Oman Air to come back to the Maldives

Oman Air to come back to the Maldives

Oman Air will resume its service between Muscat and Malé in the Maldives.

Flights will recommence for the winter season from October 28th and will be operated by the new Boeing 737 aircraft.

Oman Air flights from Muscat to Maldives will operate on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the flight from Maldives to Muscat will operate on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The Maldives is a beautiful chain of 26 ring atolls, made up of more than 1,000 coral islands, located only three and a half hours away from Oman.

Well known for its beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs, the Maldives is an incredibly popular tourist destination with an increasing number of international visitors arriving year on year.

Abdulaziz Al Raisi, chief executive of Oman Air, said: “We are delighted to be resuming our Maldives route and look forward to welcoming our valued Oman Air guests on board our latest Boeing 737 aircraft.

“We thoroughly encourage our friends from Europe and the rest of our network, flying to the Maldives to stop over and explore Oman en route.

“Our new Maldives service offers holidaymakers the perfect opportunity to explore Muscat, the metropolitan capital of Oman before escaping to the beautiful shores of the Maldives.”

The relaunch of the Maldives service comes at an exciting time, as Oman Air recently started their flights to Istanbul in June with operations scheduled to Casablanca in July and Moscow in October.

UK guests drive tourism development in the Maldives

The Maldives has announced an 18.7 per cent increase in UK visitor arrivals during November 2017, when compared with the same month in 2016.

In total, 9,579 UK visitors travelled to the Maldives during November 2017, compared with 8,073 in November 2016.

Furthermore, UK visitors represented 7.9 per cent of all visitors to the Maldives in November 2017, with a total of 94,258 UK visitors travelling to the Maldives in the first 11 months of 2017, a 1.1 per cent year-on-year increase.

With regards to worldwide arrivals to the Maldives, the island nation witnessed a year-on-year growth of 15.2 per cent in November 2017, with 120,506 international tourists visiting the Maldives during November 2017.

The total number of arrivals to the Maldives in 2017 stood at 1,246,502 by the end of November and when compared with the same period in 2016, total tourist arrivals have increased by 6.8 per cent.

To support the increasing demand for tourism in the Maldives, the country will welcome several new tourism developments during 2018, including expansion plans at the recently rebranded Velana International Airport and the opening of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge in July.

Speaking at a recent press conference, Mohamed Anil, attorney general, Maldives, said: “This is a very exciting time for the Maldives with a number of key infrastructure developments taking place during 2018 and beyond, which will benefit both tourists and the local community.

“Our tourism industry is continuing to expand and with ten new hotel resorts opening during the next few years, we look forward to being able to accommodate even more visitors from overseas.”

Best places to Visit in Maldives

Top 15 Best Places to visit in Maldives 

Left to the mercy of the soft and lapping Indian Ocean, the islands of the Maldives have been sculpted and formed into unquestionably one of the most quintessentially beautiful tropical places on the globe.

Ranging from the powdered beaches of the northern atolls to the earthy sea shacks and fishing hamlets of the southern isles, the whole nation can be found strewn across the turquoise waters some way from the Indian subcontinent.

Most visitors will land in the throbbing, pulsing city of Male, packed onto its own pinprick of an isle and boasting spice-scented markets and great mosques.

Most also don’t linger long before they hit the seaplanes or boats and make for the shimmering private bays of their chosen resort, where infinity pools and over-water cabanas are the norm.


More recently, new local guesthouses and the discovery of rolling waves have begun transforming the Maldives from honeymoon hot-spot to surfing, adventure and backpacking destination – paradise is now open to all, it seems.

Lets explore the best places to visit in the Maldives:

1. Male 

Islamic Center 

Thrumming with scooters and cars and Indian bazaars stacked with coconuts and spice, the city of Male – the capital of the Maldives atolls – has the frenetic feel of a place crammed into a slot that’s too small for it.

And that’s because it is.

Although rarely visited (most travelers bypass the city on seaplanes heading straight for their resort), the town is crammed onto a pint-sized islet in the North Male Atoll.

It manages to fit some fascinating sights between its streets though, like the 17th-century Friday Mosque and the gold-tipped Islamic Centre.

Male Market is another must – just be sure get your haggling skills up to scratch.

2. Hulhumale Island

hulhumale Island 

Sat just across the sparkling waters from the capital of Male, the island of Hulhumale is forever growing and growing as more and more land is reclaimed to house the sprawling urban tendrils of the city.

It’s also the home of the Velana International Airport, which is the main gateway to these paradisiacal islands for most.

However, don’t be put off by how all that sounds – Hulhumale is actually a charming place.

It’s got a gorgeous – if artificial – beach on its eastern haunch, a clutch of leafy neighborhoods, a glass-topped mosque, and planned promenade walkways above the Indian Ocean.

3. Maafushi

Maafushi

Maafushi might not have the sprawling luxury resorts and opulent 5-star hotels that many of its nearby brothers do, but it’s got plenty of charm.

Sadly ravaged in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the place has been busy rebuilding its salt-washed fishing jetties and industrious sailor huts in the last decade.

Something that’s helped is the opening up of rights to local guesthouses, which is transforming Maafushi into one of the top off-beat island getaways for budget travelers.

Of course, you can expect gorgeous beaches backed with palms, lapping waves, and a clutch of homey little coffee shops on the shore.

4. Utheemu

Utheemu

Sat on the far northern reaches of the Haa Alif Atoll, itself the northernmost of all the Maldivian island chains, the beautiful site of Utheemu holds a special place in the history of this archipelago nation.

That’s because it was once the home of the revered Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu – the leader who’s credited with driving out Portuguese invaders from the isles in the late 16th century.

Of course, there are the usual sparkling white sands and lapping Indian Ocean waves, but these are punctuated by heritage sites like the Utheemu Ganduvaru, which is the gorgeous timber-built palace where the respected leader grew up.

5. Feydhoo

feydhoo

Feydhoo’s story is a curious one.

In the 19th century, the people now living between the leafy streets and tight-knit housing blocks here were the inhabitants of nearby Gan island (more on that one later). When the British came in the run up to WWII, Gan was transformed into an airbase, and the locals were shipped out to live on the next island along in the Seenu Atoll.

That was Feydhoo, which is today a pretty picture of lived-in Maldivian life.

Come and stroll the winding walkways and sample seafood curries with the locals – the welcome is always warm.

6. Maradhoo

maradhoo 

Joined at the hip to aforementioned Feydhoo by a seaside causeway that runs just above the coral-fringed shores of the Seenu Atoll, Maradhoo is a major link in the island chain that starts with Gan to the east.

Long and thin, it juts out into the Indian Ocean like a finger fringed with narrow beachfronts and swaying groves of coconut palms.

As in Feydhoo, the locals are laid-back and lovely, and the cuisine is spicy and rich in seafood.

Be sure to take a walk down Link Road and flit between the coffee shops and sandwich vendors that meet between the palm trees there.

7. Veligandu Island

Veligandu island 

Romantic sunsets glow red and yellow over the lapping waters of the Indian Ocean; cocktails clink in the resort’s luxurious bar; sea kayaks bob on the turquoise shoreline, and crystal-clear waves roll in softly from the inland lagoon.

Welcome to uber-beautiful Veligandu Island, which has long been championed as one of the top destinations in the Maldives for couples.

Honeymooners and newly-weds are a common site on this long, thin finger of land on the western edge of the North Ari Atoll, and there are plenty of opulent seaside villas and suites to match.

8. Banana Reef 

banana Reef

Many travelers heading to the islands of the Maldives will be coming for one thing and one thing only: diving.

And there’s hardly a single better place to don the SCUBA gear and wetsuits in the country than at the Banana Reef.

This fruit-shaped dash of multi-colored corals and seaweed-clad sandbanks lies underwater between the isles of the North Male Atoll.

It’s served by countless outfitters, who lead excursions to uncover the striped snappers and bulbous sponges, the reef sharks and the barracudas that all coalesce here.

9. Thulusdhoo Island

thulusdhoo Island 

It’s the spirit of the salt-washed Caribbean that seems to drive Thulusdhoo Island.

Largely undiscovered, this speck in the Male Atolls is ringed by wide spaces of sand from which bulbous coconut trunks sprout by the hundred.

The beaches are – naturally – great, and the locals love to draw in their fading fishing boats to flint up a good sizzling seafood barbeque now and then.

That all fits perfectly with the other pastime of travelers on Thulusdhoo: surfing.

Look for the fun left-hand rollers that turn into barrels off of Villingilimathi Huraa close by.

10. Fuvahmulah

fuvahmulah

Fuvahmulah promises something a little different to the rest of the Maldivian atolls.

For starters, this speck on the map of the Indian Ocean doesn’t really have any near neighbors, and it occupies an atoll all of its own.

It’s also peppered with the occasional inland lake, which is a rare sight to see in this flat-lying country.


Meanwhile the sandbanks that ring popular Banging Beach make for some crashing rollers and refreshing salt-spray (a break from the usual relaxing lapping lagoons), and the proximity to the Earth’s equator means steamy weather throughout the year.

11. Alimatha island 

Perched on the eastern edge of the Maldives, in the famous Felidhe Atoll, Alimatha is a great tourist island that offers luxury cabanas, untouched stretches of pristine sandy beach, and – most importantly – some of the most celebrated SCUBA diving spots around.

The resort that covers the island can often be seen packed with eager divers, who all come to seek out the pretty coral groves and sea walls that surround the shores.


These are packed with jackfish, morays and eels, and are known for their high visibility and popular night diving packages.

12. Hithadhoo

hithadhoo

Large (at least for a Maldivian island) and highly-populated (again, at least for a Maldivian island), this sub-section of Addu City in the old Seenu Atoll can be reached on the same causeways that connect Gan to Maradhoo.

On its southern edge, the place is given away to mangroves and marshes and shrub land, while the north side of the island is packed with cafes and bakeries and the occasional set of looming minarets that rise from the local mosques.

More than anything, Hithadhoo oozes a charming lived-in vibe; one that’s difficult to discover elsewhere in the resort-heavy country. 

13. Kuredu 

    Kuredu

Kuredu is the self-proclaimed jewel of the Lhaviyani Atoll, which makes its home in the central-north reaches of the Maldivian archipelago.

A boomerang-shaped isle, it’s entirely covered by a single resort, which offers rustic bamboo shacks and rows of those ubiquitous over-water bungalows with verandahs above the waves.

The whole place is completely surrounded by its own private fringing of powdery sand, and is considered one of the most advanced SCUBA and snorkeling destinations in the country – strong currents and high waves often make it difficult to see the manta rays and tropical schools.

Unusually, Kuredu also plays host to a full 9-hole golf course.

14. Gan 

Gan 

Gan is primarily known for its airport, which is the second-largest airport in the entire Maldives and a famous former airbase for the British Royal Air Force during WWII. Today, the island has shed its old military importance in favor of tourism, and it’s slowly rising to become one of the most popular spots in the Addu Atoll.

It’s not just the accessibility (thanks to the airport) that draws the crowds either, because Gan has earthy little fishing restaurants and small stretches of shimmering sand that are usually totally empty of visitors. Nice.

15. Kunfunadhoo Island 

Kunfunadhoo Island 

If you’re after the fabled luxury and romance of the Maldives, then it’s likely that the opulent resort on Kunfunadhoo Island won’t disappoint – it’s continually hailed as the most indulgent place to stay in the country.
Visitors enter through a thatched timber great hall that hides between groves of coconut palms.
From there, it’s onto the cocktail decks that soar on stilts above the jungle, or out to the beaches where candles flicker in the sultry sea breeze.
Add in a couple of infinity pools, swim-up bars, and the chance to dine on a private little sandbank with only the Indian Ocean waves as a backing track, and it’s easy to see why this one’s so popular!

Matato to Launch Annual travel Agents Guide

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has announced plans to launch a directory of travel agents in Maldives.

In a statement, MATATO said the Maldives Travel Agents Guide would be published from next year onwards as a handbook directory that provides detailed information about travel agents operating in the Maldives. In addition to listings of travel agents, the guide will include features and advertorials on holiday options offered by local agents, it added.

“The purpose of this publication is to have an exclusive platform, where MATATO can exclusively feature local travel agents and their innovative travel ideas and offers that need to be showcased for the international market. This publication will also serve as business directory and catalogue for international buyers seeking for information on local agents,” the statement read.

According to MATATO, the annual guide will be distributed at major international travel trade shows and MATATO hosted events.

Travel agents interested to be listed on the guide are requested to contact the organisation’s Deputy Secretary General Asra Naseem via email.

MATATO already publishes an annual magazine, Maldives Finder.

First launched in 2011, Maldives Finder is distributed throughout the year at leading international travel exhibitions and events, and travel roadshows and networking events organised by MATATO. The publication is also widely circulated amongst the tourism facilities in the Maldives.

MATAO, a non-profit that supports local travel agents and tour operators through lobbying and training programmes, also organises the prestigious Maldives Travel Awards every year.

OBLU by ATMOSPHERE at Helengili Wins the “ITS REDSTAR Award”!

Just over one year into operations, OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli has been selected within the “TOP
100 resorts of the World” by ITS Germany and has been awarded the prestigious ITS RedStar Award.  




OBLU at Helengeli has been selected from a collection of 8500 properties, that DER Touristik Group,
Germany has contracted worldwide. DER Touristik Group is one of the largest producers to the Maldives
from the German Speaking Markets.  
Positioned as a ‘BEST IN CLASS’ Four‐Star Superior resort, OBLU at Helengeli is the second property under
the up & coming Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts Indian Ocean hospitality Brand.  
“It is certainly a matter of pride for my team and myself, to have been recognized so fast, for our consistent
performance during the past one year since opening! This award will inspire us to do more for our valuable
customers and ensure that we deliver our promise at all times!” – Mr.Bill Ignatiadis, General Manager,
OBLU at Helengeli.  

Cocoon Maldives Is Officially Open!

Designed by famous Italian design firm LAGO, Cocoon Maldives resort has been inaugurated on Monday.

The 5-star resort is located 30 minutes away from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport at Lhaviyani Atoll on the island of Ookolhufinolhu. The property has been developed by Cocoon Investment in association with LAGO.

Cocoon Maldives aims to let the guests be enlightened as they complete a metamorphosis and rediscover their true self. Cocoon Maldives strives to create a unique designer resort that mixes luxury, design aesthetics, and hospitality in one exceptionally beautiful tropical island fashioned from the ground up to provide guests with the ultimate holiday experience aimed to refresh, revitalize and reawaken the soul.

There are 150 villas on the beach and suspended on stilts in the lagoon. LAGO has made it so that the designs incorporate the natural beauty of the island and surrounding. They have assembled the best elements of hospitality into an elegant yet modern resort. Cocoon's understated interiors defer to the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding marine environment: large windows frame scenes of breathtaking beaches, lagoon and ocean, complemented by furniture hewn from 200-year-old Wildwood. This theme is continued across all areas of the resort. In addition to the beautifully designed rooms, there are also three especially designed restaurants and bar contributed by LAGO.

Cocoon Maldives is well located around one of the best diving areas in the archipelago. There are over 50 diving spots around the resort. This gives room for the dive center and water sports facilities of this property to be top notch. In addition to these services, Cocoon Maldives also offers a Spa, Gym and Kid’s Club with experts to facilitate.

The General Manager for the resort, Raam stated that the aim of the resort is to give their guests a chance to have unforgettable experience during their visit.

Properties From The Maldives Win Countless Awards At World Luxury Hotel Awards

At the recently held World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala night in St. Regis Doha, Qatar, Maldives once again proved itself as one of the best destinations in the world with huge wins in regional and continental categories.

Resorts and a guesthouse from the Maldives, won awards in different categories at the WLHA 2016 awards night gaining international recognition as world class retreats and some of the best in the whole continent.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi won the Luxury Beach Resort, while Diamonds Thudufushi clasped the Luxury Water Villa Resort award. Lily Beach Resort and Spa took home the award for the Luxury Family All-Inclusive Hotel with Conrad Maldives Rangali seized the Grand Excellence Award. Constance Moofushi Resort Maldives was named as the Luxury Green Hotel while the Hotel Ocean Grand picked up the award for Luxury Guesthouse. In the continental categories, Coco Collection won the prize for Luxury Hotel Brand and Conrad Maldives Rangali Island won the award for Luxury Villa Resort.

Regionally, Hideaway Beach Resort and Spa at Dhonakulhi Maldives brought home the award for Luxury Private Pool Villa with Hulhule Island Hotel clutching the Luxury Airport Hotel. JA Manafaru, Maldives also won the Luxury Honeymoon Hotel. Furthermore, Mirihi Island Resort for Luxury Boutique Hotel, Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort for Best Serviced Luxury Villas, The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives for Luxury Spa Hotel, and Makunudu Island for Luxury Honeymoon Hotel.

Within Maldives, Coco Bodu Hithi took hold of the Luxury Honeymoon Hotel award while Centara Grand Ras Fushi Resort And Spa Maldives took the award for Luxury Adult Beach Resort, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island for Luxury Villa Resort, Constance Halaveli Maldives for Luxury Water Villa Resort, Jumeirah Vittaveli for Luxury Island Resort, Kurumba Maldives for Luxury Family All-Inclusive Hotel, Lily Beach Resort And Spa for Luxury Beach Resort, and Royal Island Resort & Spa for Luxury Romantic Hotel.

The World Luxury Hotel Awards is a recognized global organization providing luxury hotels with recognition for their world-class facilities and service excellence provided to guests. Public votes select all winners, reflecting real recognition for the hard work and dedication of hotel staff and hotel standards.

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Claims Prestigious Awards at World Luxury Hotel Awards 2016

The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi has established themselves as one of the best in the industry not only in the Maldives but on a global scale as well by taking home two of the most prestigious awards at the World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony, held at St Regis Hotel, Qatar on 29th October 2016.

The resort claimed the Global Winner Leading Luxury Beach Resort and Regional Winner Leading Luxury Spa Hotel at the World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Event.

Recognized as amongst the world’s most prestigious and exclusive awards for the hospitality industry, the World Luxury Hotel Awards is a global organization that provides recognition to luxury hotels for their world class facilities and service excellence provided to guests. The organization aims to encourage and raise service standards within the luxury hotel industry. Among over 1,000 hotels nominated in 145 countries, The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi won the votes of international tour operators, travel agents and hotel guests.

Upon receiving the coveted trophy for the two categories, an elated Evgenia Boyankova, Group Director Business Development of Sun Siyam Resorts, said "If it weren't for the sheer passion of my colleagues to delight each and every one of our guests, we wouldn't have gone this far". She added: "Together, we've made the Maldives proud".

“I dedicate these awards to our staff members who work tirelessly to ensure the well-being of our guests and provide unique home-away-from-home experiences. These awards inspire us to do more and work even harder in delivering award-winning hospitality and world-class experiences for our guests", commented Abdulla Thamheed, General Manager at The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi.

Other recent awards for The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi include Indian Ocean’s Best Resort Spa and Maldives’s Best Resort Spa by the World Spa Awards 2016. Indian Ocean's Leading Family Resort and Maldives Leading Family Resort by the World Travel Awards 2016. Flavours Restaurant was also awarded the Global Winner for Best French Cuisine & Best Wine Selection at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2016. The resort’s Spa was also awarded as the Best Luxury Resort Spa in the Indian Ocean from World Luxury Spa Awards 2016. 

Located among the unspoiled islands of Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, a scenic 45-minute sea plane journey from Male, The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi is where nature’s simplicity and beauty is in abundance – it’s a world away from the everyday.

The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi features 221 luxury oceanfront villas, including 70 over-water bungalows, inspired by traditional Maldivian architecture. Guests at The Sun Sun SIyam Iru Fushi will enjoy luxurious relaxation, while immersing themselves in the rich culture and heritage of the Maldives. We, the MVHOTELS team congratulate The Sun SIyam Iru Fushi resort for its amazing achievements.

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Wins Awards at World Spa Awards

Located among the unspoiled islands of Noonu Atoll in the Maldives, a scenic 45-minute sea plane journey from Male’ the multi-award-winning resort The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi. The resort has been recognized for its luxurious and innovative Spa by Thalgo, receiving two awards this year from Indian Ocean's Best Resort Spa and Maldives's Best Resort Spa.

World Spa Awards is a dynamic awards program, launched in 2015 and designed to drive up standards within spa tourism by rewarding the organizations that are the leaders in the field.

"Spa by Thalgo's double-recognition at the World Spa Awards is a wonderful affirmation of our efforts to provide both sophisticated travelers and spa visitors to Maldives with a flawless and contemporary spa experience connected to authentic influences and ancient rituals. The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi's now nine awards and accolades for 2016 are a testament to the brand's commitment toward setting new benchmarks for luxury experiences in Maldives." said The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi's General Manager, Abdulla Thamheed.

The winner of the World Spa Awards 2016 was announced at a red carpet Gala Ceremony held on 4th September 2016, at the Forte Sardina Resort in Italy.

The Spa by Thalgo set amongst lush landscapes and winding pebble paths offers twenty treatment rooms affording ultimate privacy and luxury. These treatment rooms are equipped with foot baths and vitality baths, whilst offering unique treatments. It is also the only spa in Maldives to offer Fish Spa therapy.

The Spa by Thalgo offers the widest variety of treatments including: Anti-Ageing Facials, Body Therapies, Facial Therapies, Slimming Treatments, Massage Therapies, Ayurvedic Therapies, Ayurvedic Rituals, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Maldivian Treatments, Signature Experiences and also Spa Packages & Spa Days. The island's experts also guide guests on a journey of self-discovery through series of classes on yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, Pranayama and Pilates.

World Spa Awards Winners marked the highlight of a year-long search for the very best spas on the global front, commending and recognizing outstanding achievements in service excellence and rewarding those spas that have raised the bar within a highly competitive industry over the past year, putting the spotlight on those representing only the finest standards.

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort to welcome World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, an idyllic-paradise nestled amid lush tropical vegetation in the Maldives, has been selected to host the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016.

The prestigious red-carpet event will take place on December 2nd, welcoming industry leaders from around the globe to this internationally acclaimed destination.

World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It is an honour to reveal the World Travel Awards will return to the Maldives in December for our Grand Final 2016.

“This is truly one of the most sought after destinations anywhere on earth, and it will be our pleasure to welcome our nominees to what promises to be the highlight of the tourism calendar.

“Preparations are already underway for the event and I look forward to greeting the leaders of our booming industry to the Maldives later this year.”

With its beautifully designed villas standing over turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and endless sea views the resort if the perfect location to toast the leaders in international hospitality.

“We are honoured to host the Grand Final of World Travel Awards 2016 at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, and equally delighted to be welcoming the best of the best to this amazing destination.

“Our group, Sun Siyam Resorts, has already won a couple of accolades at the regional ceremonies and cannot wait for the global announcements in December,” said Evgenia Boyankova, Group Director of Business Development, Sun Siyam Resorts.

World Travel Awards, too, will be celebrating, rewarding its global winners at the end of the Grand Tour 2016.

Regional Gala Ceremonies have already taken place in Tanzania and Peru, with stops scheduled in Italy, Jamaica, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates before the end of the year.

Winners from each regional celebration progress to the Grand Final in December.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.

World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries, and international print and broadcast media.

Maldives to host World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016

If you wonder who is managing the world’s best travel companies, you should fly to Maldives to meet them in person at the Oscars of the travel industry; World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016 which will take place at the Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort on December 2, 2016. The prestigious red-carpet event will welcome industry leaders from around the globe to this internationally acclaimed destination.

World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It is an honour to reveal the World Travel Awards will return to the Maldives in December for our Grand Final 2016.

“This is truly one of the most sought after destinations anywhere on earth, and it will be our pleasure to welcome our nominees to what promises to be the highlight of the tourism calendar.

“Preparations are already underway for the event and I look forward to greeting the leaders of our booming industry to the Maldives later this year.”

With its beautifully designed villas standing over turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, and endless sea views the resort if the perfect location to toast the leaders in international hospitality.

“We are honoured to host the Grand Final of World Travel Awards 2016 at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, and equally delighted to be welcoming the best of the best to this amazing destination.

“Our group, Sun Siyam Resorts, has already won a couple of accolades at the regional ceremonies and cannot wait for the global announcements in December,” said Evgenia Boyankova, Group Director of Business Development, Sun Siyam Resorts.

World Travel Awards, too, will be celebrating, rewarding its global winners at the end of the Grand Tour 2016.

Regional Gala Ceremonies have already taken place in Tanzania and Peru, with stops scheduled in Italy, Jamaica, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates before the end of the year.

Winners from each regional celebration progress to the Grand Final in December.

Luxurious Maldives resort visitors will be able to take the stars to bed with them

Resorts in the Maldives like Finolhu Villas and the Hurawalhi Island Resort and Spa aim to offer unforgettable luxury experiences, but the soon-to-open Soneva Jani resort will offer something that no others do. Retractable roofs in the bedrooms of its villas will let guests sleep under the stars.

Soneva was founded by Sonu and Eva Shivdasani in 1995 and aims to offer an environmentally responsible brand of luxury tourism. In addition to the upcoming Soneva Jani, it runs the Soneva Fushi and Soneva Kiri destinations, in the Maldives and Thailand respectively, and the Soneva in Aqua yachting experience.

Soneva Jani is located on the 150-ac (61-ha) island of Medhufaru, which is part of an uninhabited five-island archipelago in the Noonu Atoll. It is sheltered in a lagoon, with views out over the Indian Ocean.

Among the resort's features will be a variety of dining options, a spa, a diving center, an observatory, a children's den, an eco center, organic gardens and an outdoor cinema. Guests at the cinema will be given Bluetooth earphones to listen to the movies they are watching, so as not to disturb wildlife in the area.

To minimize any environmental impact elsewhere, its villas have been built only over the sandy floors of the lagoon, avoiding any damage to the surrounding reef. The resort's pools will use UV-filtered seawater, wastewater will be treated on-site, and water for drinking use, among other things, will also be produced on-site. Vegetables will be grown, waste recycled and a "significant" amount of electricity to power the resort generated using solar panels.

There will be 24 water villas and one island villa when the resort opens, with additional island villas expected to be added next year. Every water villa will have a private pool and will open out onto the lagoon, with some boasting slides from their top deck into the water.

The coup de grâce, though, will be the retractable roofs in the master bedrooms of the villas. Soneva explains to Gizmag that Sonu and Eva discovered that guests at their Soneva Gili (now Gili Lankanfushi) resort were taking pillows out onto their decks to to sleep under the stars. This prompted them to look into how they could offer the same experience to guests from the comfort of their villas.

As per Soneva's ethos, sustainable materials were used to construct the roofs where possible. It was also important that the roofs be designed to be robust and be equipped to deal with the Maldives' rainy season.

The roofs measure 4 x 4 m (13 x 13 ft) . They are made from red river gum timber and rest on milled steel parallel tracks, with rack and pinion coupled-synchronized gear motors. There are three buttons for opening, closing and stopping the movement of the roofs, and sensors built into them so that they close automatically when it rains and guests don't get wet while they sleep. The result allows guests to lie on their beds and look up at the stars in the sky.

A soft opening of Soneva Jani is planned for October, with the resort expect to be fully open from November.

Book Now : https://www.zeldivaluxury.com/

5th Anniversary of the Maldives Travel Awards with the Highest Number of Nominations

year’s total of 115 nominees, a massive 111% growth.

Maldives Travel Awards introduced in 2012 by MATATO, has announced that it has received a record number of nominees for this year’s awards. With a total of 243 nominations, this year will see the highest number of participants and nominees competing for the prestigious awards. Which compared to last 

The association’s original purpose for the creation of the awards was to celebrate and recognize the excellence in the Maldivian hospitality sector meanwhile linking relationships between local agents and the hoteliers, while offering a platform for networking and change the way hoteliers see local agents to a more positive manner.

The awards will be conferred based on a range of 35 categories, with the 2016 edition announcing the introduction of 5 new categories. They are the Leading Airport Lounge, Leading Human Resource Management, Leading F&B Outlet, Leading Marketing Program and Leading Guesthouse Categories. Participation from 18 guesthouses nominated for the ‘’Leading Guesthouses Category’’ will see competition heat up with the local participants and rivalries in the resort categories will be as fierce as always.

Photo: Soneva Fushi  won the award for the Leading Luxury Resort for the year 2015.

For the Maldives Travel Awards 2016, MATATO has found itself a new Event Manager in ‘’Think Associates’’ through a tender process carried out earlier this year. A leading event organizer in the Maldives Think Associates has been a part of many important events in the past.

MATATO and Think Associates have plenty of hype events and enthralling promotions organized for the coming month and even has plans to carry out promotional activities at the WTM 2016 (World Travel Market) in London.

The president of MATATO Mr. Abdulla Giyaas stated in an interview with PSM news that he believes the reason for the high number of nominations this year was the hard work carried out by the association to encourage more businesses to take part in the event. And in addition to bringing new designs to the trophy, the association has announced that a Travel Conference will be held the day before the Maldives Travel Awards official ceremony. He also added that the ceremony will be held over two days in November and promised to reveal more information at a press conference next week.

RezLive.com organises FAM trip to Sri Lanka & Maldives

RezLive.com India, recently rewarded the loyal patronage of their Indian travel agents by extending the opportunity to visit Sri Lanka and Maldives in association with Sri Lankan Airlines, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, Lily Beach Resort & Spa Maldives and OZO Colombo & Kandy Sri Lanka. The FAM trip was conducted from June 15-21, 2016.

During the stay the group stayed at Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, Lily Beach Resort & Spa Maldives and OZO Colombo and Kandy Sri Lanka and got a chance to explore the properties and the destination.

Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director, RezLive.com commented, “The FAM trip was a good opportunity to let the agents experience the hotels along with other popular attractions in the city, which will help them advice clients planning a trip to Sri Lanka and Maldives accordingly. The group enjoyed the trip and was very satisfied with the properties visited, Sri Lankan Airlines on flight service and local sightseeing. We plan to host more familiarization trips in the future as this is a great way to promote the city and receive more visitors from the region.”

By Travellers JA Manafaru Maldives Voted Among Top Three Best Hotels

JA Resorts & Hotels’ island beach resort, JA Manafaru, has been voted as one of the most popular hotels in the Maldives on TripAdvisor, whose popularity ratings are considered as one of the most authentic. The resort that is a favourite among honeymooners and family holidaymakers aline is currently ranked in the top five out of 192 hotels and resorts in the Maldives. The resort has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence  from TripAdvisor for the consistent reviews it has been receiving by the travellers.

JA Resort & Hotels prides itself on delivering heartfelt hospitality at its properties and JA Manafaru portrays the epitome on that sentiment. On a review a traveller commented on TripAdvisor, “ “If you have a special request, the staff will bend over backward to accommodate. You will leave like you are leaving friends behind.” Another guest took to the travel site to state: “Everything is exceptional from the accommodation to the food but what sets this place apart is the staff.”

JA Manafaru offers guests a unique and exquisite holiday experience through activities such as a Maldivian cooking classes, a castaway experience on a private island and some of the best dolphin sighting in this part of the Island Ocean. It is also the perfect haven for families looking for relaxation and action in the sunshine.

The resort also gives guests a chance to sample some of the finest world cuisine at seven restaurants and bars on the island. The resort is situated on a 35-acre private island with a soft, white sandy beach on the northern-most Haa Alif atoll. It is accessible via a 75-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport or speedboat transfer from Hanimaadhoo Airport.

JA Resorts & Hotels is also well-known in the Indian Ocean for its successful management of the luxurious Enchanted Island Resort in Seychelles. A newly-wed guest staying at the resort recently wrote, “My husband and I could not have asked for more from our honeymoon at Enchanted Island Resort.”

“We are delighted that our commitment to providing deeply caring and thoughtfully crafted experiences to our guests at JA Manafaru and Enchanted Island Resort has been recognised by travellers from across the world.”, stated David Thomson, COO of the JA Resorts and Hotels. He added that, “The Maldives is home to some of the world’s most luxurious properties and it is an honour to be voted by guests as one of the top three hotel offerings in the world. We have worked hard to showcase our brand of heartfelt hospitality at our properties in the Indian Ocean and the continued acknowledgement of our work is extremely rewarding. The appreciation that JA Manafaru and Enchanted Island Resort have received from TripAdvisor is a testament to the exquisite and uniquely beautiful offering we deliver to our guests.”

With Kuoni’s new push Win a Maldives break

 Kuoni is offering agents the chance to win a getaway to the Maldives, in celebration of the release of its latest Indian Ocean & Arabia brochure, which features new resorts throughout Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The operator has teamed up with Kuramathi Island Resort Maldives to offer a seven-night full-board break in a deluxe water villa with boat transfers for stays between July 1 and December 23, 2016.

To enter agents must make bookings to the resort before June 30 and email their booking references to agency@kuoni.co.uk. A winner will be selected at random on Friday July 1.

The expanded collection includes new five-star properties such as the newly opened Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa in Sri Lanka (left), which features an 18-hole golf course, and Anantara Kalutara, which has a wellbeing focus and is due to open in July on the
south-west coast.

Also in the destination and located close to Yala national park, Kuoni has added the Uga Chena Huts, consisting of 14 individual cabins, each with a private pool and two game drives per day, as part of an all-inclusive programme.

Meanwhile, new openings in the Maldives include Milaidhoo Island, part of Baa Atoll, a Unesco World Biosphere Reserve, and Makunudu Island, which features 36 refurbished beach bungalows.

Sheena Paton, Kuoni commercial and product manager for the Indian Ocean, said: “With international brands now investing in Sri Lanka there have been more luxury products opening in the destination.

“We are also seeing a number of new resorts opening in the Maldives with more planned for the future.”

She added that Abu Dhabi was also developing as a destination.

“In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is developing further as a cultural destination with much more to offer than just a stopover. The latest brochure has added a hand-picked selection of new properties in these destinations.”

Outstanding Recognition for Jumeirah Group At The World Luxury Travel Awards™

Jumeirah Group won seven awards at the World Luxury Spa Awards and the World Luxury Restaurant Awards™ Gala 2016 in Switzerland. Jumeirah Vittaveli won three awards at the ceremony - the resort’s Talise spa was named ‘Best Luxury Wellness Spa,’ in the Maldives; the restaurant Fenesse won ‘Best French Cuisine’ in the Maldives; and the Indian restaurant Swarna won ‘Best Indian Cuisine’ in Asia.

Talise Spa at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, also in the Maldives, was named ‘Best Luxury Hideaway Spa’ in the Indian Ocean; Talise Spa at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa in was named best ‘Luxury Fitness Spa’ in Asia and ‘Best Luxury Destination Spa’ in Kuwait; and Talise Spa at Jumeirah Bodrum Palace   won best Luxury Wellness Spa in Turkey.

Graham Kiy, General Manager at Jumeirah Vittaveli, said: “This is an outstanding recognition for Jumeirah Group, our resort and a tremendous honour for the entire team. Wellness, relaxation and excellent dining offerings are an essential ingredient of a perfect tropical island holiday. We are humbled to have been recognised as leaders in these disciplines.“

The World Luxury Spa Awards gives recognition and thanks to the luxury spa industry, setting benchmarks in quality, innovation and service for spas around the globe. Established as the world’s leading awards initiative for Luxury Spas, The World Luxury Spa Awards sets the spotlight on spas, attracting the attention of global spa-goers and industry experts. Voting is based on service excellence and is cast by spa guests.

The World Luxury Restaurant Awards™ inspires excellence and ignites healthy competition in the luxury restaurant industry. Voting is based on the food experience as a whole, combined with aspects of service excellence, presentation, quality and menu choices. Votes are mainly cast by guests, but also by industry professionals that approve and support the nominated establishments

About Jumeirah Group:

Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, operates a world-class portfolio of hotels and resorts including the flagship Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts manages properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Kuwait in the Middle East; Baku, Bodrum, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Mallorca (Spain);the Maldives and Shanghai in Asia. Jumeirah Group also runs the luxury serviced residences brand Jumeirah LivingTM with properties in London and Dubai; the new contemporary lifestyle hotel brand VenuTM; the wellness brand TaliseTM; Jumeirah Restaurant Group DubaiTM; Wild Wadi WaterparkTM; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality ManagementTM; and SiriusTM, its global loyalty programme. Future openings include luxury and lifestyle hotels in China, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritius, Oman, Russia and the UAE. www.jumeirah.com

Heartfelt hospitality in the Maldives

Many Arabs, especially young couples, find the Maldives an attractive destination. Many Arabs and Gulf citizens keep searching for resorts in the Maldives that offer high levels of privacy and where they can pamper themselves on a magical holiday.

JA Manafaru is one of the best resorts in the Maldives, offering a luxurious family holiday and a place for couples to make their dreams come true. JA Manafaru, a place where holiday-makers can become stress-free, is located in a breathtaking setting some 75 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport in the northern Haa Alif Atoll of the Maldives.

Once the seaplane lands, resort employees are on wait for guests with welcoming drinks, songs and small cold towels. They are then driven in a car to their accommodation. The resort’s employees are always smiling and try to satisfy their guests by ensuring they are at hand and asking after them. They are always there for people, even if what the guests ask for is not their responsibility to provide.

The resort offers several types of rooms suitable for couples, and small and large families up to 8 to 12 people. These include the Sunrise Water Villas with Infinity Plunge Pool, the Beach Bungalow with Private Pool, One Bedroom Beach Suites with Private Infinity Pool, and Sunset Water Villas with Infinity Plunge Pool.

The property boasts 84 keys consisting of beach villas and water villas, eight food and beverage outlets, and a spa and beauty complex. It also offers a water sports and PADI dive center, and an extensive children’s entertainment area.

Parents can keep their children in the kids’ club without worrying since employees are at hand to not only take care of the children but are also trained to babysit. In the kids club there is a small swimming pool, a playroom and special activities that include cooking and drawing. Although the club closes at 8 pm, parents can still avail of the babysitting service after 8 pm.

Next to the kids’ club, there is a chill zone where people can relax by having a cup of coffee, tea or juice, or play billiards. In the chill zone, there is also a small gym that is open 24 hours. The steam room is open the entire day and there is also an outdoor tennis court.

Guests can carry out several activities during the day. This includes water sports such as jet skiing, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddling, catamaran sailing, jet skiing, wake boarding, mono-skiing, knee boarding or water-skiing and much more.

The resort also offers guests fishing and sailing trips. On return, guests can have the fish cooked at the resort. Boat trips at sunset to watch dolphins are also on offer. Guests can also go by boat to Govvaafushi Island, which is part of the resort, and enjoy time there. Guests can stay in the island and swim alone and also spend the entire day there. An emergency phone will be with the guest if he needs anything or wants to return. In the castaway, the person can enjoy lunch and watch the sunset. The place is very private and very few people ask to spend the night on the island.

JA Manafaru participates in special international days like celebrating Earth Day by planting trees and International Women’s Day by having special activities for female employees and guests. Cooking classes are also on offer each day. Participants in the class learn how to cook a Maldivian main dish, bread, as well as dessert. There are also special night events, including Maldivian Night every Friday at the Kakuni restaurant. Guests can also enjoy several varieties of breakfast, including several Japanese dishes and an oriental breakfast.

Food lovers would enjoy the restaurants and cafés. Lunch is highly recommended at one of the poolside venues. Visitors can pick between Andiamo Bistro and Pool or the Infinity Bar and Pool

At the Andiamo Bistro and Pool, pizza is one of the best dishes to be ordered, particularly Duck Pizza. The Infinity Bar and Pool is well known for its beef burgers which include vegetables and eggs.

White Ocean is another restaurant where visitors can sit overlooking the ocean and have Japanese, Chinese and Thai specialties on a teppanyaki table for an authentic Asian fusion cuisine experience and artistic presentation.
Ocean Grill is another beachfront restaurant that serves local seafood and delectable meat, freshly prepared on a live grill and seasoned with organic herbs.

Horizon Lounge is a café where families can enjoy the sunset and spend their night listening to English music performed by a live singer. This café closes at around 11.30 pm.

The Calm Spa should also be visited and offers a sophisticated collection of aromatherapy massages and treatments. This includes Shidehara, Ayurvedic or a traditional Maldivian massage or healing ritual. The center is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm.

Before leaving, guests can buy some souvenirs from the small shop next to the reception or get some necklaces from the gallery shop. People can post their pictures on social media at anytime since free WIFI is available in most of the island. To top off, the resort accepts US dollars and euros.