail through the air onto the white sandy shores.

On New Year’s Eve, festivities will be even more exciting, with a host of entertainers, another lavish gala dinner, and of course the spectacular fireworks to ring in the New Year. A DJ will entertain guests until early morning and a lavish brunch spread will await latecomers for a healthy start to the new year.

“This Christmas, we have some exciting surprises in store for our guests, such as an exhilarating addition to our freestanding Private Ocean Retreats, which will be relaunched in December with extended floor spaces, additional lounging areas, a glass marine observation dining table, a completely refreshed interior, and an adrenaline-charged new way to enter into the marine waters of the Indian Ocean,” Amit Majumder, General Manager at Jumeirah Vittaveli, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“Don’t miss out on sampling one of the award-winning whiskeys on offer at Underchic, our new Whiskey Salon – in this sophisticated Victorian era style salon, we invite you to settle in for a chat about the pertinent issues of the day, accompanied by a variety of homemade and artisan chocolates, while you enjoy a tumbler of your favourite rare whiskey.”

Culinary delights will include homemade Christmas fruit cake and pudding, prepared by chefs from an exotic concoction of nuts, spices, fruits and a variety of spirits mixed together in the annual Christmas Fruit Cake Mixing ceremony, celebrated with guests every October. Gourmets will be delighted by the exquisite dishes handpicked from the best ingredients, such as oysters from the Bretagne, fresh white Alba truffle, and Beluga, Ossetra and Sevruga caviar.

The final event will be the traditional Orthodox Christmas celebrations on January 6, including an awe-inspiring Art of Poi fire dance, DJ beach party, and culinary delicacies served at both Samsara on the beach and Fenesse over water. Ded Moroz and his helper Snegurochka will stop by the resort on December 31 to lavish gifts and goodies to all the children.

Throughout all these celebrations, don’t miss out on skating on the resort’s eco-friendly ice rink, for your own tropical winter wonderland feeling.

Located a short 20-minute ride on board a luxurious motorised catamaran from capital, Jumeirah Vittaveli offers unmatched diversity, subtle luxury and personalised exploration, whether you are seeking a romantic getaway or an exotic destination for your family.

In addition to the brand new Royal Residence, which was recognised as Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa at the World Travel Awards, Jumeirah Vittaveli comprises 89 villas and suites, each with their own swimming pool and direct access to the beach or lagoon. The private and spacious villas are available with one or two bedrooms making them the ideal accommodation for both families and couples. Highlights are the free-standing Private Ocean Retreats, located only a heartbeat away from the main island and accessible by complimentary boat service.

For the evenings, guests have the choice of a culinary journey through India in the resort’s signature restaurant Swarna, or an overwater fine dining experience featuring French cuisine at Fenesse.

The Talise spa at Jumeirah Vittaveli has been named Best Luxury Wellness Spa in Maldives by the World Travel Awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Treatments at the spa are inspired by concepts of light and space connecting with the purity and vibration of ingredients. The team produces their own island made 100 percent pure coconut oil, which is used in treatments and available as a take-home souvenir. The garden and overwater treatment rooms provide romantic spaces for couples who wish to enjoy blissful relaxation, while the spa menu also includes dedicated Mother-Daughter and Father-Son pampering sessions.

Jumeirah Vittaveli offers romantic escapes as well as a variety of land and water-based activities, including the destination’s first ice rink, a PADI Dive base, water sports centre, six restaurants and bars, and two lounges. An underground tasting room and a wine library will open soon.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has bagged three awards at the regional edition of the 2018 World Travel Awards.

At the African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards, which took place at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in South Africa on October 6, The St. Regis Maldives was crowned Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort.

The resort also won two country titles: Maldives’ Leading Luxury Island Resort and Maldives’ Leading Luxury Resort.

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.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

The 2018 African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – a series of regional events to acknowledge the world’s outstanding travel brands. Events on the tour include Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), Athens (Greece), Hong Kong, Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

The regional winners will progress to the Grand Final 2018, which is being hosted in Lisbon (Portugal) on December 1.

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) on Thursday met with industry representatives as part of the state tourism promotion agency’s preparations for the 2018 World Travel Market (WTM) London.

Representatives from 13 companies attended the pre-meeting, which was held at Champa Central Hotel in capital Male Thursday morning. Information pertaining to WTM London, the delegation from Maldives and other relevant details were highlighted during the briefing by MMPRC.

A total of 165 representatives from 64 companies involved in the Maldives tourism industry is set to attend the leading travel trade fair to be held at ExCeL London from November 5-7.

Tourism minister Moosa Zameer together the Maldives ambassador to UK Ahmed Shiaan and MMPRC’s Acting Managing Director Haris Mohamed will lead the delegation from Maldives.

This year, the size of the Maldives stand has been increased by 69sqm, with additional eight counters. During the fair, visitors can experience Maldivian delights passed on from generation to generation, while traditional attire will also be showcased to visitors.

WTM London is one of the leading global events for the travel industry, generating more than USD 3.7 billion of business contracts amongst attendees. Now in its 38th year, this show attracts a global audience that shapes the travel industry.

Over three days, the travel industry comes together in London, as almost 5,000 exhibiting destinations, technology and private sector companies identify and network with 51,000 travel professionals, key industry buyers, journalists, digital influencers, students and tourism ministers.

This vibrant event offers the opportunity to discover the world under one roof, and be inspired by industry leaders discussing trends, issues and innovations in the travel industry.

The Maldives is a regular exhibitor at WTM London.

Europe is the biggest regional 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 12.4 percent last year, with arrivals increasing to 646,343 from 575,176.

Britain is a major European source market, as 103,977 British travellers visited the Maldives last year — a 2.1 percent increase from the year before. That growth has continued this year, as 83,311 Brits visited the Maldives in the past nine months of the year — a 10.3 percent increase from the 75,506 in the same period of last year.

Manta Air has secured its first two ATR 72-600 aeroplanes, as the brand new domestic airline prepares to begin commercial flight operations next month.

The first of the two aircraft, secured through Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), will be introduced in November, with the second planned to join Manta Air’s fleet before the end of the year.

“Manta Air is an exciting new domestic airline based in the Republic of Maldives. Our mission is to make flying an enjoyable and effortless experience by ensuring the highest safety standards are established and maintained,” Edward Alsford, Chief Operation Officer at Manta Air, said.

“We are introducing two brand new ATR72-600 aircraft into the Maldives. This demonstrates Manta Air’s dedication to high standards, and our commitment offers the best levels of service for our passengers. These aircraft benefit from having the most modern and comfortable turboprop cabin. Manta Air has taken the unusual step of removing a row of seats to provide our passengers with additional legroom in both economy and business class.”

Manta Air will initially operate the aircraft from the Maldives main Velana International Airport to three domestic airports: Kudahuvadhoo in Dhaalu atoll, Dharavandhoo in Baa atoll and Thimarafushi in Thaa atoll.

“We are pleased to see our first ATR 72-600 aircraft being introduced in the Maldives and contributing to the further development of the air connectivity in this region. The ATR 72-600s perfectly match the requirements for short-haul travel in terms of low operating costs, comfort and ability to take-off and land at small airfields,” Martin Møller, Chairman of NAC, said.

With unmatched take-off and landing performance, the ATR 72-600 benefits from the widest cabin in the turboprop market, new ergonomic design for greater comfort, new seats, and wider overhead bins with 30 percent more roller bags stowage. They are also the lowest seat per mile cost aircraft on the 70 seat segment, thanks to significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs compared to its competitors.

“It is a special occasion to be part of the launch of a new airline such as Manta Air,” Stefano Bortoli, CEO of ATR, said.

“The choice of the ATR 72-600 demonstrates once again the value of ATR for connecting island communities whilst allowing airlines to take advantages of its unbeatable economics and comfort.”

In addition to turboprop aircraft for domestic operations, Manta Air is also in the process of acquiring Twin Otter seaplanes.

Manta Air is an initiative by Reollo Investments, which runs the recently opened Kandima Maldives resort and Dhaalu Airport. Reollo is led by Sanjay Ibrahim Maniku, son of local conglomerate Universal Enterprise’s shareholder Dr Ibrahim Maniku.

Maldives flagship carrier Maldivian and business tycoon Gasim Ibrahim’s Villa Air are the only two airlines currently active in the Maldives. Seaplane services are provided by Maldivian as well as privately run Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA), which has the largest seaplane fleet in the world.

Launching of a new domestic airline comes amidst increased efforts by the government to expand the air transport network in the Maldives.

Over a million tourists from across the globe visit the Indian Ocean island nation every year to holiday in one of the 130 plus resorts and over 400 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.

Meanwhile, a USD 800 million mega project has been launched to expand and upgrade the main Velana International 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.

Soneva, a pioneering luxury resort operator, has won the coveted Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award for its two properties in the Maldives.

At the 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Soneva Fushi was ranked at the third place amongst the Top Resorts in Indian Ocean with a score of 99.22, while its sister resort Soneva Jani scored 96.68 to secure the 17th spot on the list.

Reviewing Soneva Fushi, which was earlier included in the magazine’s Gold List 2018 as well, Condé Nast Traveler described the resort as an eco-friendly getaway in the Baa atoll. This chic island idyll offers nearly every indulgence money can buy — except those that compromise the resort’s eco-friendliness, it said.

“Go for a beachside picnic, kick back at an open-air cinema, unwind at a Six Senses spa, and sleep soundly in one of the resort’s 59 one-to-nine room villas, which are built with sustainable materials. Your wish? Literally their command: Each villa comes with its own private butler, which means that if you want ice cream at 2:47 a.m., you get it,” the review read.

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.

The Readers’ Choice Awards epitomises authenticity, personalisation and the unexpected in the travel industry. This year, nearly half a million Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted a recording-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences across the globe.

Velassaru Maldives has been included in this year’s edition of the SLH Cookbook.

In this year’s entry, Velassaru’s Executive Chef Carlos Exprua have chosen an outstanding Seared Maldivian Tuna with Tropical Fruit Salsa recipe.

Created to honour The Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) collective’s love of good local food, the 2018 SLH Cookbook features main dishes from over 150 hotels around the world. The variety and originality of the recipes in the cookbook reflect and demonstrate how serious SLH hotels focus on food, ensuring luxury travellers to have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of delectable dishes.

The 2018 SLH Cookbook is available for purchase on the SLH Cookbook website.

W Maldives has won the award for Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Water Villa at the 2018 World Travel Awards.

At the African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards, which took place at the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) in South Africa on October 6, the award was presented to the Extreme WOW Ocean Haven at W Maldives.

W Maldives offers 77 escapes and suites located both ashore and overwater, including 28 Wonderful Beach Oasis, 46 Fabulous Overwater Oasis, three WOW Ocean Escape and one Extreme WOW Ocean Haven (the W brand’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). Each chic and spacious escape features infinity plunge pool.

Measuring 492 square metres, the Extreme WOW Ocean Haven consists of two bedrooms each with en-suite living/lounge and bar/dining room, study, and kitchen. There is also a large outdoor entertainment/lounging area with private swimming pool. The Extreme WOW Ocean Haven features a king bed and two double beds.

There is a mixture of six bars and restaurants at W Maldives. Kitchen, the all-day dining bistro, and Fire, where guests have their choice of four different barbecues, provide menus for everyone’s palate. Swim up to the pool bar Wet and order a light lunch. There is even a dining option on the resort’s private desert island, Gaathafushi, or Fish, the resort’s specialty seafood restaurant set over the water and under the stars. Fifteen Below is the only underground club in the Maldives, with its own resident DJ and a sushi bar Sushi Beat.

Guests can also spoil themselves with a selection of over 125 treatments at the award-winning overwater Away Spa.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

The 2018 African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony marked the sixth leg of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – a series of regional events to acknowledge the world’s outstanding travel brands. Events on the tour include Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates), Athens (Greece), Hong Kong, Guayaquil (Ecuador) and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

The regional winners will progress to the Grand Final 2018, which is being hosted in Lisbon (Portugal) on December 1.

Angsana Velavaru has hosted a number of activities to help the resort’s surrounding local community.

On September 15, 10 associates from the resort travelled to the neighbouring island of Bandidhoo to participate in the Clean up the World event. Twenty-one students and two teachers from Bandidhoo school along with island councillors helped the associates remove 212kg of plastic waste from different parts of the island, while Angsana Velavaru’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Ambassador Nick Hardman and General Manager Mario Piazza gave a presentation to inspire the local community to take action on plastic pollution.

You & Me Maldives by Cocoon has been launched ahead of the upcoming brand new adults-only resort’s official opening in February 2019.

A special dinner was hosted at the newly opened Taste of Italy restaurant in capital Male Thursday afternoon, where travel agents and other travel trade partners were shown a glimpse of the resort’s facilities and services.

“We are thrilled to launch our second resort in the Maldives, in just two years of opening our very first resort in this beautiful destination,”Alex Azzola, the Managing Director of Cocoon, said.

“What truly sets You & Me Maldives apart is our service culture and team. Our team will go the extra mile to accommodate every request of guests, be it special dining arrangements or any service or facility they want to make their holiday a memorable experience. Since You & Me will be catering to honeymooners and couples, our team will make every effort to ensure they have the maximum privacy they desire.”

The second resort owned and managed by Cocoon Investments, You & Me Maldives by Cocoon is located in the secluded northern atoll of Raa, and is accessible by a 45-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport. Alternatively, guests can take a domestic flight to the Ifuru domestic airport in Raa atoll, followed by a 20-minute speedboat ride to the resort.

Positioned as an achingly elegant, rustic-chic resort that exclusively caters to guests aged 16 and above, You & Me Maldives by Cocoon has 111 villas — of which 97 are overwater — and six superb dining outlets scattered around the island, each highlighting the resort’s unique views, flavours and features. The resort will feature five restaurants, offering Japanese fine dining and authentic Italian dishes in an elegant and rustic environment.

Guests can take advantage of the ‘dine around’ concept, where guests on Half Board Plus, Full Board Plus, and All-Inclusive packages can have lunch and dinner at any à la carte restaurant. They can also enjoy free-flow French champagne at a dedicated ‘champagne island’.

The new resort oozes romance, with drop-dead gorgeous villas and free flow champagne, not to mention an intimate fine dining designer restaurant, H2O by LAGO, which is fully submerged at the bottom of the island’s lagoon.

Cocoon Investments opened its first resort, Cocoon Maldives in March 2017.

Cocoon Maldives, located in Ookolhufinolhu Island in the northern Lhaviyani atoll and accessible by a 40-minute scenic seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, blends the best of Italian design with the Maldives’ stunning natural beauty. The five-star resort houses 150 villas that are exclusively designed by Lago, one of Italy’s finest design firms.