Dedicated Television Service for Maldives Guesthouses from Dhiraagu

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Telecom giant Dhiraagu has introduced the first ever dedicated TV service for guesthouses in the Maldives.

Unveiled at the Guesthouses Maldives Conference 2017 held at Paradise Island Resort and Spa in September, the Dhiraagu Guesthouse TV is available for guesthouses based in all the islands with the company’s fixed broadband internet service.

The Dhiraagu Guesthouse TV comes with the option of three packages.

In addition to a wide range of local and international satellite TV channels, the Dhiraagu Guesthouse TV service offers several value added digital features, including guesthouse operator service as well as the ability to request room service and recreational activities via the TV set. Clients can also customise the interface to suit their needs.

“Introduction of the all-new Guesthouse TV service will help guesthouses enhance customer experience,” a statement issued by Dhiraagu said.

As the first Maldivian telecommunications company, Dhiraagu offers a comprehensive range of mobile, internet, data and fixed line services throughout the Maldives. The company has also introduced special internet packages for guesthouses.

These initiatives by the country’s largest telecommunications company come amidst a significant increase in the number of guesthouses across the archipelago. Some 450 guesthouses have started operations over the past five years as the number of travellers that choose to stay in guesthouses rise.

Amilla Fushi to host wellness programme with leading yogi Gypsy Bast

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Amilla Fushi has announced a special wellness programme with Gypsy Bast, a leading figure in the Bali and international Yoga world.

Gypsy will take residency at Javvu Spa in Amilla Fushi from December 10 to February 14, 2018.

Classes at Javuu Spa will begin with a grounded Meditation and Dynamic Hatha Flow and Pilates. Using creative sequences, tune into the present moment, breathe, align, and learn adjustments. Listening to your body’s language will allow your true spirit to move freely throughout you. Posture and precision for each individual will be a focus. Peace, softness and ease is cultivated and all levels are welcome.

At times, some classes will explore Somatic Movement and Restorative Yoga where the parasympathetic nervous system can be addressed and stress levels reduced in the nerve body. Classes will end with a slowing down and finish gently with Yoga Nidra relaxation.


Gypsy has been teaching yoga, meditation and pilates for over 20 years. Wherever she teaches, Gypsy is offering her greatest dharma, which is to help people feel good and move freely with lasting pleasure.

She has been a teacher, healer, and performer for over 23 years, with a practice that evolves from backgrounds of dance, theater, yoga, pilates and somatic movement therapies. She is known for her fun, uplifting attitude, and practices meditation, Yoga Nidra, and loves chanting mantras to connect to the Divine peace within all.

After surviving several car accidents, and numerous dance and stunt injuries, Gypsy restored herself completely by applying exercises that she learned from healing trauma, as well as her lifetime of study. Using these modalities of healing and living positively, she feels it is possible for everyone!

Gypsy has traveled the world teaching yoga retreats and performing, and has had opportunities to train the Cirque du Soleil’s “Totem” and “Corteo” shows in yoga and pilates. She coached children “at risk” of drugs and violence with yoga, and even did an international tour as a dancer/aerialist, hanging upside down from a chandelier (a great one for neck pain).



The Javvu Spa at Amilla Fushi is a beautiful, home from home hang out with two sides to its nature – a private side and a social side. You can retreat into the protective canopy of the trees or chill out in the large, communal lounge for your treatments.

The spa has an ‘open door’ policy and you are welcome to simply stop by and flop, read a magazine on one of the comfy chairs or sofas, shop, nibble and have a drink (champagne and herbal tea) served from the drinks trolley  — whether you are booked in for a treatment or not, and the only thing that whispers here are the leaves in the trees.

The Javvu Spa is made up of 10 wooden double treatment pods with either a sauna or a steam room, a relaxing tea lounge, a wet area which also includes a no-bookings required sauna and steam room. There is also a wonderful spacious outdoor yoga and meditation pavilion.

The socialising Amilla spa-style area has a specialist barber, hair salon, exclusive manicure and pedicure areas, a beauty bar and relaxation area overlooking the sparkling Indian Ocean.

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.

World's Best Villa - Cheval Blanc Randheli Owner's Villa

Loading Maldives Offers.... Owner’s Villa at Cheval Blanc Randheli has bagged the award for the Best Villa in the world.

The global title was given at the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel and Spa Awards gala ceremony held at the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel on October 27.

The Owner’s Villa sprawls across its 1-hectare dedicated island, and is accessible from a private berth and jetty. This four-bedroom villa is the epitome of exclusive privacy with unique facilities including its own spa, oversized 25-metre long outdoor pool, pristine beaches and exotic gardens.



Fine crafts, bespoke furniture and individual artworks enhance the tasteful interiors of this exceptional villa. In the main house, three light filled successive reception rooms invite to either a musical interlude around the grand piano, blissful relaxation in the multiple sofas and lounges, or a cocktail at the bar.

Cheval Blanc’s exquisite Art de Recevoir ensures a truly memorable experience for its guests. Overseen by a dedicated team – available 24/7 and housed on premises – guests will be surprised and delighted by tailor-made activities and unforgettable experiences, that are made to measure to meet every individuals’ wish.



Accessible by a scenic 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, Cheval Blanc Randheli is one-of-a-kind exclusive property from the luxury fashion group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the creative mind behind some of the world’s most stunning resorts including the Chedi Muscat and many Aman resorts, Randheli marries contemporary aesthetic with the traditional Maldivian craftsmanship.

The resort offers 46 villas in three different categories to choose from; Island, Water or Garden. They have a variety of contemporary design elements, high doors and ceilings, outdoor areas for relaxation, pool terraces, a 12.5m long private swimming pool and lagoon-side pontoons.

The Cheval Blanc Spa offers exclusive Guerlain treatments in special treatment villas, while the Hair Spa by Leonor Greyl doubles as a beauty studio and barber shop. For guests with children, there is a Le Carrousel Kids Club and Le Paddock Teens Club on the premises to keep them occupied.

The 2017 gala ceremony held in Thai capital Bangkok commended exceptional hospitality establishments across seven continents and 172 countries, including the Maldives. Awards were given in 94 categories.

Recognised as the highest accolade a hotel or spa can receive, a Haute Grandeur Award is a guaranteed golden stamp of excellence. Award winners and participating establishments are perceived as exceptional and distinguished by association.

The Haute Grandeur Awards system is unlike any other. Unbiased results are guaranteed through a fair, transparent process that recognises brilliance by means of quality guest feedback rather than the quantity of votes by a panel of judges or the general public. This unique approach to measuring excellence is why Haute Grandeur is in a class of its own.

Festive Cyber Sale Announces Outrigger

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Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has announced its best rates of the year ahead of the festive season, offering huge savings for travellers to holiday at several of its resorts around the world, including in the Maldives.

The Cyber Sale opened to the public on Monday and will be available through December 6, for travel between now and through May 31, 2019. With savings of up to 35 percent off standard room rates, travellers can treat loved ones to a one-of-a-kind warm-weather getaway in the Maldives, starting at USD 649.

According to Outrigger, current and new Discovery loyalty programme members will benefit from exclusive Cyber Sale rates that are at least 10 percent lower than those offered to the general public, when using the promo code CYBER17. Adding to the overall vacation experience with Outrigger, Discovery members will also enjoy a glimpse into the local traditions and culture of each iconic location through various unique and authentic activities curated by each hotel property, it said.

In addition to the Maldives, Outrigger’s properties in Hawaii, Thailand, Fiji, Guam and Mauritius are also participating in the Cyber Sale.

In the Maldives, Outrigger runs the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort is accessible via a 55-minute flight from the main Velana International Airport to Kaadedhdhoo Airport followed by a scenic 30-minute journey on a luxurious private speedboat. The resort comprises 29 Beach Pool Villas, 21 Ocean Pool Villas, two Lagoon Pool Villas and a masterful three-bedroom Grand Konotta Villa, offering guests a complete sense of privacy and intimate luxury.

Urvashi Rautela in Maldives for Maldives Travel Award Gala Edition

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Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela has arrived in the Maldives to attend the upcoming Maldives Travel Awards Gala Edition.

Urvashi arrived in the Maldives Wednesday morning, and was welcomed at the main Velana International Airport by top officials from organiser Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and host Adaaran Resorts Maldives.


The actress-cum-model is staying at Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi resort, where the Gala Edition is set to take place. She will be the guest of honour at the gala ceremony on Thursday evening.

Urvashi was crowned Miss Diva 2015, and represented India at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant.

The 23-year-old actress made her Bollywood debut in 2013 with the film, Singh Saab the Great, followed by critically acclaimed roles in Sanam Re and Great Grand Masti in 2016. She also starred alongside Hrithik Roshan in the 2017 movie Kaabil.



Meanwhile, MATATO is making final preparations for the Gala Edition.

Voting for the 230 properties nominated for the 25 categories in the awards closed on Tuesday with an overwhelming 100,000 plus votes.

Winners for the Gala Edition will be decided by a collective score based on traveller reviews on TripAdvisor and the popular vote. The winners will be announced at the gala ceremony to be held at  Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi Thursday evening.

In addition to the main categories, MATATO will present five awards to recognise special areas of tourism development and sustainability.

MATATO will also combine the grand gala with the second edition of the Maldives Travel Conference, which is set to be held on Thursday at Bandos Maldives resort.



Initiated in 2012 by MATATO, Maldives Travel Awards celebrate and honour the best tourism and hospitality products in the Maldives, while fostering relationships with suppliers and local travel agents. From 20 categories in 2012, the awards have now expanded into three editions totalling 55 categories.

This year, MATATO has for the first time branched out the prestigious awards into three categories; 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 Grand Gala, which is exclusive for winners in the categories for resorts, airlines and liveaboards.

As the first event held under the Maldives Travel Awards brand, Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi hosted the People’s Edition on July 13, where 10 individuals were recognised for their immense contributions to the development of the Maldives tourism industry.

The Guesthouse Edition, held in the island of Maafushi on October 30, expanded on the recognitions awarded to guesthouses by MATATO as part of the Maldives Travel Awards, and celebrated the outstanding performance of the guesthouse sector.

As MATATO brings in a rising Bollywood actress for the most anticipated travel event of the year, the Maldives has become a sought after destination by Bollywood stars.

A-list Bollywood stars who have visited the Maldives include Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra. Bollywood couples such as Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have also spent their holidays in the Maldives, while Bollywood couple Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora Khan has declared the Maldives as their favourite holiday destination.

India has also 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 has gathered steam this year, as the number of Indian tourists that visited the Maldives recorded a 25.4 percent increase in the past 10 months to reach 63,141 from 50,369 in the same period last year.

Cheval Blanc Randheli's Hublot Special Edition Watch

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Cheval Blanc Randheli has partnered with Hublot to create a special edition timepiece inspired by the Maldives’ beautiful waters.

Designed to embody a trip to the ultra-luxury resort, the Classic Fusion Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition watch is a tribute to the colours surrounding the atoll, where the ocean’s dark blue contrasts beautifully with the limpid turquoise of the lagoon — all a reflection of the clear blue skies above.

The Swiss luxury watchmaker commissioned Parisian artist Vincent Beaurin, designer of the signature works of art at Cheval Blanc Randheli, to help create the unique dial using sand.

Vincent Beaurin says that he wanted “in this incredible landscape, to open his arms, to embrace and contemplate the vastness.” “The watch tells time and dilutes it in the colours of the crystal-clear waters of the Noonu atoll,” he explains.

In a statement, Hublot said the latest collaboration follows the successful launch of the 2016 Special Edition: a perfect illustration of the savoir-faire of the brand and its constant quest for new fusions between time, art and luxury.

“Just like the blue waters surrounding Cheval Blanc Randheli, the captivating blue tones of the two new timepieces dedicated to the Maison create an appealing aura on the wrist, offering wearers a new experience with time,” Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, was quoted in the statement, as saying.

The Classic Fusion Cheval Blanc Randheli Special Edition is available in 45mm and 38mm versions with brushed metal cases and blue crocodile straps. The smaller version also features a halo of crystalline stones on the bezel.

“This watch is an illustration of the art de vivre and creativity so characteristic of both brands. This approach reflects a tailor-made dialogue between Hublot, the artist and Randheli’s unique universe. Time stops at Cheval Blanc,” Olivier Lefebvre, Head of Hotel Activities at LVMH Hotel Management, said.

Both versions of the special edition watch are only available for purchase at the Cheval Blanc Randheli Concept Store, in the dedicated Hublot area that reflects the identity of the most iconic Hublot boutiques around the world.


A private villa at the luxury Cheval Blanc Randheli resort in Noonu Atoll. Accessible by a scenic 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport, Cheval Blanc Randheli is one-of-a-kind exclusive property from the luxury fashion group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the creative mind behind some of the world’s most stunning resorts including the Chedi Muscat and many Aman resorts, Randheli marries contemporary aesthetic with the traditional Maldivian craftsmanship.

The award-winning resort offers 46 villas in three different categories to choose from; Island, Water or Garden. They have a variety of contemporary design elements, high doors and ceilings, outdoor areas for relaxation, pool terraces, a 12.5m long private swimming pool and lagoon-side pontoons.

The Cheval Blanc Spa offers exclusive Guerlain treatments in special treatment villas, while the Hair Spa by Leonor Greyl doubles as a beauty studio and barber shop. For guests with children, there is a Le Carrousel Kids Club and