Action to prevent thousands of turtles being trapped by abandoned fishing nets in the Indian Ocean is needed urgently, a University of Derby study has concluded.
Researchers are recommending that manufacturers and fishing authorities improve the traceability of nets and other fishing gear to reduce turtle deaths caused by the so-called “ghost nets”, which break off or are discarded.
The study, published under the title ‘Untangling the origin of ghost gear within the Maldivian archipelago and its impact on olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) populations’ in the open access journal Endangered Species Research, examined information about “ghost nets” found around the Maldives in the Indian Ocean over a period of 51 months.
The information was collated by the UK-based Olive Ridley Project charity, which was set up by University of Derby researcher Martin Stelfox in response to the large number of Olive Ridley sea turtles he found entangled in nets while on research trips to the Indian Ocean.
Over that time period, a total of 752 abandoned nets were found and 131 turtles entangled in netting. Around 97 per cent of the turtles found entangled were Olive Ridley turtles.
However, it has been estimated that this number of “ghost nets” could actually have entangled between 3,400 and 12,200 turtles in that time.
The study found that nets with a larger mesh size, nets which were blue in colour, and fragments of net which did not have floats attached to them were more likely to cause entanglement.
Martin said: “What this research gives us is an opportunity to look at the feasibility of making fishing gear, including nets, more traceable to the individuals, companies and communities using it.
“That will require better co-ordination and information-sharing between manufacturers and the authorities which regulate sea fishing around the world.”
One possible solution is to use blockchain data storage technology, which is already being trialled in the Pacific, to improve traceability and accountability in the fishing industry.
The impact of seasonality, particularly the north-east monsoons, and the migration patterns of Olive Ridley turtles to identify where they overlap with fishing activity, should also be the subject of urgent future research, the study advocates.
The report states: “Temporary closures in these overlapping areas during high turtle activity may reduce the likelihood of turtle entanglement as a result of gear loss caused by operational damage or general discard.
“Moreover, establishing free, port side or landing site recycling facilities would discourage small and large-scale fishers from dumping damaged or end of life gear at sea.”
Martin said: “While our solutions must be realistic and workable, they could, if implemented, reduce the amount of fishing equipment which is lost in the ocean and could help encourage better reporting of gear which is lost.
“That could, in turn, lead to fewer turtles dying after becoming entangled in ghost nets in the ocean.”
Every year, it is estimated that 640,000 tonnes of ghost nets are discarded at sea, which amounts to 10 per cent of the world’s total marine debris. Ghost nets are commercial fishing nets that have been lost, abandoned, or discarded at sea.
Every year, they are responsible for trapping and killing millions of marine animals including sharks, rays, bony fish, turtles, dolphins, whales, crustaceans, and birds. Ghost nets cause further damage by entangling live coral, smothering reefs and introducing parasites and invasive species into reef environments.
Between July 2013 and July 2018, there were 601 turtle entanglements recorded in discarded fishing nets in the Maldives alone.
The Maldives is home to five species of sea turtles, the most frequently spotted out of these five are the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). Loggerheads, Leatherbacks and Olive Ridley turtles are the rarer species. Although all species of turtles have been protected by law in the Maldives since 1995, the major threats to these animals continue to be egg and meat poaching and entanglement in marine debris.
All seven of the world’s species of sea turtles are on IUCN’s Red List with the Hawksbill turtle being listed as the most critically endangered out of the seven.
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has announced plans to host a series of exclusive culinary experiences with world-renowned French Chef Bernard Leprince.
From December 20-26, Chef Bernard will be hosting seven exclusive dinners at one of the most exquisite outlets of the resort, FireDOOR.
Chef Bernard, a giant amongst French haute cuisine, has over 40 years’ experience, working in some of the world’s top kitchens, including Fouquet’s on the Champs-Elysées in Paris and in the kitchens of the King of Morocco. He has been awarded France’s Legion of Honour for his services to the industry and regarded a stalwart of traditional French cooking.
FireDOOR, the resort’s speciality restaurant where Chef Bernard will host his culinary experiences, sets the stage for special celebrations. Guests can enjoy a hive of activity at the show kitchen featuring an impressive Josper grill to fire up appetites. The custom-built oven enables chefs to smoke, slow roast, hot roast as well as bake and grill directly on coals, bringing a unique and exciting dining barbecue experience to the Maldives.
Located in North Male Atoll and a 15-minute speedboat ride away from the main Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu features a collection of 120 villas, including idyllic beachfront pool villas, breathtaking overwater villas and palatial two-bedroom villas. Sixty-five of the 120 villas come with their own private pools and the five two-bedroom suites feature extensive private terraces.
Designed by world-renowned hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, the resort showcases sophisticated architecture, state-of-the-art interior, high ceiling of palm fringed roof, and contemporary exterior with Maldives’ traditional influence of wood and rattan, inventive rustic appeal and inviting peaceful atmosphere. Neutral tones, natural fundamentals and spacious social settings balance the unrivalled beauty of the cobalt sea and tranquility.
Grand Park Kodhipparu offers three restaurants and a pool bar, including the overwater Edge restaurant, which offers a wide selection of international culinary creations, Breeze poolside restaurant and bar, which serves lunch and light bites throughout the day followed by inventive cocktails and fine wines in the night, and the FireDOOR speciality restaurant, which offers grilled meats and fish coupled with the finest wines.
Recreational facilities at the resort include an outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, sunrise yoga deck, wellness centre with spa and salon treatments, water sports and dive centre, children’s activity centre, and specialty shops.
Kandima Maldives has rolled out a new menu at its Azure restaurant, offering health-conscious guests a variety of guilt-free dishes to choose from.
The new health-inspired Mediterranean menu at Azure is gluten-free, lactose-free, alcohol-free and pork-free. It offers the same great, flavourful taste, but just gets fresher and healthier.
Located on the beach with indoor and outdoor seating, Azure is a chic beach house that offers casual dining by day and elegant signature dining on the beach by night. With an extensive garden area this restaurant is perfect to host outdoor gala dinner events for larger groups or for family and friends’ get-togethers.
Located on a lush tropical island in Dhaalu atoll, Kandima offers a choice of 266 stylishly designed studios and villas, with 11 different categories to choose from, all of which have a private terrace and endless tropical views to enjoy.
The four-star plus resort, which opened just over a year ago, has first class infrastructure, boasting the largest pool in the Maldives, tennis courts, an art studio, a marine biology school, a kids club, a game room, a library, a gym, a yoga studio and a spa. There is plenty to keep everyone occupied and the array of activities and events on offer is endless, including a huge choice of water sports, diving or snorkelling near the house reef, yoga, Zumba, bicycles, beach volleyball, petanque, arts and crafts lessons, and much more.
The island also offers one of the largest selection of F&B outlets in the country, with an incredible choice of 10 restaurants and bars, all featuring unique and individual menus offering flavours of the world from Chinese and Japanese to authentic Maldivian and Mediterranean. So be it tropical or traditional, Kandima has something to suit everyone’s tastes.
The Hawks Pvt Ltd has signed up as a Silver Partner of Maldives Travel Awards.
At a ceremony held at The Hawks office in capital Male Monday afternoon, Abdulla Suood, President of event organiser Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), and Hussein Aman, General Manager Director of Sales and Commination at The Hawks, signed a partnership agreement.
“We are delighted to have Hawks on board with us for the first time for the Travel Awards. The support and commitment they bring in will further strengthen this platform,” MATATO President Suood was quoted in a statement, as saying.
The Hawks is one of the leading importers and distributors of high-quality fuel products in the Maldives. With more than 11 years’ experience in the area of fuel supply, the company has developed an extensive portfolio of products and services, ranging from fuel delivery and related services to construction, transportation, and hospitality investments.
Winners of the 2019 Maldives Travel Awards will be announced at a special gala on December 19.
Dubbed as the premier travel event in the Maldives, the Maldives Travel Awards gala will see more than 200 travel professionals come together at Crossroads Maldives — the first and largest integrated tourism development in the country — to celebrate the winners in 25 categories of the Gala Edition.
The gala will begin in the evening with a networking reception hosted at Café De Mar for winners in the Guesthouse Edition, followed by the gala dinner where the winners of the Gala Edition and the People’s Edition would be announced.
Maldives Travel Awards celebrates its eighth anniversary this year, with a record number of nominations in all major categories.
This year, the Gala edition features 236 nominations in 28 categories, representing more than 100 registered travel brands in the Maldives. The Guesthouse Edition features 196 nominations in 13 categories.
Winners in both edition are selected based on reviews by travellers and popular vote collected via SMS and an online voting portal. A combined total of over 110,000 votes have been registered.
Meanwhile, contributions to the industry by three travel professionals will be recognised as part of the People’s Edition.
Initiated in 2012 by MATATO, the Maldives Travel Awards celebrate and honour the best tourism and hospitality products in the Maldives whilst fostering relationships with suppliers and local travel agents. From 20 categories in 2012, the awards have now expanded into three editions totalling 55 categories.
MATATO hosts three editions: the People’s Edition, which recognises successful pioneers and long serving individuals in the tourism industry, a Guesthouse Edition, which celebrates the outstanding performance of the up and coming guesthouse sector, and the Gala Edition, which is exclusive for winners in the categories for resorts, airlines and liveaboards.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has launched a joint online marketing campaign with TripAdvisor to promote the Maldives in six key markets for the next six months.
As part of this major campaign, Maldives will be prominently featured on TripAdvisor website in UK, Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Italy and China over the next six months.
“… [This campaign aims] to maximise the destination presence and promote the Maldives,” the official tourism promotion body said, in a statement.
“Further, through the campaign we are able to inspire, influence, remain top of the consumer’s mind and drive conversion to deliver true incremental revenue.”
TripAdvisor is one of the largest travel websites in the world, with over 315 million reviewers of hotels, restaurants, attractions and other travel-related businesses. The website is free for users who provide most of the content, and is supported by a hotel booking facility and an advertising business model.
MMPRC has carried out 17 joint campaigns this year.
Besides traditional marketing activities such as trade fairs, roadshows and familiarisation trips, MMPRC has expanded its marketing activities to online and digital platforms in order to strengthen the destination’s presence in the evolving global tourism industry.
Maldives had in November welcomed the 1.5 millionth tourist of the year, reaching the destination’s target for tourist arrivals this year.
Maldives welcomed a record 1.4 million tourists in 2018. It was a 6.8 per cent increase from the 1,389,542 tourists that chose to holiday in the Maldives in 2017.
To achieve this target, the government had added MVR 50 million (USD 3.23 million) to the annual marketing budget of the tourism ministry.
In the state budget for 2020, the government had allocated MVR 154.2 million (USD 9.98 million) for tourism promotion — up from the MVR 104.2 million (USD 6.7 million) in 2019, and MVR 34.73 million (USD 2.2 million) each in 2018 and 2017.
The government, which came to power in 2018, pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.
Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) in 2018 and 2017.
Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has reopened Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives after a complete rebuild of the resort, expanding its offerings to include an all-new, adults-only private island.
Located in Meemu atoll, a 45-minute seaplane ride from the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport, Hakuraa Huraa began welcoming guests in 1999. In 2010, the resort went through a major renovation and remained the same until its closing in 2018 for a complete overhaul of its facilities.
After the rebuild, the resort opened on Monday, giving the first guests in its new chapter a warm, traditional welcome.
With the latest reimagining of the iconic Hakuraa Huraa, accommodation and facilities on the five-hectare main island have been rebuilt from the ground up, whilst a 2.5-hectare private island has been added with facilities to cater exclusively for adult guests.
Effortlessly comfortable bungalows
The main island offers accommodation either in a Beach Bungalow or a Water Bungalows. The adults-only island is reserved for Platinum Beach Bungalows.
The comforts of the Beach Bungalows and their secluded inland location allows you to view the beautiful ocean ahead from the cooling shades of the thick foliage. The sun loungers in front of the rooms are all great ways in which to take in the scenery or snooze off an afternoon. Walk back into your room and lounge back on a plush double bed or make yourself a quick ‘cuppa to awaken you from that lazy island pace.
The 70 spectacular Water Bungalows are built facing out the island and gives you a direct view of both sunrise and sunset, depending on which one you make your own little haven for the duration of your stay. Step inside the water bungalow and notice the glass-bottom floor in the room for viewing the marine life in the ocean beneath your feet. Take in the breeze on your own private sun deck or take the staircase leading down to the lagoon for a quick dip without ever having to leave your room.
Signature dining experiences
On the main island, guests have the choice to wine and dine at three distinct venues:
Malaafaiy: Named after a large, traditional wooden serving dish, Malaafaiy is the resort’s main restaurant, serving three daily buffets that are consistently large and constantly delicious.
The Crab restaurant: specialty seafood restaurant, located at the far end of the island, provides easy access to most Water Bungalow guests.
Veli Pool Bar & Lounge: Located in the heart of the island, the Veli Pool Bar & Lounge are perfect vantage points to view the beach and sea, whilst enjoying international cocktails, mocktails and chic entertainment.
Mandara Spa brings touch of Bali
Set in a natural open environment, Mandara Spa at Cinnamon Hakura Huraa brings a touch of Bali. It is designed as an intimate, luxurious resort spa with exceptional levels of attention to details and service standards.
The Mandara Spa is the resort’s focal point , supported by a service style that considers the guests needs for escape, unobtrusive delivery and capitalises on the dramatic ocean location. The spa offers five double rooms, a reception, relaxation lounge, retail boutique and a manicure-pedicure area.
The spa menu is created to showcase the exclusive nature of the spa and to offer each guests an outstanding spa experience. It combines traditional Asian favourites with Elemis Spa therapy and treatments that reflect the ocean and nature theme.
Adults-only ‘platinum’ island
Connected to the main resort via a walkway, the adults-only private island is home to 20 Platinum Beach Bungalows, which have been designed for ultimate privacy. For a chilled-out atmosphere, these bungalows are ideal for couples or groups of friends who want to enjoy a romantic or relaxing holiday experience, with the maximum level of comfort and exclusivity. The Bungalows are for adults above 18 years only.
The private island also consists of an outdoor common pool, bar and lounge, and a restaurant exclusively for guests staying in these beautiful bungalows.
Adventure awaits
There’s an inexplicable rush that surrounds special moments. And you can feel it in waves, in all boundlessness, at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa. Go diving, Snorkelling, canoeing, if you’d like to indulge in some sports. Or, go island hopping, or visit a local island for a cultural tour. If you’d like to spend time just around the resort, you could enjoy sandbank picnics, or you could play volleyball, or stay indoors and play table tennis, or billiards.
Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa is one of four resorts in Maldives run by Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells under its Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts brand.
In addition to the reopened Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa, Sri Lanka’s largest hotel operator owns and operates three resorts in Maldives: Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, and the recently-opened Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives.
The festive season is an unbelievably special time of year, one that is filled with treats of every variety, whimsical decorations and, most importantly, family — it’s pure magic. It also provides the ultimate opportunity to get away from the daily grind with your nearest and dearest, where you can spoil them to a holiday of a lifetime at the five-star, unfettered gypset paradise, Kanuhura Maldives.
This mystical oasis offers guests access to an exclusive and exotic island idyll complete with a sublime powder-soft beach that’s lined by a cyan lagoon filled with incredible marine life.
But that’s not all; this stunning resort has been carefully designed with a sophisticated bohemian flair and all of the luxury comforts you could wish for during your island holiday. It’s a dream holiday destination for many.
What’s truly fantastic about this resort is that it caters to all travellers; from loved-up honeymooners and wild-hearted adventures to little gypsetters eager to explore every inch of the island, there’s something for everyone, especially during the festive season.
This year, Kanuhura promises to pull out all the stops, with a festive season programme running from December 22, 2019 to January 2, 2020. Here’s a sneak peek of what this year’s festive season at Kanuhura will involve.
Exceptional gastronomic delights, events
The restaurants and bars at Kanuhura are well-known for their incredible culinary offerings and are sure to delight this festive season. But apart from the array of glorious options and wonderful themed dinner evenings — and evening entertainment — already on offer (not to mention the gelato offered daily at the Cowry Club Ice Cream Trolley), the festive season at Kanuhura brings about a wonderful variety of special occasion treats and novel events.
From sun-kissed sundowner cocktails, a Mojito and tapas evening at Jehunuhura (one of Kanuhura’s two deserted islands) and disco nights to an unparalleled seasonal five-course tasting menu served in the exclusive Chef’s Herb Garden (which includes a bottle of wine), a wine-paired meal at Bottega and an exceptional family BBQ/starlit cinema evening (with unlimited draught beer for the adults) — there’s something to excite every member of the family.
The great news is that the exceptional offerings don’t stop there; there is also the option of indulging in sublime, private dining experiences. With choices that include Champagne breakfasts, Caviar and Champagne breakfasts, private breakfasts served by the sea, in-villa floating breakfasts by the pool, private Chef’s Garden dinners, romantic beach dinners, special dig-in dinners and delectable Korean barbecue dinners (for groups of six), there’s certainly no shortage of extraordinary ways to enjoy your meals at Kanuhura this festive season.
Thrilling activities for little gypsetters
At Kanuhura, mini guests are of utmost importance, which is why the resort has gone above and beyond to create an extraordinary kids club. Here, your little ones can make friends with children of a similar age and can embrace an abundance of wonderful, age-appropriate activities under the supervision of the highly-dedicated kids club councillors.
The added benefit of the kids club is that it allows parents time to indulge in some much needed R&R.
This festive season, the kids club programme is chock-a-block with fantastic activities for young guests, including the likes of water sports, festive arts and crafts classes (like salt dough Christmas decoration making), raft building activities, sunset cruises, letters to Santa, fun cooking classes, Christmas stories, pirate adventures, among many others. Your little ones are bound to have a holiday at Kanuhura they will never forget.
Teens are also catered to, with activities such as movie nights, beach games, kayak races, beach volleyball tournaments, night fishing, coral planting, beach football, beach parties and exciting excursions planned. In fact, there are so many wonderful activities on offer, you might find it hard to pull your teens away from them.
Wonderful wellness activities
The reasons to opt for an island holiday are many, but one of them is to break away from day-to-day life and fully relax to ensure that you arrive back home with renewed energy. If this resonates with you, then a trip to the resort’s Kokaa Wellness Retreat and Spa is a must. Here, you’ll have a huge selection of exceptional treatments, carried out by highly-trained therapists using some of the world’s finest spa products.
This festive season, special classes and activities will take place on the resort’s stunning, sea-facing yoga pavilion. Some of the highlights include: sunrise and sunset yoga sessions, yogalates, Pilates classes, and a Pranayama and Meditation session (on December 24).
For those who wish to keep up their healthy habits whilst away, Kanuhura’s state-of-the-art gym will be open to be used at leisure or to make the most of the kickboxing and beach Boot Camp classes. Whatever your needs on holiday, Kanuhura has you covered.
Memorable Christmas programme
Tasteful Christmas decorations will adorn the gorgeous resort during the festive season to set the mood, but it’s the resort’s programme that will ensure everyone has a truly memorable experience.
The kids club will have Christmas-based activities throughout the festive season, but on December 24, they will spend some time decorating name boards that they will place next to a Christmas tree they will get to plant — by themselves or with a sibling — on the island (which they can always come back to visit) and be treated to a special starlight cinema screening.
The main Christmas festivities for adults will kick off on Christmas Eve with a Christmas Eve cocktail evening that will run until 8pm at Fendaa Beach, and a delicious Christmas Buffet dinner, both of which will be accompanied by live music and a DJ.
Christmas Day will be especially magical for the children, with Santa Claus’s arrival in the morning, a Christmas cookie baking class, and a memorable fishing excursion taking place. Dinner and lunch promise to be sublime with a la carte offerings, and the day will end off with a stunning sunset cocktail evening and disco.
Whilst the bulk of the Christmas festivities will take place on these traditional dates, for those who celebrate Christmas in January (those who follow the Orthodox Church’s Julian calendar), fabulous Christmas decorations will still be up to keep the spirit alive and a phenomenal buffet, inspired by Russian cuisine, will be offered in order to add to the celebration.
One thing is for sure, Kanuhura will still be a magical and festive place to spend your special celebration in the sun.
Once-in-a-lifetime New Year’s Eve celebration
The New Year’s Eve celebrations at Kanuhura have historically been extraordinary, and this year promises to be no different.
The build-up to New Year’s Eve will start on December 30 already, with the kids club offering a special sunset cruise for little ones and karaoke in the evening for teens. Adults will be treated to a year-end cocktail experience at Iru Bar and a disco evening.
On December 31, the kids club will host a pre-New Year’s party whilst adults can relish a sundowner cocktail at Iru Bar, followed by the New Year’s Eve Gala dinner and party which takes place from 8pm onwards at Cowry Beach.
The theme this year is “Nautical Nite” and the entire island will be made to feel like one big exceptional cruise liner, beautifully symbolic of the journey into the new year. Guests can dress up in their “cruise ship best” and dance the night away under the stars, surrounded by nothing but paradise in all its perfection.
On January 1 and 2, there will be a special Detox Breakfast Buffet (that will be open for an hour later than usual) to ensure guests start 2020 on the right foot.
The rest of the festive programme will unfold with magnificent experiences and unique offerings; one thing is certain, you and your family will never forget a festive season spent at Kanuhura.
Sublime way to enjoy a “winter” getaway
If you live in the northern hemisphere, then Kanuhura also offers you a glorious escape from the cold. A snow-tinged Christmas may look idyllic on TV, but we all know the realities of winter and that sometimes, you just need to get away from the cold, gray gloom.
There’s really no better way to do that than with a stay in one of Kanuhura’s gorgeous villas during the festive season.
Picture this: a spectacular family holiday spent along Kanuhura’s mesmerising shores with a two-bedroom villa as a ‘home base’ a mere stone’s throw from the beach. Instead of layering multiple items of clothing to keep out the chill, you could be lounging on the beach enjoying the outdoors or partaking in watersports whilst getting a healthy dose of vitamin D as you await Santa’s arrival.
Why would you want to be anywhere else?
Eager to ensure that you and your loved ones get to indulge in a festive season getaway unlike any other? Then book your stay (and any extra activities you can’t bear to miss) with Kanuhura today. The resort’s reservations team will ensure that you pick the right villa type for you or, as availability is limited, the best possible alternative to ensure you have the holiday of a lifetime in paradise.
A holiday at Kanuhura promises to be utterly spectacular.
Located at the heart of Lhaviyani atoll, one of the most spectacular Maldives atolls, Kanuhura is considered one of the most iconic barefoot beach resorts in the Indian Ocean. Part of the Mauritius-based hotel and leisure group Sun Resorts, Kanuhura hosted its first guest in 1999.
A USD42 million reimagining of the resort in 2016 has positioned it for the latest trend travellers have identified as Gypset; part gypsy in their drive for freedom and jetset, reflected in their wealth and craving for luxury living. The gypset muse of Kanuhura is Erin Wasson, famous top model and face representant of Maybelline.
The new rooms are luxury villas and suites with unusual elegance and furnished with natural materials with a touch of refinement and modernism. Whether you stay on the sunrise or sunset side of the island, you will be overwhelmed by the breathtaking view of the sea. The water villas have a private terrace with private access to the lagoon.
With its eight restaurants and three bars, Kanuhura will make you discover various cuisines from all over the world such as Italy, Brazil and the Maldives. The chef also provides interactive cookery demonstrations. Those looking for tranquility and well-being will be able to visit Kokaa, the wellness and spa centre for a unique sensual experience uplifting body and mind.
Fushifaru Maldives has implemented eco-friendly policies applicable to its residents and guests.
Plastic is described as the “cancer of the earth”, and being in the Maldives, we witness the immediate effects of plastic through the degradation of our oceans and our marine life on a daily basis.
This has made Fushifaru to take action to combat this detrimental, global issue by implementing strict policies to make sure that the resort does not contribute to the degradation of our planet.
Fushifaru’s waste management policy will focus on efficient and eco-friendly ways to manage the waste on the island. Glass, plastics, cardboard, wood and wet waste such as food, flowers and other decomposable waste will all be separated and disposed of in their assigned bins.
The ‘zero single-use plastic’ policy aims to completely ban single-use plastics on the island. From plastic bags, plastic straws, cling film and bin bags, Fushifaru will be banning all these items and using greener, eco-friendly alternatives.
“We strongly believe that these policies will make a difference and bring Fushifaru closer to its goal of being a plastic-free resort,” a statement issued by the resort read.
Only a 35-minute breathtaking seaplane flight away from Velana International Airport, Fushifaru is nestled between a national Marine Protected Area and three of the Maldives’ most iconic dive sites. Fushifaru 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 features 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 whilst 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, whilst 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.
Interested in having a green experience at Fushifaru? Reservations can be made by visiting www.fushifaru.com or by calling +960 662 0202.
Maldives on Tuesday resumed tourism leases, allocating 29 uninhabited islands and land from several inhabited islands for new tourism developments.
Local laws allow tourism leases of up to 100 years.
The Tourism Act was amended in 2016 to allow closed bidding for islands for resort development.
However, the new government, which came to power in November 2018, had scrapped the amendment. The government also suspended new tourism leases, pending a market analysis and proper evaluation of existing developments.
At a ceremony held Tuesday evening at the main convention centre of Dharubaaruge in capital Male, tourism minister Ali Waheed said the government plans to develop additional 13,720 tourist beds within its first five-year term.
“This initiative will create at least 18,000 employment opportunities for locals,” he said.
The uninhabited islands earmarked for resort development include:
Four in Haa Alif atoll: Maafinolhu (424 beds), Dhapparu (1,000 beds), Medhufushi (317 beds) and Alidhuffaru Finolhu (233 beds)
Three in Haa Dhaal atoll: Hondaidhoo (500 beds), Kudafaru Fasgandu (233 beds) and Vaikaramuraidhoo (436 beds)
Three in Shaviyani atoll: Nalandhoo (1,700 beds), Kudalhaimendhoo (400 beds) and Fushifaru (233 beds)
One in Noonu atoll: Kunnamalai (250 beds)
Two in Raa atoll: Egili (200 beds) and land reclaimed from the lagoon of Alifushi island (200 beds)
Two in Meemu atoll: Seedhee Huraa (200 beds) and Boa Huraa (200 beds)
Two in Faafu atoll: Enbulufushi (200 beds) and Jinnathagau (200 beds)
Three in Thaa atoll: Kaaddoo (200 beds), Kanimeedhoo (200 beds) and Olhufushi (200 beds)
Three in Laamu atoll: Kashidhoo (233 beds), Dhonberaha (233 beds) and Bodumunyafushi (233 beds)
Two in Gaafu Alif atoll: Maareha Fai (494 beds) and Funadhoo Villigilla (233 beds)
Three in Gaafu Dhaal atoll: Kandahalaga (215 beds), Fereytha Villigilla (233 beds) and Kadevaareha (200 beds)
One in Addu atoll: Hankede (200 beds)
Additionally, land from several inhabited islands has been allocated for the development of local tourism facilities such as hotels and guesthouses. The land covers:
16 hectares from Addu
Two hectares from Fuvahmulah
0.5 hectares from the island of Vaadhoo in Gaafu Dhaal atoll
19 hectares from the island of Gan in Laamu atoll
0.5 hectares from the island of Nolhivaranfaru in Haa Dhaal atoll
8.5 hectares from the island of Kelaa in Haa Alif atoll
23 hectares from the island of Uligan in Haa Alif atoll
Minister Waheed acknowledged that some of the islands are home to environmentally sensitive areas. Those areas will be fully preserved through the development process, he said.
Waheed stressed that these new leases focus on boosting tourism in regions where there are fewer developments. The greater Male region has been excluded because of the high concentration of tourism activity in the region, he added.
The latest official figures show that 152 resorts, 10 hotels, 579 guesthouses and 154 liveaboard vessels are in operation. These establishments have a capacity of 49,337 tourist beds.
Government had earlier said that a total of 132 tourism projects involving 140 islands are being carried out across the Maldives.
Maldives is set to achieve its target of welcoming 20 new resort openings this year.
Eleven new resorts came into operation in 2016, followed by at least 15 new resorts in 2017 and 20 new properties last year.
Over the past few 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 in operation to more than 150.
Existing international players are also upping their presence, with Marriott International launching Westin and JW Marriott in Maldives, Hilton Worldwide re-introducing its top-end luxury brand Waldorf Astoria, Aitken Spence introducing its Heritance brand, Minor Hotel Group to introduce its AVANI brand, Onyx Hospitality Group to introduce its OZO brand with its second property in the island nation, and LUX* Hotels and Resorts opening its second resort in the Maldives. The Residence by Cenizaro has also opened its second Maldivian property, whilst Thai hospitality group Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced the development of its fifth resort in Maldives.
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.
Maldives had in November welcomed the 1.5 millionth tourist of the year, reaching the destination’s target for tourist arrivals this year.
Maldives welcomed a record 1.4 million tourists in 2018. It was a 6.8 per cent increase from the 1,389,542 tourists that chose to holiday in the Maldives in 2017.
To achieve this target, the government had added MVR 50 million (USD 3.23 million) to the annual marketing budget of the tourism ministry.
In the state budget for 2020, the government had allocated MVR 154.2 million (USD 9.98 million) for tourism promotion — up from the MVR 104.2 million (USD 6.7 million) in 2019, and MVR 34.73 million (USD 2.2 million) each in 2018 and 2017.
The government, which came to power in 2018, pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.
Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) in 2018 and 2017.
COMO Maalifushi has teamed up with acclaimed marine photographer Henley Spiers to create a one-of-a-kind, hands-on workshop that gives guests a chance to learn the art of underwater photography whilst also taking in the natural tapestry of one of the region’s most remote atolls.
“The serene private island resort allows for guests to connect with marine life like never before under the guidance of one of the world’s leading underwater photography experts,” Benjamin Kreuz, General Manager of COMO Maalifushi was quoted in a statement, as saying.
The retreat includes 10 half-day dives limited to eight participants, which means the experience is highly personalised. Guests will spend each day in the company of Spiers and partake in both underwater sessions and on-land training, as well as in post-production classes.
Those new to marine photography will be guided through the entire process—from setting up camera gear to optimising time underwater — and will leave with a 360-degree understanding of underwater photography.
“The briefing and lessons that accompany guests will ensure they have the best possible opportunity to create striking images, no matter their level of experience,” Henley said.
Alongside the daily instruction and dives, guests will also receive seaplane transfers, seven nights accommodation in a beach suite, complimentary meals — including three-course lunches and dinners — a night snorkelling experience and a 60-minute massage.
In addition, guests are invited to take full advantage of the resort’s five-star offerings, like complimentary yoga sessions.
The luxury underwater photography retreat with Henley Spiers runs from March 22 to 29, 2020 and is priced from USD 12,277 for single accommodation or USD 9,982 per person for double occupancy. Since it’s limited to just eight people, you best get in fast.
COMO Maalifushi is the only resort in the pristine Thaa atoll — a 60-minute seaplane journey from the Maldives main Velana International Airport. This makes it the ultimate away-from-it-all destination with white strands of beach, inland tropical greenery and a safe, cobalt lagoon flanked by a healthy house reef.
The resort provides numerous opportunities to explore the region with instruction in sailing, diving and seasonal surfing, using a fleet of boats for fishing and a nearby white-sand island where guests can enjoy a private island picnic experience.
But whilst activities are numerous, this is a luxurious resort designed with relaxation front of mind. Each room’s décor is designed to bring the colours of sea, sand and sky into the heart of the residence, be it an overwater villa or a beach house set among garden palms.
COMO Maalifushi has three restaurants: Thila, for easygoing food such as wood-fired pizzas and salads; Madi, which serves a mix of local, regional and Mediterranean cuisine; and Tai, which ranks amongst the finest Japanese restaurants in the Maldives, featuring a sushi bar serving freshly caught seafood and an enviable, overwater location.
Guests can fully embrace the range of holistic Asian therapies available at the award-winning COMO Shambhala Retreat at COMO Maalifushi, which also offers yoga, a fully-equipped gym and a range of holistic wellness therapies. The guest experience at COMO Maalifushi is defined from beginning to end by COMO’s exacting, passionate service.
Dynamic Indian Ocean hospitality group Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts has appointed Monica Suri as the General Manager of the group’s newest property, VARU by Atmosphere.
Monica brings more than a decade of experience within the hospitality industry and a wealth of knowledge from HR, training and core operations.
Prior to joining Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, she was the General Manager of Marriott Jaipur, India and was also associated with brands like Westin, Le Meridien and Taj.
She graduated from Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Bangalore and holds an MBA in Sales and Marketing. She has completed a Leadership Programme from Cornell and is a passionate traveller with 36 countries on books.
Located in the north-west edge of Male atoll and easily accessible by a 40-minute speedboat journey from the main Velana International Airport, VARU by Atmosphere offers 108 luxurious villas.
Thirty-nine Beach Villas feature spacious interiors and outdoor decks, surrounded by lush green vegetation and situated just a few metres from the white sandy beach, whilst 69 Overwater Villas have signature Maldivian-style interiors and offer direct access to the turquoise lagoon from the deck. Both villa types offer minimalistic design styles with splashes of vibrant colours, and come with the option of private pools.
Additional resort facilities include a dive and water sports centre, an overwater ELENA spa, a gymnasium and a kids club.
The resort island’s reef is known to be home to mantas and other vibrant wildlife species, which will provide guests unique snorkelling and diving experiences unlike others on offer in the Maldives.
In line with Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts’ philosophy, ‘The Joy of Giving’, all guests of VARU by Atmosphere will be staying on The VARU Plan — an all-inclusive package, which lets you dine, enjoy snacks, taste premium alcohol, indulge in unlimited cocktails and take part in complimentary water activities during your stay at the resort.
Tailor-made for VARU by Atmosphere, The VARU Plan encompasses all elements of a hassle-free holiday experience in the Maldives! No surprises, no shocks, no hidden extras – all included in one price!
The opening of VARU by Atmosphere in October is the start of an ambitious expansion plan of the Indian Ocean hospitality group. With several new properties being added to the existing four-property portfolio, this opening enhances the groups growth within the ‘By Atmosphere’ white-label sub-brand – along with the group’s other sub-brands of OZEN, OBLU and OBLU Select.
Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts’ first property, Atmosphere Kanifushi, opened its doors in December 2013. The group opened its second property, OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli, in November 2015; followed by their flagship ‘Lifestyle Luxury’ sub-brand, OZEN by Atmosphere, in July 2016; and then OBLU Select at Sangeli, which opened in July 2018.
Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts offers guest-centric resort experiences through unique resort plans, offering guests a range of all-encompassing experiences, with varieties of dining options as well as a number of complimentary amenities and activities that ensure a relaxed, hassle-free holiday experience at each resort, all the while staying true to the brand’s core philosophy: ‘The Joy of Giving’.
Centara Hotels & Resorts has transformed one of its Maldives resorts into a self-sustaining solar energy generator after the adoption of a rooftop solar panel system that will begin producing electricity this month.
Following the completion of solar panel installation atop the roofs of all of the resort’s main structures, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives will generate enough power to supply close to 40 per cent of its energy needs, resulting in an annual energy savings equivalent to 307,000 kilowatt hours (kwh), or about 83,000 litres of diesel fuel.
“The rooftop solar conversion is one of Centara’s most ambitious sustainability projects undertaken at a single property,” David Good, Centara’s Vice President of Operations, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
“The benefits to the environment made it a compelling choice, and we will be looking at options for expanding the solar programme to other properties going forward.”
Centara’s long-term commitment to sustainable business practices is reflected in a number of initiatives aimed at reducing the company’s environmental impact in the communities where it operates.
Its ongoing engagement with EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, continues to yield consequential improvements in key sustainability metrics. To date, 15 Centara hotels and resorts have achieved EarthCheck certification and another four properties are enrolled in EarthCheck’s Evaluate Plus programme, leading to significant reductions in carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions across a number of Centara’s certified properties.
Most recently, the company’s leadership in environmental sustainability was recognised for the second consecutive year by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, which awarded Centara Hotels & Resorts (CENTEL) its “Thailand Sustainability Investment 2019 (THSI)” designation, given annually in recognition of listed companies that operate with responsibility across Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects.
Centara, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, makes travel to the Maldives more accessible and appealing with a choice of two distinctive resorts. Each one caters to different needs but both offer the experience of one of the world’s most incredible natural holiday destinations.
Surrounded by the blue ocean of the South Ari Atoll and distinctive with its timbered walkways and colonial-style buildings, Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives is a luxury, once-in-a-lifetime barefoot paradise with a palm-fringed beach and shimmering lagoon that offers the perfect island holiday for everyone.
With 112 spacious villas set overwater and suites blending harmoniously with the natural setting, the island has a wealth of activities and superb facilities that make this an ideal hideaway for couples and honeymooners, or a fun-filled destination for families. There are exceptional opportunities to discover the exotic life of Maldives underwater, with a house reef that is a kaleidoscope of colour for snorkelers, a shipwreck dive site just off the island and easy access to some of the most famous dive sites in the world.
Meanwhile, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives is an adults-only resort, with no one under the age of 12 years accommodated on the island. Located just 20 minutes by speedboat from the main Velana International Airport, the resort has 140 villas. Flexibility in dining plans is provided with the choice of half-board plus or all-inclusive programmes.
Dusit Thani Maldives resort is promising an extremely merry experience for guests this festive season with a special programme of exquisite feasts, wine tastings, Champagne receptions, pool parties, live music events, and even hand-delivered presents from Santa.
With a seasonal ‘Fairytale Night’ theme, the resort will also immerse guests in a dreamlike world of twinkling lights and enchanting décor to deliver magical experiences throughout.
Highlights of the programme include performances by DJ Goli, who is known throughout the region for his eclectic electronic beats; complimentary Zumba and Samba classes with professional dancer Rebecca Aroca, live performances of classic and modern hits by talented Music Duo Vlad & Anastasia; and special themed dinner nights at the resort’s award-winning restaurants.
On Christmas Day, the resort’s Baan Sanook Kids Club will be a hive of activity, with arts and crafts activities, cookie and cupcake-making workshops, fun sports, dancing sessions, Christmas tree decorating, carol singing, gift-giving from Santa, and more special surprises.
On New Year’s Eve, Dusit Thani Maldives will host ‘Once Upon a Time’ – an elegant night of wining, dining and live entertainment, including a headlining performance by Maria Eroyan and Royal Drive Band, whose lead singer, Maria, is best known for singing her way to the semifinals of famous TV shows such as ‘The Voice’ and ‘Live Sound’ in Russia.
When the clock strikes midnight, the fireworks will begin, signaling the end of the year, the arrival of 2020, and the beginning of an after-party at the resort’s Market Beach, where DJs, live music, glow sticks and a vibrant atmosphere await.
Located on Mudhdhoo Island in Baa atoll — the Maldives’ first ever UNESCO biosphere reserve — Dusit Thani Maldives blends gracious Thai hospitality with the unparalleled luxury setting of the Maldives. This luxury island resort comprises 94 villas encircled by white sandy beaches, a stunning 360 degree house reef and a turquoise lagoon. With a unique combination of beach and lagoon accommodation, Dusit Thani Maldives provides an unmatched luxurious escape for all travellers.
The resort offers a 360 degree vibrant house reef compliment with a turquoise lagoon, a 750-square metre infinity swimming pool with a lush Banyan tree in the centre, five restaurants and bars with breathtaking views and a Kids Club that is committed to making children’s dreams come true.
The award-winning Devarana Spa at Dusit Thani Maldives encompasses six deluxe treatment pods, which sit elevated amongst the island’s palm trees. For those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground, the spa has also developed two stunning ground level treatment rooms. Manicure and pedicure-dedicated area, private outdoor pool, steam and sauna are exclusively available for spa guests.
Maldives will welcome 13 new resort openings in 2020, the island nation’s tourism minister Ali Waheed announced Tuesday.
At a ceremony held Tuesday evening to announce new islands allocated for resort development, Minister Waheed said 143 resorts were in operation when the new government took over in November 2018. That number has now increased to 154, he added.
“A total of 13 new resorts are set to be opened in the coming year,” the minister said, during the ceremony held at the main convention centre of Dharubaaruge in capital Male.
Maldives is set to achieve its target of welcoming 20 new resort openings this year.
Eleven new resorts came into operation in 2016, followed by at least 15 new resorts in 2017 and 20 new properties last year.
The latest official figures show that 152 resorts, 10 hotels, 579 guesthouses and 154 liveaboard vessels are in operation. These establishments have a capacity of 49,337 tourist beds.
Government had earlier said that a total of 132 tourism projects involving 140 islands are being carried out across the Maldives.
Over the past few 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 in operation to more than 150.
Existing international players are also upping their presence, with Marriott International launching Westin and JW Marriott in Maldives, Hilton Worldwide re-introducing its top-end luxury brand Waldorf Astoria, Aitken Spence introducing its Heritance brand, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts opening its fourth resort, Minor Hotel Group to introduce its AVANI brand, Onyx Hospitality Group to introduce its OZO brand with its second property in the island nation, and LUX* Hotels and Resorts opening its second resort in the Maldives. The Residence by Cenizaro has also opened its second Maldivian property, whilst Thai hospitality group Centara Hotels & Resorts has announced the development of its fifth resort in Maldives.
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.
Meanwhile, 29 uninhabited islands and land from several inhabited islands have been allocated for new tourism developments.
Maldives had in November welcomed the 1.5 millionth tourist of the year, reaching the destination’s target for tourist arrivals this year.
Maldives welcomed a record 1.4 million tourists in 2018. It was a 6.8 per cent increase from the 1,389,542 tourists that chose to holiday in the Maldives in 2017.
To achieve this target, the government had added MVR 50 million (USD 3.23 million) to the annual marketing budget of the tourism ministry.
In the state budget for 2020, the government had allocated MVR 154.2 million (USD 9.98 million) for tourism promotion — up from the MVR 104.2 million (USD 6.7 million) in 2019, and MVR 34.73 million (USD 2.2 million) each in 2018 and 2017.
The government, which came to power in 2018, pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.
Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) in 2018 and 2017.
A new seaplane terminal being developed at the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport will come into operation in May 2020, the airport operator announced Wednesday.
Moosa Solih, the acting Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), told local journalists that the new terminal will initially be operated jointly by all the operators. MACL will fully take over the operations of the terminal in three years, he said.
“We can’t take over the operations right away because there are existing contracts with the operators. We also need to ensure a smooth transfer of operations from the existing terminal to the new one,” Solih said, after a tour of the new developments taking place at the airport.
“At MACL, we’re building our capacity to run the seaplane terminal. Based on our progress, we’ll be gradually taking over different aspects of the operations, culminating in a full takeover in about three years.”
The new seaplane terminal is being built on reclaimed lagoon behind the air traffic control tower on the eastern side of the airport island of Hulhule. The new terminal sits on 18,000 square metres of reclaimed land and the accompanying seaplane hanger is being built on additional 14,000 square metres of reclaimed land.
Solih stressed that the water aerodrome of the new terminal will initially have the capacity to accommodate 55 seaplanes at a time, but can be expanded to accommodate 100.
Four operators can comfortably provide service from the four-storey terminal, he added.
Passenger facilities at the new terminal will include a spacious arrival lobby, VIP lounges and restaurants.
Photo: Mihaaru Online
The terminal, which costs USD 40 million, is part of a USD 800 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 runway and a new international passenger terminal, as well as other support facilities, including a fuel farm that can store 45 million litres and a 120,000 tonne cargo facility.
Seaplane is the preferred mode of transport between the main Velana International Airport and dozens of resorts, especially those located in outer atolls.
Three airlines currently provide seaplane service: flagship carrier Maldivian, and privately run Trans Maldivian Airways and Manta Air. Private airline Villa Air’s Flyme is also set to begin seaplane operations soon.
TMA, which is controlled by a consortium led by US-based Bain Capital and Chinese conglomerate Tempus Group, operates an all-amphibian fleet of more than 50 aircraft, making it the largest seaplane operator in the world.
Manta Air, which launched the Maldives’ first scheduled seaplane service in November, uses six Twin Otter aircraft. Another four are expected to join the airline’s seaplane fleet by year-end.
The seaplane operators are investing heavily in expanding their operations, especially their fleet. The expansion comes in line with growing tourist arrivals and increasing bed capacity due to the opening of dozens of new resorts in the Maldives.
New Year’s Eve always seems to hold so much promise, but for many, it’s often nothing more than a total disappointment. It’s “meant” to be a celebration of things past and wonderful opportunities and experiences still to come, but, ultimately, there’s a lot of pressure on it to be the best night of the year.
Now, when was the last time you had a truly fantastic or memorable New Year’s Eve?
The good news is, this year, you could actually have the New Year’s Eve of your dreams — end off 2019 by indulging in a trip of a lifetime and have the most enviable New Year’s Eve ever at the magical gypset paradise of Kanuhura in the Maldives.
Situated in the Lhaviyani atoll in the heart of the destination, the pristine island of Kanuhura offers guests a sublime mix of excellent service, sublime experience, luxury comforts and chic, gypsy-esque design elements in the most outstanding tropical surrounds.
Here, along the golden shores of Kanuhura and the glittering cyan waters, you can enjoy an unforgettable festive season, with a “cruise ship” party on December 31, that will guide you into 2020 in style to the sounds of some very special music. This New Year’s Eve, Ellie Sax and Harry Lewis Meredith will be gracing the picture-perfect shores of Kanuhura to set the tone for an evening to remember.
Mitigate the chance for another New Year’s Eve let down and spend the last night of the decade at Kanuhura listening to the phenomenal sounds of Ellie Sax. Here’s what you need to know about this sublime performer.
She’s an esteemed saxophonist
Ellie is not just any musician, she’s a highly trained and talented saxophonist. Having graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England — and winning a few awards in the process — this now A-list performer can play everything from chilled beachside music to upbeat tunes to go with lively DJ tracks — she’s wonderfully versatile.
What’s especially exciting is that she will be performing on New Year’s Eve with her DJ husband, Harry, also known as Laser Boy Wonder. This is sure to be a performance to remember.
She’s performed at some of world’s most exclusive events
As a highly sought after saxophonist, Ellie has performed at some of the most exclusive events and parties around the world, not to mention high-end weddings!
She spent the year performing at Nikki Beach in Ibiza and Mallorca as well as in Italy, the UK, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Portugal, the Cote D’Azur, Sweden, Kenya, the US, the Maldives. She even played at the Ocean Beach SIN Sundays closing party in Ibiza.
She’s managed to travel the world, saxophone in hand, and delighting party-goers of every kind as she goes.
She’s worked with top artists
Being a Hedkandi artist, the UK-based record label owned by Ministry of Sound and known for their dance music compilations and specific artist albums, Ellie has been afforded the opportunity to play with other world-renowned artists and DJs from across the globe. From Alison Limerick, Karen Harding and Alesha Dixon to N Trance, Marvin Hulmes, Artful Dodger and Stonebridge and more.
By working with DJs and artists from all over, she has enhanced her live performances and amplified the dance music experience.
She’s not just a musician
Ellie has many titles: saxophonist, musician, blogger and influencer. She has an impressive following on both Instagram and Facebook and posts highlights of her life, travel experiences, glitzy performances and the beautiful people that are fortunate enough to enjoy them.
She’s known for her unique style
Ellie knows how to perform in style and has become increasingly well known for her incredible style; vivid colours, feathers, sequins, her iconic bejewelled hat and lots of sparkles. From her sensational talent and contagious energy to her amazing stage presence and glittering clothing, Ellie is sure to make your New Year’s Eve all the more special and unforgettable.
On December 31, don your cruise ship best, pick up a glass of champagne, dance barefoot on the beach and enjoy the fabulous live music and atmosphere set by Ellie under the Maldivan stars as you set sail into the new decade. This is bound to be a New Year’s Eve for the books.
Want to make sure you don’t miss out? Then book your spot at Kanuhura over the festive season and embrace a holiday of a lifetime.
Located at the heart of Lhaviyani atoll, one of the most spectacular Maldives atolls, Kanuhura is considered one of the most iconic barefoot beach resorts in the Indian Ocean. Part of the Mauritius-based hotel and leisure group Sun Resorts, Kanuhura hosted its first guest in 1999.
A USD42 million reimagining of the resort in 2016 has positioned it for the latest trend travellers have identified as Gypset; part gypsy in their drive for freedom and jetset, reflected in their wealth and craving for luxury living. The gypset muse of Kanuhura is Erin Wasson, famous top model and face representant of Maybelline.
The new rooms are luxury villas and suites with unusual elegance and furnished with natural materials with a touch of refinement and modernism. Whether you stay on the sunrise or sunset side of the island, you will be overwhelmed by the breathtaking view of the sea. The water villas have a private terrace with private access to the lagoon.
With its eight restaurants and three bars, Kanuhura will make you discover various cuisines from all over the world such as Italy, Brazil and the Maldives. The chef also provides interactive cookery demonstrations. Those looking for tranquility and well-being will be able to visit Kokaa, the wellness and spa centre for a unique sensual experience uplifting body and mind.
Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) on Thursday hosted the gala celebrations of Maldives Travel Awards 2019, recognising the best of the Maldives travel industry.
Dubbed as the premier travel event in the Maldives, the Maldives Travel Awards gala saw more than 200 travel professionals come together at Crossroads Maldives — the first and largest integrated tourism development in the country — to celebrate the winners in 26 categories of the Gala Edition.
The winners include:
Leading Airport Hotel: Airport Beach Hotel
Leading Low Cost Carrier: Air Asia
Leading Local Carrier: Maldivian
Leading International Carrier: Sri Lankan Airlines
Leading Business Hotel: Hotel Jen Malé Maldives By Shangri-La
Leading Local Hotel & Resort Brand: Villa Hotels
Leading International Hotel & Resort Brand: Anantara Hotels & Resorts
Leading Liveaboard: Ark Nobel
Leading Surf Resort: Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives
Leading Food And Beverage Outlet: Niyama Private Islands Maldives
Leading Meeting and Conference Resort: Kurumba Maldives
Leading Designer Resort: Cocoon Maldives and Kandima Maldives
Leading Dive Resort: Bandos Maldives and Angaga Island Resort & Spa
Leading Human Resource Management: Velaa Private Island Maldives
Leading CSR Programme: Crown & Champa Resorts
Leading Liveaboard Brand: Carpe Diem Maldives
Leading Eco Resort: Six Senses Laamu
Leading All-Inclusive Resort: Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives
Leading Food and Beverage Resort: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Leading Family Resort: One&Only Reethi Rah
Leading Wellness And Spa Resort: Kihaa Maldives and The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives
Leading Beach Resort: Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa
Leading Luxury Resort: Cheval Blanc Randheli
Most Romantic Resort: Huvafen Fushi Maldives
The celebrations began in the afternoon with a networking reception hosted at Café Del Mar for winners in the Guesthouse Edition. It was followed by the gala dinner where the winners of the Gala Edition and the People’s Edition were announced.
Maldives Travel Awards celebrated its eighth anniversary this year, with a record number of nominations in all major categories.
This year, the Gala edition featured 236 nominations in 28 categories, representing more than 100 registered travel brands in the Maldives. The Guesthouse Edition featured 196 nominations in 13 categories.
Winners in both editions were selected based on reviews by travellers and popular vote collected via SMS and an online voting portal. A combined total of over 110,000 votes were registered.
Meanwhile, contributions to the industry by three travel professionals were recognised, as part of the People’s Edition.
The individuals that received the ‘Tourism Personality of the Year’ award include:
Raffaele Solferino: General Manger, Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives
Ramsay Perera: General Manager, Embudu Village
“We have concluded another successful edition of Maldives Travel Awards – and we acknowledge the support and contribution from our partners and the travel industry to make this award a special recognition,” Abdulla Suood, President of MATAO, said.
“Growing numbers in nominations and popular vote is a clear indication of the progress that we are making in our efforts to develop this awards to a global recognition and a successful marketing platform for the nominees and for the destination.”
Initiated in 2012 by MATATO, the Maldives Travel Awards celebrate and honour the best tourism and hospitality products in the Maldives whilst fostering relationships with suppliers and local travel agents. From 20 categories in 2012, the awards have now expanded into three editions totalling 55 categories.
MATATO hosts three editions: the People’s Edition, which recognises successful pioneers and long serving individuals in the tourism industry, a Guesthouse Edition, which celebrates the outstanding performance of the up and coming guesthouse sector, and the Gala Edition, which is exclusive for winners in the categories for resorts, airlines and liveaboards.
Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives has opened an on-site water bottling facility to provide drinking water to all guests and staff, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve sustainability of its operations.
Like most resorts in the Maldives, Grand Park Kodhipparu has a desalination plant to produce fresh water for its operations. However, the resort used to provide purchased bottled water, predominantly in plastic PET bottles, as drinking water.
Plastic pollution is increasingly being recognised as a threat to marine ecosystems, with animals such as turtles, fish and seabirds often mistaking floating plastic for food and becoming entangled or choked by the debris. Empty plastic water bottles are one of the most visible and numerous waste items encountered in the Maldives.
As part of its sustainability management plan under the Green Globe Standards for Responsible Tourism, Grand Park Kodhipparu has a target to significantly minimise the use of single-use plastics.
The new bottling facility produces filtered drinking water in reusable glass bottles. This has resulted in a reduction of over 15,000 plastic bottles a month from the resort’s operations.
The new drinking water production system established by Grand Park Kodhipparu runs on a separate Reverse Osmosis desalinated water supply, with several subsequent filtration steps (ultraviolet sterilisation, as well as carbon and mineral ball filter cartridges) before being delivered to a variety of dispensing units, including the bottling facility.
All resort employees have been provided with stainless steel drinking water bottles that they can refill as required from chilled dispensers in the staff accommodation area.
Resort outlets, guest rooms and other facilities are supplied with water in glass bottles directly from the bottling facility, which produces both spring and sparkling water. Used bottles are sterilised in a hot water washer before being refilled.
The drinking water will be closely monitored and tested regularly in-house. It will also be analysed by an authorised lab in capital Male or abroad once a month in order to ensure that the water is safe for drinking.
Peter Pringle, Resident Marine Biologist at Grand Park Kodhipparu, explained: “Plastic drinking water bottles were previously the biggest source of single-use plastic on our island, so the use of refillable glass bottles has huge benefits in terms of reducing the waste from our operations that needs to be dealt with off island. We also hope this will set a positive example for people that there are alternatives to many single-use plastics and other packaging.”
Located in North Male Atoll and a 15-minute speedboat ride away from the main Velana International Airport, Grand Park Kodhipparu features a collection of 120 villas, including idyllic beachfront pool villas, breathtaking overwater villas and palatial two-bedroom villas. Sixty-five of the 120 villas come with their own private pools and the five two-bedroom suites feature extensive private terraces.
Designed by world-renowned hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, the resort showcases sophisticated architecture, state-of-the-art interior, high ceiling of palm fringed roof, and contemporary exterior with Maldives’ traditional influence of wood and rattan, inventive rustic appeal and inviting peaceful atmosphere. Neutral tones, natural fundamentals and spacious social settings balance the unrivalled beauty of the cobalt sea and tranquility.
Grand Park Kodhipparu offers three restaurants and a pool bar, including the overwater Edge restaurant, which offers a wide selection of international culinary creations, Breeze poolside restaurant and bar, which serves lunch and light bites throughout the day followed by inventive cocktails and fine wines in the night, and the FireDOOR speciality restaurant, which offers grilled meats and fish coupled with the finest wines.
Recreational facilities at the resort include an outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, sunrise yoga deck, wellness centre with spa and salon treatments, water sports and dive centre, children’s activity centre, and specialty shops.
Jumeirah Vittaveli has yet again introduced a first in the Maldives with its new fleet of stylish custom-made catamarans that await guests visiting the luxurious island retreat.
Jumeirah’s dedicated airport personnel will welcome you on arrival and guide you to the resort’s lounge where fresh coffee, homemade cookies and a relaxed atmosphere are on offer. Log into the complimentary WiFi to catch up on the day’s news or post your first snap of arriving in this stunning island destination.
Next, the resort’s team will accompany you to one of its top-of-the-line transfer vessels — luxurious catamarans that will make the 20-minute ride past idyllic scenery of lush tropical islands and endless ocean blues pass in no time.
Designed by the award-winning iYacht agency based out of Hamburg, Germany and operated by Jalboot, these vessels are inspired by the sophistication and elegance of Jumeirah Vittaveli.
The new catamarans come in three models – the Polestar, the Jumeirah, and the Classic Yacht. The Polestar’s interiors are decked in lush tones of pale gold, cream and grey, whilst the Jumeirah showcases darker bronze and turquoise shades that reflect the brilliant colours of the Indian Ocean and the Classic Yacht mixes rich wooden features with soft greys and beige.
Each model features spacious lounge seating, inviting guests to relax the moment they step on-board, whilst they may enjoy a freshly brewed espresso from the on-board kitchenette, or browse through the latest Jumeirah magazine and familiarise themselves with the plethora of activities on offer at Jumeirah Vittaveli.
“I am delighted to be able to surprise our guests for the festive season, as we have many families and couples returning to their favourite holiday destination. It is a delight to know that we were able to introduce yet another service that will enhance our guests’ experience whilst still keeping true to the elements that have become so dear to our guests – the genuine warmth and dedication that welcomes you the moment you meet our team at the airport and that will continue throughout your stay,” Jumeirah Vittaveli’s General Manager Abhijit Ghosh was quoted in a statement, as saying.
With a traditional Maldivian welcome and more activities to fill your days with than you can dream of, Jumeirah Vittaveli is the perfect place for all the family to speed things up or slow things down. Land and water-based activities include the destination’s first ice rink, a PADI Dive base, water sports centre, Talise Spa, six restaurants and bars, a wine library, an overwater lounge, an underground whisky and chocolate salon and a cigar lounge.
Jumeirah Vittaveli has curated a collection of all of the most remarkable experiences the Maldives has to offer in one place. Shape your own unique Maldives experience at this luxurious Maldivian hideaway.
Kurumba Maldives has been recognised as the Leading Meeting & Conference Resort in the Maldives.
The award was presented at the prestigious Maldives Travel Awards gala, held Thursday evening at Crossroads Maldives.
With its convenient location, a 10-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport and capital Male, Kurumba is an ideal destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and events.
Kurumba has had the privilege to organise numerous events since its opening in 1972, ranging from formal state dinners and visiting dignitaries to regional corporate workshops and international events.
The Bougainvillea Hall is Kurumba’s main convention hall. Its high ceilings give the well-appointed room an open feel, without pillars obscuring attendees’ view. This meeting space can accommodate up to 200 guests in a variety of layouts.
A separate VIP lounge, connected to the main conference hall, can be divided into two spaces. Suitable for up to 60 guests, this space is perfect for breakouts, a rest area for speakers, or for smaller meetings.
Opened by four young Maldivians on an uninhabited coconut plantation island in October 1972, Kurumba marked the beginning of the tourism industry in the Maldives.
Kurumba began with 30 huts built of coral and thatched with coconut leaves; the first guests were barefoot backpackers in search of sand, sea and sun.
Today, the resort is still Maldivian owned and managed. About 1,000 tourists visited the island in 1972; now, it is over 1.5 million tourists, staying in over 150 resorts throughout the Maldives.
Kurumba is set on a tropical island in the North Male Atoll, conveniently situated a brief 10-minute speedboat ride from the airport. It draws on its proud history, charismatic personality and heartfelt service, to offer compelling and diverse experiences amidst a stunning island setting.
The resort offers an array of eight styles of accommodation, ranging from comfortable Superior Rooms to the spacious Two Bedroom Villa, spread amongst the island’s lush tropical gardens with easy access to the beach.
With eight different restaurants, three bars and one shisha lounge to choose from, Kurumba will charm you with its unparalleled choice of dining experiences and a wide range of recreation activities and entertainment — all the while maintaining idyllic spaces of relaxation to create the perfect balance for a holiday in paradise, perfect for honeymooners and families alike.
Initiated in 2012 by MATATO, the Maldives Travel Awards celebrate and honour the best tourism and hospitality products in the Maldives whilst fostering relationships with suppliers and local travel agents. From 20 categories in 2012, the awards have now expanded into three editions totalling 55 categories.
MATATO hosts three editions: the People’s Edition, which recognises successful pioneers and long serving individuals in the tourism industry, a Guesthouse Edition, which celebrates the outstanding performance of the up and coming guesthouse sector, and the Gala Edition, which is exclusive for winners in the categories for resorts, airlines and liveaboards.
