Judging for South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2017 has begun on Wednesday.

SATA’s Hospitality Partner for Maldives Champa Central Hotel is currently hosting presentations by nominees from the Maldives.

After the evaluations in Maldives conclude on Saturday, the evaluation of nominees from Sri Lanka will be held from Saturday to Tuesday at Ramada Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo, which has been appointed as the Hospitality Partner for Sri Lanka.

Nominees from South India will give presentations to the panel of judges from Wednesday to Sunday at The Chancery Pavilion in Indian IT hub of Bangalore, SATA’s Hospitality Partner for South India. Udman Hotels and Resorts by Ferns N Petals in Indian capital New Delhi, which has been appointed as the Hospitality Partner for North India, will host evaluations and presentations by nominees from North India from August 27-29.

Nominees from Nepal and Bhutan will give their presentations from August 29-31 at Hotel Mulberry in Nepalese capital Kathmandu, which has been appointed as the Hospitality Partner for Nepal.

More than 414 nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal have been received for the 39 categories included in this year’s edition of SATA. Online voting is ongoing, and will complement the judging by a panel of experts.

SATA has recently announced the first batch of partners for this year’s edition, with Maldives Insider being named an official travel media partner.

This year’s edition of SATA will take place in the Maldives in October. Organisers are exploring the possibility of hosting it at the southernmost Addu atoll.

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

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

The awards’ first edition, which wrapped up with a gala ceremony at the iconic Mount Lavinia Hotel in Sri Lanka, saw an overwhelming support with more than 260 nominations. Major travel media organisations, including Maldives Insider, Asian Traveller, Asian Geographic, Asian Diver and Floating Asia were appointed as media partners of SATA 2016.

If anyone understands the technicalities of tourism marketing, it is Dinesh Bhaskar, the Group Director – Sales and Marketing at Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts. He has been working in the Maldives tourism industry for 25 years, and has witnessed almost every major change the industry has gone through.

In fact, Dinesh, to his credit, is the man behind at least a few of those changes. For instance, he is the pioneer of Premium All-Inclusive, a relatively new concept for the Maldives tourism industry that has since come to redefine luxury tourism in the Maldives. Inspired by a resort brand in the Caribbean, Dinesh, while working as the General Manager, Sales and Marketing at Turquoise Experience, which is a Marketing brand for Island Hideaway and Lily Beach at the time, introduced the Premium All-Inclusive concept at Lily Beach resort, as part of its relaunch as a five star resort from a basic four star resort. A first of its kind at the time, the Premium All-Inclusive has now been adopted by several five star and luxury resorts in the Maldives.

A trained economist with a passion for dealing with new challenges, Dinesh arrived in the Maldives in 1993 to setup American Express operations in the Maldives. After taking a big step to move into the hospitality and tourism industry, he has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa and Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, General Manager, Sales and Marketing at Turquoise Experience, and as the Ground Operations Manager at Maldivian Air Taxi (now part of Trans Maldivian Airways). 

In an interview with Maldives Insider, Dinesh shares what he describes as a “romantic journey” in the Maldives.

My services are also for the Maldives and the local community. I have always been honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as a true ambassador of the Maldives. And it certainly has been a romantic journey – a journey of trust, respect and love!

Maldives Insider: How did you get the opportunity to work in the tourism industry?

Dinesh Bhaskar: I am not a hotelier. In fact, I was sent to the Maldives in 1993 to setup American Express operations, with Bank of Maldives (BML) as the paying agent and Universal Enterprises being the agency. It was an amazing journey with two years of wonderful business for American Express Cards, Travellers Cheques as well as Service Establishment business. There were a lot of issues too; a number of Amex cardholders had not paid money on time and fund recovery was core to my function.

In 1996, I was promoted as the Area Sales Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives and was about to move to Sri Lanka to take up my new position. Universal Resorts Management, with whom I had a strong and warm relationship, came forward the day before I was set to depart and proposed an opportunity to consider formalising their corporate sales and marketing function! Given my love for the Maldives as well as the offer coming from a highly respected organisation like Universal, I decided to take on the challenge and joined the hospitality trade.

MI: How would you describe your experience in the Maldives?

DB: It has been an amazing journey for various reasons. Maldives gave me the opportunity to not only represent a high profile destination but also present such an incredible gift of God to the worldwide travel fraternity. Today, in sales and marketing, product profiling and positioning is everything, and I believe Maldives has these two elements in its core. Anyone who represents the Maldives from a sales and marketing perspective worldwide will always be proud of this profiling and positioning that the destination naturally carries.

Additionally, when you travel the world over, you become a much wiser and pragmatic person, given the numerous interactions with the media worldwide as well as with the high profile tour operator segment. Whatever I am today, I would confidently state that a big credit for all the various personal accolades and achievements that have come my way goes to the Maldives. My family and I are truly indebted for this incredible journey to the nations and its wonderful people. I have always been absolutely proud to represent the Maldives in all forums worldwide.

In this journey, I have been actively involved with different hospitality brands, new openings, and rebranding and repositioning processes. Each of these experiences have been quite magical! It all started with Universal Resorts, which I still believe is some of the most professionally managed hospitality brands in the entire Indian Ocean with incredibly wise ownership who have a clear vision at all times. Opening of Taj Exotica, repositioning of the erstwhile Taj Coral Reef, the incredible challenge of the launch of the first home-grown luxury resort Island Hideaway and competing against all popular international brands and winning the positioning, rebranding and repositioning of Lily Beach from an entry-level four star to a five star property, and most notably the new opening of Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa. Shangri-La’s Villingili was a different ball-game altogether because I strongly believe that Addu — the southernmost atoll — is a destination by itself. It has key USPs that can compete directly with Mauritius, Bali and Sri Lanka.

And now, Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts. In just four years, we already have three resorts in full operation with 338 keys, and one more resort with 137 keys is opening in May 2018 in North Male Atoll – OBLU SELECT at Sangeli. Probably, there would be one more opening in Addu atoll by 2018.

MI: What is your focus at Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts?

DB: I am directly responsible for the entire sales and marketing function of the brand. In the process, I oversee PR, Marcoms and other marketing activities, and I am directly involved with all aspects of contracting and sales and of course sales admin as well. We started with just one man in sales and marketing in April 2013, but we have now got an army of 33 amazingly passionate colleagues in Sales, Marketing, PR and Reservations . The various teams are led by a fantastic group of team leaders who are totally focussed on the vision set by the management at all times.

I would like to add further that all of the above has been possible, thanks to the pragmatic and practical vision of our Chairman Ismail Hilmy and our Managing Director Salil Panigrahi. This has certainly helped us in always ensuring that the customer is in the centre of all our discussions and decision making processes, and never losing sight of the same under any circumstances. They additionally trust professionals and empower their key personnel, and this has helped in a big way in effectively producing the results without any limitations in creative thinking and hardcore selling. Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts’ journey has been a moment of self-actualisation for me personally. In the process, I believe we are now truly a big player within the Maldives tourism industry within just four years of operations!

MI: What sets Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts and its properties apart?

DB: The world is tired of greed and false propositions. At Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts, we hold one critical philosophy close to our hearts in any decision making process – The Joy of Giving! In every single product offering, be it luxury or entry level five star or four star, we nurture this core philosophy by offering some unique products with a lot of genuine value for the customer. I truly believe this has played a critical role in creating the huge trust and respect for the brand world over, be it with the tour operator segment or with the customer segment.

In hospitality, it is about taking care of the customer because it is true what the famous quote states, “Customer is King”. We truly believe in that too, and in all our actions on the ground this is clearly visible. Today, thousands of customers are true Ambassadors of us who spread the word on our behalf.

MI: In your 25 years of service in the Maldives, what has changed? What are the new trends?

DB: Supply has certainly become more than the demand, making it much more challenging. But as long as you can deliver a product that truly appeals to the customer and is a product that is truly in demand, I believe it will always be a successful property. There are some amazing companies in the Maldives. For example, Universal is still a very strong brand worldwide. People will blindly book any property of Universal Resorts or Crown and Champa Resorts. They are absolute rockstars in whatever they do.

For me, you need to deliver a product that appeals the customer. You cannot forget the customer and their needs, and build your dream hotel. Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts purely thinks from a customer perspective. In any discussion — it could be a menu change or development of a new product — it is always customer first then anything else. That really makes a difference, and hence our surging success.

MI: What is your general outlook on the Maldives tourism industry?

DB: Extremely positive. Everybody loves to create negativity concerning the Maldives, but for me we have just touched the top — maybe one or two percent — of the entire high-end tourism segment of the world. What is stopping us as a premium and responsible destination from attracting the rest of the 98 percent to the Maldives?

Sky is the limit, but we need to have a structured growth process. While we are increasing the number of resorts in a brisk manner, we need to ensure that the infrastructure of the destination is also developed parallel and on priority. In this instance, the accessibility to the Maldives plays a key role in expanding our wings worldwide. The current expansion of the international airport will go a long way in increasing flights to the Maldives. Air France coming into play this coming winter is a big step forward, and having two European airlines flying directly into the Maldives is a phenomenal statement and almost a game changer. We should continue to encourage more such direct flights and even see how we can support the charter flights from Europe as in the past.

Maldives has always maintained a structured development plan from 1981 until today, with a clear sustainable development process in place. However, I am now a bit worried that the supply might just become much more than the demand. This might be a serious deterrent to the overall high yields that the country has been used to in the past.  As long as the overall development of the destination continues at a fast pace, I think it should be fine.

MI: What can be done to maintain a structured growth?

DB: Everyone wants to create a five star luxurious resort because the cost of project and cost of operations is extremely high. When you have such a high expense account, you will need to create a product as a five star product, so as to attract high rates and yields. The ultimate burden falls on the customer.

The industry needs more market segmentation, with more products coming into the four star and three star segments. For sustaining a destination, we just cannot focus on a five star or a luxury segment, as the clear breadwinner would always be the four star and three star segment resorts with more volume in business and more demand from world over for these products. If you were to do a gap-analysis worldwide with knowledgeable tour operators, one of the most critical points that majority will bring up is the lack of four star and three star properties in the Maldives. Given the high occupancies that the currently existing properties within this segment enjoys, I really believe the government needs to make a serious effort along with industry experts to create a way for charter flight operations to restart in a big way from Europe and from Far East as well as create affordable tourism. If this can be achieved, the balance will naturally be achieved, and you will get back the business you lost in key source markets like Italy, France and Germany. All in all, the urgent priority is for the Maldives to go into different market segments with a structured plan.

MI: How is Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts aligning its strategy towards achieving structured growth?

DB: Our vision is to be the best in class in whatever market segment we are in. As it stands, we truly believe that we are the best in class in the market segments that we currently operate in. That philosophy allows us as a brand to even open a three star or a four star property. For example, one of our existing properties, OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli is a four star superior brand. Next year, we are launching a product called OBLU Select, which is a four star deluxe brand. We have OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo, which is a luxury resort.

We need to have the right balance of properties within our inventory because everybody in the world visiting the Maldives cannot afford luxury. Even though Maldives has the premium destination tag, which itself is fantastic, sustainability is the key. At Atmosphere, we do it responsibly. If at all the Addu project clicks, we would be positioning an entry level four-star property. We would never look a five star or a five star luxury property there because Addu needs additional number of beds and volume coming in. Only then the respect and establishment for that particular atoll as a key tourism contributor will come through.

MI: What is the biggest advantage Maldives presents in order to maintain its status as a premium destination and to achieve sustainable growth?

DB: Everybody loves to compare the Maldives to Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Seychelles. They all say they are like the Maldives. No way! Maldives is unique and I get goosebumps when I say this. I think every Maldivian should be proud of the fact that Maldives is truly a unique destination. It is a gift from God. Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Mauritius are beautiful too, but the unique selling features of the Maldives are totally chalk and cheese, compared to any or all of them. Each of these destinations would be better off not considering Maldives as their core competitor.

It is the ‘one island, one resort’ concept. It is the island inspiration. It is that feeling of being far away from the madding crowd and it just being bliss. A typical Maldives holiday is certainly not about shopping, cultural excursions, casinos or sightseeing. It is all about yourself; it is self-indulgence and investing in yourself for your mind, body and soul. Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles and even Bali are beautiful destinations in their own way, but their selling features are completely different.

MI: What is your deepest connection to the Maldives?

DB: Both my children understand and can communicate amicably in Dhivehi. My younger son was the winner of the national singing competition in Dhivehi for three consecutive years. One of the proudest and nostalgic moments of our lives in the Maldives was the time when my elder son stood up in our living room, placed his hand on his chest and started reciting along when the national anthem of the Maldives came on during the Republic Day parade was being shown live on TV!  That was a true moment of truth, of how much the Maldives has seeped into our inner core fully. He was just eight years old at the time.

We, as a family, are totally indebted to what the Maldives has offered us. I truly believe that I am a much better human being because of the Maldives and its wonderful citizens.

MI: What is your biggest accomplishment?

DB: What we have built here at Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts is certainly my biggest accomplishment. Freedom of speech and true empowerment is very important, especially in marketing, because you need to speak up your mind, and only then can the best creatives come out of the team. The board of Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts have allowed my team and I to blossom in every aspect of sales and marketing, and I see this being the same core value that has been cascaded to the entire operations team too. The sense of ownership is so high that each of us believe that we own the organisation in some form, which is truly magical! All credit to the ownership for this wonderful moment of truth.

One another personal accomplishment which I am absolutely proud of is the equal opportunity that we offer every colleague of ours – whatever nationality, colour, creed the person maybe from. The moment of Truth was when at the Luxury Travel Fair 2016 in London, Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts was solely represented actively and effectively by two Maldivian colleagues from our marketing team, who were absolutely proud to represent the organisation as well as represent their own country at the fair. We were the only Maldivian resort partner having our own stand at this fair. As a responsible expatriate, I felt top of the world when they came out of this fair with flying colours.

We strive to empower, grow and nurture local talent. My services are also for the Maldives and the local community. I have always been honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as a true ambassador of the Maldives. And it certainly has been a romantic journey – a journey of trust, respect and love!

Photography: Ahmed ‘Obofili’ Shuau

Amilla Fushi’s Feeling Koi restaurant has won a regional award at the recently concluded World Luxury Restaurant Awards, as its sister property Finolhu’s Kanusan restaurant received a continental title.

At the gala ceremony of World Luxury Restaurant Awards, which took place at the JW Marriott Hanoi hotel in Vietnam on July 22, the Feeling Koi restaurant at Amilla Fushi was named the best Luxury Hotel Restaurant in Indian Ocean, while the Kanusan restaurant at Finolhu was presented with the award for the best Luxury Theme Restaurant in Indian Ocean.

Feeling Koi, the breathtaking overwater signature restaurant at Amilla Fushi, offers authentic modern Japanese dining presented in a playful, Latin-influenced style. Shared dishes are prepared using the finest quality ingredients, and they feature simple yet exquisite presentation with a Latin twist. Bringing an informal and laid-back Izakaya-style dining to the Indian Ocean archipelago, Feeling Koi infuses the Japanese gastropub concept with warm service and a generous pinch of signature Amilla pizzazz.

The restaurant features a Japanese-inspired minimalist design, a private open-air dining room and open deck seating by the water’s edge, an open kitchen and a climate-controlled Sake library/private dining room. The 1 OAK Lounge serves a selection of signature cocktails crafted to suit the stunning tropical setting. The lounge bar downstairs is the perfect destination for an intimate dessert, post-dinner drinks or grooving to live DJs until late. It also hosts a selection of Japanese whiskeys and is a superb way to round off the evening.

Located on the tip of island with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean, Finolhu’s premium dining venue of Kanusan spans two dining areas: a relaxed indoor dining space, and an open lower deck which encapsulates the archetypal Maldivian experience of being surrounded by the sights and sounds of the sea.

Centred around a stunning duck oven, Kanusan’s open kitchen puts its cuisine centre stage, embracing the theatricality of its Asian spirit. Classic favourites such as Mandarin roasted duck and Larb Gai are given a refreshing Kanusan twist, while newly created unique signature dishes include steamed snapper and lobster, black truffle roast duck and sliced blue abalone in Kanusan sauce.

Seating up to 60 guests, Kanusan also features a vibrant overwater bar area.

With over 100,000 votes cast for 1,000 entrants in 78 categories this year, the World Luxury Restaurant Awards recognise restaurants across the globe for their culinary excellence and memorable experiences, as well as assessing the quality of the atmosphere and service. The awards aim to provide luxury restaurants with increased recognition as well as introduce them to potential new guests, both local and international. Votes come from both guests and industry experts, thus providing a balanced and unbiased outcome based on the food experience as a whole.

Accessible by a 30-minute scenic seaplane flight from the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport, Amilla Fushi offers a choice of 59 houses that sit gracefully over crystal clear waters, nestled among lush tree tops or hugging the shores of pristine white sand. Additionally, the resort offers eight spectacular four to eight bedroom Beach Residences ideally suited to large families, groups of friends and VVIPs seeking the ultimate in space and privacy.

Bringing a timeless sense of style to the pristine lagoons and rich waters of the Maldives’ Baa atoll, Finolhu, which opened in  June 2016, is a refined, retro-inspired island paradise for the fun-loving beach-erati, and an unexpected revival of the halcyon days of the classic chic getaway. With its retro themed Maldives island concept, Finolhu, run by The Small Maldives Island Co., caters to guests seeking fun and adventure on a party atmosphere.

Baros Maldives has announced a special programme for the upcoming festive season with the theme, Special Moments in Style.

Under the programme, special events will take place from December 22 to January 2, 2018 in stylish settings of gold and champagne complementing the natural lushness and beauty of the bijou tropical island.

Amongst those are stylish dining events like a champagne pairing dinner at the prestigious Lighthouse and festive seafood menu at the Teppanyaki Hut in the re-modelled Cayenne Restaurant. On December 24 and 31, there will be gala and gourmet dinners. On December 25 and January 1, 2018, guests will be invited to indulge in a lavish celebration breakfast at the island’s Lime Restaurant, where there will be a spectacular countdown to the dawn of the New Year.

On some evenings there will be cool jazz sessions or music for dancing under the stars. To enhance the seasonal celebrations, special marine activities, nature walks, island and fishing excursions, sunset sailing and dolphin watching cruises have also been arranged.

Many events of the Special Moments in Style programme are complimentary such as festive season cocktail parties, and the resort’s anniversary reception and cultural show on December 26.

Baros is a small coral island ringed by a sandy beach and a living house-reef, just 25 minutes by speedboat from the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport. It is an award-winning boutique resort renowned for discreet, personalised service excellence.

AccorHotels is set to take over the management of Dhevanafushi from Dubai-based hospitality group Jumeirah, with plans to reposition the luxury resort under the iconic Raffles Hotels and Resorts brand.

In a statement, property owner CDL Hospitality Trusts said that Jumeirah, which also runs the Jumeirah Vittaveli resort in the Maldives, would cease to operate the property with effect from August 31. This would enable the transition of the property to AccorHotels with effect from September 1, it added.

According to the Singapore-based company, the property will initially operate as Dhevanafushi Maldives Luxury Resort, Managed by AccorHotels. Following enhancements in late 2018, it would be repositioned to join the iconic collection of Raffles Hotels and Resorts, it said.

“With active asset management being one of the key pillars of our management strategy, we believe the appointment of AccorHotels for the resort will allow us to optimise its asset potential and redefine this resort at the very top end of the luxury resort sector in the Maldives, following the repositioning exercise in 2018,” Vincent Yeo, Chief Executive Officer of CDL Hospitality Trusts, was quoted in the statement, as saying.

In a separate statement, AccorHotels’ Chief Operating Officer for Upper Southeast and Northeast Asia Patrick Basset hailed Dhevanafushi as its first luxury destination in the Maldives.

“AccorHotels is bringing to the resort our expertise in delivering unparalleled luxury experiences renowned in our Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel brands, along with the benefits of our award-wining global loyalty programme, Le Club AccorHotels,” he said.

Set on the private island of Meradhoo in the southern Gaafu Alif atoll, Dhevanafushi is accessible by a 55-minute flight from the Maldives main Velana International Airport followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride.

Dhevanafushi boasts 21 island villas and 16 ocean villas with private pools, three restaurants, a scenic cocktail bar and an array of facilities and activities to relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate the body, mind and spirit. These include an award-winning luxury spa, overwater fitness centre, yoga programmes, water sports, private dining options, and 24-hour butler and private chef service. The resort’s PADI-certified dive centre offers adventures through the wonders of some of most breath-taking coral reefs in the world.

As the French multinational hotel group prepares to start running its first resort in the Maldives, it is also gearing up for the opening of another two resorts in the Indian Ocean archipelago; Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort and Pullman Maldives Maamutaa.

South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) has announced exclusive partners of this year’s edition.

At a ceremony held at Champa Central Hotel in Maldives capital Male Wednesday afternoon, Ooredoo Maldives signed up as the Platinum Partner. Hawks Private Limited was announced as the Gold Partner, while Male Aerated Water Company and Asia Forwarding were named Silver Partners.

Visual Beams from NERN Private Limited was made Videography Partner, with Digital Studio being announced as the Photography Partner.

MVHotels also signed up as the Travel Partner.

SATA has earlier announced the first batch of partners, including:

• Hospitality Partner for Maldives: Champa Central Hotel
• Hospitality Partner for South India: The Chancery Pavilion
• Hospitality Partner for North India: Udman Hotels and Resorts by Ferns N Petals
• Hospitality Partner for Sri Lanka: Ramada Hotel
• Hospitality Partner for Nepal: Hotel Mulberry
• Travel Media Partner: Maldives Insider and The Islandchief
• Online Media Partner: Sun Online
• TV Partner: Maldives TV
• Auditing Partner: Crowe Horwath Maldives

Meanwhile, evaluations for SATA 2017 began on Wednesday.

More than 414 nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal have been received for the 39 categories included in this year’s edition of SATA. Online voting is ongoing, and will complement the judging by a panel of experts.

This year’s edition of SATA will take place in the Maldives in October. Organisers are exploring the possibility of hosting it at the southernmost Addu atoll.

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

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

The awards’ first edition, which wrapped up with a gala ceremony at the iconic Mount Lavinia Hotel in Sri Lanka, saw an overwhelming support with more than 260 nominations. Major travel media organisations, including Maldives Insider, Asian Traveller, Asian Geographic, Asian Diver and Floating Asia were appointed as media partners of SATA 2016.

Soneva Jani has strengthened its position as the best new resort in the world, with the latest being the top spot in CNN’s list of hot new hotel openings.

Last month, CNN compiled a list of the best new properties to check into in 2017. Soneva Jani secured the first place.

Other properties that made it to the list include:

• Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam
• Las Alcobas, Napa Valley, California
• The Silo, Cape Town, South Africa
• Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles, Africa
• Rosewood Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang, Laos
• W Shanghai – The Bund, Shanghai, China
• The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, Dubai
• Hotel Eden, Rome, Italy
• Assila Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square, London, England
• Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, California
• The Fontenay Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
• Raffles Europejski, Warsaw, Poland
• SLS Brickell, Miami

Opened in December, 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 also been named the Best Over-the-Top Luxury hotel of the year by Jetsetter.com.

Thirteen chefs from Baros Maldives have won the highest number of medals and awards at the recently concluded Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) International Culinary Challenge and Exhibition 2017.

The annual event, organised by the Chefs Guild of Maldives in association with the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka, enables chefs to demonstrate their skills before a panel of international judges. A total of 67 resorts in the Maldives represented by 564 competitors took part in this year’s edition.

Ibrahim Nathif won two top awards — trophies for Most Outstanding Chef in Maldives and Best Maldivian Chef — as well as five gold medals.

Nathif, 32, has worked at Baros for 13 years, and currently cooks in the resort’s fine dining Lighthouse Restaurant. As a result of his success, he has been selected to represent the Maldives at the Malaysian Culinary Challenge in February 2018.

Another top award was won by KYM Gunasekara who emerged as the Best Young Chef. He is 24, and has worked at Baros for three years.

“The record haul of medals comprises five gold, 12 silver and eight bronzes,” a statement by Baros read.

“The categories in which the chefs won reflect the multi-cuisine choices presented in the resort’s three restaurants, and special occasion dining. These included hot cooking of meat, seafood and poultry, biriyani, plated desserts, breads and pastries, Maldivian dish and wedding cake.”

According to Baros, more than 40 chefs work at its three gourmet restaurants as well as catering for off-island dining on a sandbank, lagoon deck or local Dhoni sailboat cruises. Also available is In Villa Meal Service in each of the resort’s 75 elegant overwater and beachside villas, the resort said.

Baros is a small coral island ringed by a sandy beach and a living house-reef, just 25 minutes by speedboat from the Maldives’ main Velana International Airport. It is an award-winning boutique resort renowned for discreet, personalised service excellence.

Experts from the UK have completed a comprehensive assessment, ahead of a planned resumption of commercial helicopter operations in the Maldives.

Maldives civil aviation authority tasked the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) in June to provide an in-depth review of the authority’s helicopter regulatory oversight capability.

An official from the Maldives civil aviation authority told local media on Monday that the review was conducted from August 6-11. Findings of the assessment would be received in a month, he added.

The project, led by UK CAA flight operations specialists, includes a full helicopter operations risk assessment. The UK CAA experts have been tasked to support the authority in establishing the intentions of the operations and recommend how these operations can be achieved safely, while conducting an offshore helideck review in order to provide a complete “risk picture” of future helicopter operations in the Maldives.

Maldives ceased commercial helicopter operations over a decade ago after a series of fatal accidents. Only the armed forces now operate helicopters on special operations such as search and rescue missions, and medical evacuations.

Government, however, announced in December that regulations were being amended to license commercial helicopter operators again, more than 15 years after the island nation ceased using helicopters for commercial flights.

The new helicopter operations could provide a significant boost for the tourism industry and provide transportation links to several new island resorts.

Over a million tourists from across the globe visit the Indian Ocean island nation every year to holiday in one of the 120 resorts and 300 plus guesthouses located in all corners of the country. The multi-billion dollar tourism industry, which is the country’s main economic activity, relies heavily on the domestic transport infrastructure, especially air travel.

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

Coco Collection has announced a special offer for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holidays, offering guests an extra night in paradise.

The offer is valid for bookings made until September 4 for stays between August 31 and September 7 at Coco Bodu Hithi or Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu Maldives. A minimum of four nights should be booked in order to be eligible for the offer.

Under the offer, travellers will be charged for three nights with several complimentary benefits, including domestic transfers, daily breakfast, welcome platter of fruits, dates and chocolates. A complimentary sunset shisha for two and an additional 10 percent discount on all treatments at Coco Spa will also be offered.

Three islands comprise the Coco Collection brand.

Coco Privé Private Island offers guests the chance to escape to an entirely private island. Creating a sense of intimacy and ownership, this 1.4-hectare island is dedicated to one booking at a time, where every guest is given a completely individual tailored experience.

Coco Bodu Hithi translates island life into contemporary sophistication. The resort is a chic retreat where you reconnect with yourself, your loved ones and the wonder of the natural world.

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu is dedicated to the inspiring beauty and natural wonder of the Maldives. Here, environmentally-conscious touches are woven into luxurious natural surroundings and initiatives contribute to the environmental and social sustainability of Maldives.

South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) has confirmed the southernmost Maldivian atoll of Addu as the venue for this year’s grand gala.

According to SATA Secretariat, Equator Village in Addu has signed up as Official Host of the grand gala, which would take place October 27-28.

“This is a historic moment as SATA becomes the first tourism and hospitality industry event to be held in Addu,” an official said.

Equator Village is located in Gan, home to Gan International Airport, which is the only airport in the Maldives apart from the main Velana International Airport that has international operations.

The Equator Village has 78 spacious, garden view bungalows. The hotel has a restaurant, poolside bar and a large swimming pool that overlooks the ocean. A wide variety of activities are available including squash, table tennis, tennis and live music. The Serena Spa offers a wide selection of aromatic oils and wellness packages are available to sooth your mind and body.

SATA has earlier announced the partners of this year’s edition, including:

• Platinum Partner: Ooredoo Maldives
• Gold Partner: Hawks Private Limited
• Silver Partner: Male Aerated Water Company and Asia Forwarding
• Hospitality Partner for Maldives: Champa Central Hotel
• Hospitality Partner for South India: The Chancery Pavilion
• Hospitality Partner for North India: Udman Hotels and Resorts by Ferns N Petals
• Hospitality Partner for Sri Lanka: Ramada Hotel
• Hospitality Partner for Nepal: Hotel Mulberry
• Travel Media Partner: Maldives Insider and The Islandchief
• Online Media Partner: Sun Online
• TV Partner: Maldives TV
• Travel Partner: MVHotels
• Videography Partner: Visual Beams from NERN Private Limited
• Photography Partner: Digital Studio
• Auditing Partner: Crowe Horwath Maldives

Meanwhile, evaluations for SATA 2017 began on Wednesday.

More than 414 nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal have been received for the 39 categories included in this year’s edition of SATA. Online voting is ongoing, and will complement the judging by a panel of experts.

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

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

The awards’ first edition, which wrapped up with a gala ceremony at the iconic Mount Lavinia Hotel in Sri Lanka, saw an overwhelming support with more than 260 nominations. Major travel media organisations, including Maldives Insider, Asian Traveller, Asian Geographic, Asian Diver and Floating Asia were appointed as media partners of SATA 2016.

Samsara Asian Fusion restaurant at Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa has been named the best Asian Cuisine restaurant at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards.

At the gala ceremony of World Luxury Restaurant Awards, which took place at the JW Marriott Hanoi hotel in Vietnam on July 22, Samsara restaurant received the award in the country category.

With over 100,000 votes cast for 1,000 entrants in 78 categories this year, the World Luxury Restaurant Awards recognise restaurants across the globe for their culinary excellence and memorable experiences, as well as assessing the quality of the atmosphere and service. The awards aim to provide luxury restaurants with increased recognition as well as introduce them to potential new guests, both local and international. Votes come from both guests and industry experts, thus providing a balanced and unbiased outcome based on the food experience as a whole.

Located in the northernmost Haa Alif atoll, Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa offers exclusive, spacious villas with private pool and direct beach access. Accessible by a 50-minute domestic flight followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride, Hideaway also features the only operational private marina in the country.

The spa at Hideaway features 12 private treatment suites, steam room and hair salon set in manicured gardens. For those who love to be active, there are two outdoor pools, a recreation centre with its gym, two tennis courts and beach volleyball court. The resort also offers extensive water sports activities like fishing, diving and a range of excursions.

Kandima Maldives has announced a worldwide competition, giving the chance for two people to spend a holiday in paradise.

The Oh-so Kool Kandima competition runs on Facebook and Instagram, and can be entered up until August 31.

To enter on Facebook, complete these steps:  

1. Like the competition video post on Kandima Facebook page.
2. Write in the comment box how much you would like to win a holiday to Kandima and who with.
3. To double your chance of winning, go to the Kandima Instagram page and follow the steps.

The winner, who will be announced on September 1, will receive a seven-night holiday for two at Kandima with flights from Turkish Airlines included.

“We really want to smash the traditional stereotype of what the Maldives is all about. People think it’s a place just for honeymooners or couples, but here at Kandima, we’re different. As well as enjoying the beauty and romance of the island, Kandima is a place to party, a place to try new hobbies, try out new activities, indulge in one of our ten restaurants and bars and be sociable, be inclusive. It’s a place for everyone which is affordable and of true value,” Laura Hawkins, PR and Communications Director of Kandima, said in an announcement.

“That’s why we made the decision to use our new and fresh Kandima promo video, as material for the Oh-so Kool competition and our first social media campaign. We’re thrilled at the response we’ve had to far and the support from those guests and celebrity friends who have already been Kandimatised!”

Kandima has also asked its celebrity fans to share the competition video. Katie Price renewed her wedding vows at the resort earlier this year (as seen on QuestRed TV), DIY SOS presenter Nick Knowles runs a yoga retreat on the island , former Strictly Come Dancing stars James and Ola Jordan and Love Island couple Scott Thomas and Kady McDermott have also holidayed there. They are also giving away special discount codes for anyone who wants to experience Kandima and book a holiday.

Located on a lush tropical island in Dhaalu Atoll, Kandima offers a choice of 274 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 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 watersports, 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 ten 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.

Europe’s leading cruise company Costa Cruises has announced three and seven nights cruises from and to Maldives starting this November.

Last year, Costa Cruises became the first ever cruise liner to offer cruises directly from the Maldives to Mumbai.

This year, Costa Cruises is introducing shorter three nights cruise options. Maldivians can now choose to cruise on a three-night itinerary from Maldives to Colombo or from Cochin to Maldives. This is in addition to the seven nights Maldives to Mumbai and Mumbai to Maldives options.

The Italian cruise liner will be home-porting in Maldives capital Male a month earlier than last year, and will perform a series of weekly sailings from November to March 2018.

Nalini Gupta, Managing Director of Lotus Destinations, which represents Costa Cruises in India, said, “Costa Cruises expanding its sailing offerings to include shorter sailings of three nights from Maldives confirms its strong interest in region. The cruising market in the region has come a long way from only a select group cruising in far-away locations to today a much wider audience holidaying on ships cruising directly from Maldives and India.”

Mohamed Firaq, Managing Director of Inner Maldives Holidays, which represents Costa Cruises in the Maldives, said, “Cruise holidays is something that will soon change the perception of how Maldivians look at spending vacations and honeymoon getaways. We started exploring it a year ago and we are confident that our past guests and those new to cruising will find very appealing when planning the upcoming sails starting in November 2017 and continue until March 2018.”

“We received significant interest from Maldives for the Costa cruise sails which began in December last year and continued till March 2017 and we are looking forward to promote new itineraries and exciting destinations towards the new year holidays.”

Costa Cruises has deployed its Costa neoClassica ship on this itinerary.

This classic cruise ship has a total of 654 cabins, including sea view cabins and suites with private balconies. Fully-equipped with a casino, theatre, disco, ballroom and grand bar, it aims to provide plenty in entertainment. The wellness centre is spread across 1,300sqm with a gym, treatment rooms, sauna and steam room. It also has an outdoor jogging track, four Jacuzzis and two swimming pools. For those who would like to go shopping, the cruise ship has a huge duty free shopping centre, and offers a wide selection of books in the library for those who love to unwind with a book.

Enhancing the cruising experience further is the gastronomic options onboard; the food and wine on offer is based on Italian regional menus with a choice of dishes representing different regions of Italy and proudly reflecting the country’s rich and unrivalled culinary heritage. In addition to this vast range, guests can also take advantage of tasty vegetarian and vegan dishes. Cruisers will also be able to enjoy a variety of Indian cuisine and the restaurants onboard are fully equipped to cater to special dietary requirements of Indian travellers, including Jain food.

Universal Foundation has teamed up with Villa College to launch a certificate level course on tourism and hospitality.

At the inauguration ceremony held at Hotel Jen in capital Male Sunday afternoon, tourism minister Moosa Zameer said the Discover Hospitality course would enable high school graduates to pursue a career in hospitality. It would further strengthen the Maldives tourism ministry, he added.

“It’s important that more companies come up with similar initiatives,” the minister said.

Successful completion of the six-month programme, which combines theory and on the job training, awards a level three certificate. Graduates can either join the industry or continue to certificate level four, followed by a degree.

Universal Enterprises chairman Mohamed Umar Maniku highlighted his company’s efforts to provide opportunities for locals in the tourism industry. Several programmes have been conducted to train locals for hospitality jobs, he added.

“Tourism industry is where it is today because of the hard work of a lot of people. Today’s youth are very lucky to be able to work in this era of tourism,” Maniku, one of the pioneers of tourism in the Maldives, said.

Universal Foundation is the charity arm of Universal Enterprises, an umbrella company that is amongst the leading resort developers in the country. Universal owns and operates the largest collection of resorts in the Maldives.

The Maldives’ tourism industry has greatly expanded over the past 40 years, becoming the country’s main economic activity and the biggest employer.

Over the past three 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 by the end of this year.

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 300 guesthouses in operation today.

With the expansion comes the need to train locals for a range of new jobs that are expected to open up.

Evaluation of nominees from Sri Lanka for South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2017 has begun on Sunday.

SATA’s Hospitality Partner for Sri Lanka Ramada Hotel is currently hosting presentations by nominees from Sri Lanka.

Judging for SATA 2017 began in Maldives on Wednesday.

After the evaluations in Sri Lanka conclude on Tuesday, the evaluation of nominees from South India will take place from Wednesday to Sunday at The Chancery Pavilion in Indian IT hub of Bangalore, SATA’s Hospitality Partner for South India. Udman Hotels and Resorts by Ferns N Petals in Indian capital New Delhi, which has been appointed as the Hospitality Partner for North India, will host evaluations and presentations by nominees from North India from August 27-29.

Nominees from Nepal and Bhutan will give their presentations from August 29-31 at Hotel Mulberry in Nepalese capital Kathmandu, which has been appointed as the Hospitality Partner for Nepal.

More than 414 nominations from the Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal have been received for the 39 categories included in this year’s edition of SATA. Online voting is ongoing, and will complement the judging by a panel of experts.

The grand gala of SATA 2017 will be held in the southernmost Maldivian atoll of Addu from October 27-28.

SATA has earlier announced the partners of this year’s edition, including:

• Platinum Partner: Ooredoo Maldives
• Gold Partner: Hawks Private Limited
• Silver Partner: Male Aerated Water Company and Asia Forwarding
• Official Host: Equator Village
• Hospitality Partner for Maldives: Champa Central Hotel
• Hospitality Partner for South India: The Chancery Pavilion
• Hospitality Partner for North India: Udman Hotels and Resorts by Ferns N Petals
• Hospitality Partner for Sri Lanka: Ramada Hotel
• Hospitality Partner for Nepal: Hotel Mulberry
• Travel Media Partner: Maldives Insider and The Islandchief
• Online Media Partner: Sun Online
• TV Partner: Maldives TV
• Travel Partner: MVHotels
• Videography Partner: Visual Beams from NERN Private Limited
• Photography Partner: Digital Studio
• Auditing Partner: Crowe Horwath Maldives

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

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

The awards’ first edition, which wrapped up with a gala ceremony at the iconic Mount Lavinia Hotel in Sri Lanka, saw an overwhelming support with more than 260 nominations. Major travel media organisations, including Maldives Insider, Asian Traveller, Asian Geographic, Asian Diver and Floating Asia were appointed as media partners of SATA 2016.

W Maldives’ team of skilled chefs has won seven medals at the recently concluded Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) International Culinary Challenge.

The annual event, organised by the Chefs Guild of Maldives in association with the Chefs Guild of Sri Lanka, enables chefs to demonstrate their skills before a panel of international judges. A total of 67 resorts in the Maldives represented by 564 competitors took part in this year’s edition.

Amongst the W team’s stunning seven awards are:

Gold (one)

• Live Cooking – Lamb: Sumith Wimalananda, Commis I.

Bronze (six)

• Live cooking – Seafood: Sumith Wimalananda, Commis I.
• Live cooking – Duck: Sumith Wimalananda, Commis I.
• Live cooking – Beef: Gilbert Muthappan, Commis I.
• Hot appetizer: Gilbert Muthappan, Commis I.
• Dress the cake: Andhika Agustiani, Commis I.
• Creative dessert: Andhika Agustiani, Commis I.

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.

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.

Six Senses Laamu has appointed Wayan Sudarma as its executive chef.

In an announcement, Six Senses Laamu said chef Wayan joined the resort as an executive sous chef in February 2016, and was promoted to the post of executive chef earlier this month. Staying true to the brand’s core value of pioneering wellness, Six Senses Laamu continues to focus on health in cuisine, and Wayan is no stranger to wellness menus and programmes, it added.

Balinese by origin, chef Wayan has profound knowledge of Asian cuisines, and always ensures that his personal modern twist is added to every dish.

“Experimenting with the local ingredients and with the fresh produce from the organic garden to create a true Six Senses experience is definitely a call to a chef’s creativity. Culinary innovation through sustainable practices is a beacon for the team, while we ensure that we deliver the best quality service to even the most discerning pallets,” chef Wayan was quoted in the announcement, as saying.

According to Six Senses Laamu, chef Wayan has enhanced his already vast professional culinary skills by working alongside Michelin-star chefs such as Stefano Cavallini and Jesper Koch. Chef Wayan’s generous and outgoing character is highly valued by Six Senses Laamu guests, who very often approach him for his signature Balinese satay chicken recipe, the resort said.

“It is with great pleasure to announce the appointment of chef Wayan as executive chef. His aptness in delivering the finest culinary experiences to our guests while maintaining focus on a healthy and sustainable aspect, make him a valuable asset to the team and we look forward to his culinary leadership,” Marteyne van Well, general manager of Six Senses Laamu, said.

Six Senses Laamu is the only resort located in the Laamu atoll, which lies in the southern part of the Maldives. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the resort prides itself on its commitment to sustainable operations and development as outlined by Agenda 21 and Green Globe Benchmarking.

At Six Senses Laamu, most of the villas and facilities are built overwater. However, beach villas and on-land dining is an option. All villas offer a sense of privacy and seclusion, with an amazing view to the Ocean and Maldivian nature.

Six Senses Laamu offers a wide range of dining options, with cuisines from around the world, a swimming pool with a sunken bar, an ice cream parlour, an overwater wine cellar and a signature Chill bar. Many activities, excursions and options are available for everyone to enjoy, both overwater and underwater, in addition to the Six Senses Spa.

Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort, the only resort in the Maldives with direct access to an airport, opened for business on Sunday.

In an announcement, Cluster General Manager Scott Bowen said Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort has recently obtained all of the required statutory permissions, including the liquor license. Expansion of the nearby Kooddoo Airport has also been completed, he added.

“I would like to sincerely thank you for your support, and we look forward to creating a wonderful experience for our valued partners and their guests,” Bowen was quoted in the announcement, as saying.

The four star resort, developed on the island of Kooddoo in Gaafu Alif atoll, boasts 68 stylish and well-appointed villas, comprising 43 overwater villas and 25 beach villas with 20 of them featuring a private swimming pool. Attesting to the Mercure brand promise of an authentic experience, vivid colours and decorative motifs along with warm textures and local design touches are used tastefully throughout the villas in order to create a haven of peace with a strong local character.

Guests are offered several attractive dining options. The all-day dining Alita Restaurant serves Pan-Asian à la carte cuisine and themed buffets, with both indoor and outdoor seating. Vistas, an overwater restaurant and lounge, serves tapas, snacks and handcrafted cocktails, while the Alita Pool Bar offers cocktails and light bites with a view.

Suvadiva Divers, the resort’s five star PADI dive and water sports centre, provides aquatic excursions to the many unique and wonderful locations nearby. Several water sports options such as snorkelling, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, catamarans, jet skis and fun tubes are also available.

Additionally, the resort has several recreational activities and facilities such as the 50-metre lagoon-side swimming pool, fully equipped fitness centre, tennis court, kids’ club and off-island day trips. The marine-themed Suvadiva Spa at Mercure Maldives Kooddoo, meanwhile, offers a range of treatments and therapies for guests in need of relaxation and rejuvenation.

The Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort is the only resort in the Maldives directly accessible via domestic flight from the main Velana International Airport, with no need for an additional speedboat transfer. The domestic plane transfer to Kooddoo, which also houses a fish processing plant, takes about 55 minutes.

Mercure has, meanwhile, established a VIP Lounge at the Kooddoo Airport, which is serviced by Maldives flagship carrier Maldivian, in order to provide a comfortable environment for travellers while they wait for their scheduled departures. The lounge offers modern facilities and services such as free WiFi, satellite television, secure luggage storage, and a quality selection of food and beverages.

As AccorHotels opens its first property in the Maldives under the Mercure brand, the French multinational hotel group is all set to take over the management of Dhevanafushi from Dubai-based hospitality group Jumeirah, with plans to reposition the luxury resort under the iconic Raffles Hotels and Resorts brand.

AccorHotels has also signed up to manage another resort being developed in Gaafu Alif atoll.

Set to open next year, the Pullman Maldives Maamutaa resort is a traditional ‘one island, one resort’ property located a 10-minute speedboat ride away from its sister property, the Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort. The five star resort will offer upscale modern facilities such as two swimming pools, a sunset bar overlooking the lagoon, a luxury spa, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a kids club, beach playground, tennis courts, gourmet restaurants, organic gardens, a dive centre and a water sports centre.

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has appointed leading Indian destination marketing agency Trac Representation to represent the Maldives in the Indian market.

As per the mandate handed over by the Maldives state-owned tourism promotion company, Trac will implement marketing and public relations campaigns to position the Maldives as the most sought after tourist destination in India.

“Our endeavour is to create awareness about Maldives tourism products not only in metros but also in Tier II and III cities. To begin with, we are looking at tapping the potential of family, youth, honeymoon, MICE and corporate segments. We have a specific strategy to promote the Maldives in India market,” a senior official from Trac Representations told an Indian media outlet.

Established in 1992, Trac specialises in destination representation, consultancy, marketing communication, and public relations for the travel and tourism Industry. The company provides a holistic range of services through its in-depth insight and approach encompassing media, trade, airlines and consumers.

Air India offers daily direct flights to Male from Delhi, Bangalore and Trivandrum, while SpiceJet has daily non-stop flights between Male and Kochi, and Male and Trivandrum. Meanwhile, Maldives national carrier Maldivian has non-stop flights on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday between Male and Chennai, and non-stop daily service on the Male-Trivandrum route.

India has become a major emerging source market for the Maldives’ tourism industry.

Official figures show that 66,955 tourists arrived in Maldives from its closest neighbour last year, a 27.9 percent increase from the 52,368 Indian travellers that chose the Maldives in 2015.

That growth is expected to continue this year as well, as the number of Indian tourists that visited the Maldives recorded a 24.7 percent increase in the first six months to reach 37,529 compared to 30,101 in the same period last year.