Guide to maldives islands. Information and reviews of the maldives resorts and hotels.
January 4, 2011 Leave a comment
Cristiano Ronaldo and Irina Shaykhlislamova spent the Christmas holiday in the the exclusive private island of “The Rania Experience” – an award winning and bespoke Private Island Residence, tucked away in the middle of the Indian Ocean and completely hidden from the outside world.
December 28, 2010 Leave a comment
MALE, December 28 (HNS) – Mega Maldives, the new private airline in the Maldives, today began chartered flights.
MVK Travels chartered the 264-passenger capacity Boeing 300-767 aircraft used by Mega Maldives, a joint venture between Maldives ZM Holdings and US W-Cap. The aircraft left Male at 11.30am for the one-hour Male-Gan flight and will depart from Seenu Gan International Airport to return to Male at 8pm.
Marketing Director at Mega Global Air Services (Maldives) Ali Faiz said the company welcomes all the interested parties to charter the aircraft for Male-Gan flights.
MVK said the company chartered the aircraft to provide the opportunity for the huge number of passengers travelling Male-Gan. MVK will also operate another flight from Male to Gan on Thursday.
Tickets for Thursday’s flight are sold at MVK’s ticket office in front of Alimas Carnival. Return tickets from the economy class are available for a promotional price of Rf1,777 and return tickets from the business class cost Rf2,999.
October 29, 2010 Leave a comment
President Mohamed Nasheed has said the government will introduce strict guidelines on conducting wedding ceremonies for tourists in the Maldives.
All tourist hotels without exception will be required to follow the new guidelines which will be issued shortly, the President said in his weekly radio address on Friday morning.
President´s remarks follow a recent incident where staff members of Vilu Reef Resort mocked and insulted a foreign couple who were renewing their wedding vows at the resort. A video of the incident appeared on YouTube last week.
In his address, President Nasheed expressed disgust at the incident and described the behaviour of those involved as “absolutely disgraceful”.
He appealed to all members of staff working in tourist resorts to be “vigilantly professional”. The President noted that bad behaviour, such as that depicted in the YouTube video, can cause enormous damage to the country´s tourism industry.
The government has launched a full scale investigation into what happened in Vilu Reef Resort. In a statement issued yesterday, the government said that “no stone will be left unturned to ensure that an incident like this never happens again.”
In his radio address, the President also highlighted on the Maldivian Democratic Party´s congress, which began in Male on Thursday.
The President spoke on the need for strengthening internal democracy of political parties. He expressed hope other political parties would follow the example of MDP and political parties across the world.
December 17, 2009 Leave a comment
Winner of the 2009 Best Leading Hotel of the World – Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives celebrated its 7th anniversary in grand style.
Taj Exotica which has won the most number of awards among the Luxury Resorts in Maldives including the Best Leading Hotel of the World 2009 held a special staff party on 15th December 2009 to conclude its anniversary programme. Special recognition and certificates were issued to Associates who have completed 5 years to 10 years and 15 years and more of continuous service.
The Resort conducted several activities among its 8 Houses constituted out of all Resort Associates throughout the year. There was a week long special activities from 10th December to foster team spirit and bonding as part of the anniversary celebrations.
Certificates and prizes were given away by the General Manager of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives Mr. Girish Sehgal , General Manager of Vivanta by Taj Coral Reef Resort Mr. Allwyn Drego and Ms. Sally Marchant – Sales Director for Taj Hotels based in United Kingdom who were the chief guests and also gave away the long service awards.
In his remarks Mr. Girish Sehgal thanked all the Associates and highlighted the commitment of the Associates being a big part of the resorts success. He cited the loyalty shown by many Associates who have served the Company for more than 30 years at a time most of the companies are struggling to retain its staff for a couple of years. Mr. Sehgal also highlighted the Company’s commitment to employ local talent and provide opportunities for them to grow with in the Company and to give the Associates of Taj Exotica the best work environment in whole of Maldives.
As part of the Annual Day events, which started with a lavish dinner and a live band, the resort’s Associates including the management put up various entertaining stage performances which engaged the audiences till almost 3:00 am.
Mr. Ali didi who is being with Taj for the past 29 years has been invited to stay in the resort along with his family.
Source: Miadhu
August 15, 2009 1 Comment
President Mohamed Nasheed has opened Vivanta Coral Reef Maldives by Taj, today. This is the first international hotel to carry Taj’s Vivanta brand.
Speaking at a ceremony held at the Vivanta Coral Reef Maldives by Taj this afternoon, President Nasheed said he rejoices the fact that one of the best and the most able investment groups and business entrepreneurships of India and the world had been introduced to the Maldives with the opening of the resort. The President said the government would welcome Indian and other international business enterprises who wish to invest in the Maldives.
In his address, President Nasheed said the government was burdened with a number of state-owned industries, which could be run privately, and provide better services and more benefits the people.
He said, through the privatisation programme, the government was looking for international investors to form joint ventures, or to operate on their own to provide electricity, transport and other utilities to the people on corporate basis.
Noting that the most private investments in the Maldives were in the tourism sector, President Nasheed reiterated his belief that investments in utilities and provision of other public services in the Maldives would be as commercially viable as the tourism sector investments.
Furthermore, the President said the government policy was to develop a model of providing public services and utilities, in which the water, electricity and sewerage systems of the resorts and inhabited islands around the resort could be combined to take the advantages of economies of scale.
President Nasheed also said that the government was mindful of the effects of climate change in planning all its developmental activities. He noted that resort developers had been at the forefront of developing adaptation measures.
July 27, 2009 Leave a comment
The long awaited dream of the Addu Atoll people was realised yesterday when the Shangril La’s Villingili Resort and Spa was opened for businesses.
Villingili Resort and Spa opened on the day Maldives gained independence from the British, is the first international luxury resort established in the south Maldives.
The inaugural ceremony held at the resort was attended by Tourism Minister Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawaadh , State Minister for Southern Province Mohamed Naseer , senior management of the resort and leading dignitaries of the atoll.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, tourism minister Dr. Sawaadh noted that the tourism in southern Maldives will see considerable expansion and development in the next 5 years. He said with the opening of Villingili Resort and Spa, the long awaited dreams of Addu people has come true.
The ceremony was also addressed by the General Manager of the Villingili Resort and Spa and CEO of Shangril – La.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is the first luxury resort in the southern Maldives, on Addu Atoll. The resort features 142 villas with views of the ocean or the island’s natural lush vegetation. The Maldives’ second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Malé International Airport is 70 minutes by domestic flights operating around the clock.
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is also the first resort in the Maldives to feature tree house villas. Perched on stilts three metres above the ground and featuring an elevated infinity pool, the tree house villas offers guests an original holiday experience with views of the surfing waves of the Indian Ocean through lush foliage. The resort has 16 tree house villas, affording beautiful views over the Indian Ocean. Guests will be able to choose to swim to the edge of their elevated infinity pool and gaze at the rolling waves coming in from the ocean or to recline on their day bed while enjoying the melody of the indigenous bird life.
President Mohamed Nasheed is expected to visit the resort on 28 July.
July 1, 2009 Leave a comment
President Mohamed Nasheed has, this afternoon, inaugurated Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort and Spa in South Miladhunmadulu atoll.
Upon arrival at the resort, the President was greeted by Chairman of Sun Hotels, Mr Ahmed Siyam Mohamed and senior management of Hilton.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the President expressed hope that the resort would contribute for greater advancement of the tourism sector.
He also spoke on the importance of good management practices. Speaking in this regard, the President said good management practices were essential for sustainable tourism.
Stressing that the world was now undergoing an economic slowdown, the President called on all stakeholders in tourism industry to sacrifice their personal differences and to peacefully resolve any grievances that they may have.
President Nasheed also spoke on the importance of protecting the environment. He said that the resorts in the Maldives could play an important role in this endeavour. He further said democracy was an important adaptation measure to climate change.
June 30, 2009 Leave a comment
The Indian Hotel Company Ltd (IHCL’s) operated Taj Coral Reef Resort in Maldives will be relaunched under the ‘Vivanta by Taj’ banner by August 2009. The resort has undergone extensive refurbishment by architects Grounds Kent Architects and interior designers PWP Interiors. The property will be known as Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef Maldives.
The re-branded resort property will feature 62 villas, of which two are beach villa suites and will have private accommodation along with the in-house Jiva Spa. Other accommodation options include thatched beach villas with large beach side porticoes or the water villas, with private decks overlooking the lagoon. Each villa is equipped with state-of-the-art LCD TV, home theatre system with ipod connectivity, sound system, WiFi / high speed Internet and mini bars. The F&B options will include three restaurants Latitude, the all day dining restaurant, The Hembadhu Grill, which will offer an alfresco dining experience and the open air Reef Bar.
Source: hospitalitybizindia.com
February 20, 2009 1 Comment
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group announced that it has signed a management agreement for an exclusive luxury resort currently under development on a pristine, private island in The Maldives. This exceptional retreat is scheduled to open in the next 12 months.
Mandarin Oriental, Maldives is located 185 kilometres north of the capital city Male, a journey of 45 minutes by seaplane. The luxurious hideaway is being developed on its own exclusive island, Maavelavaru in the Noonu Atoll, encircled by five kilometres of uninterrupted white sand beaches and the turquoise blue lagoons and colourful reefs for which the region is renowned.
Offering the ultimate luxury of space and privacy, the resort comprises 114 spacious, stand-alone villas, including 20 water villas and four Presidential villas, ranging in size from 300 to 1,750 square metres. Each secluded villa is surrounded by generous landscaping, providing total privacy, while opening onto a private pool and the lush vegetation of a serene garden with sweeping ocean vistas. All are designed with exquisite and pampering interiors, with indoor and outdoor bathing options, using a combination of Maldivian architecture and internationally-sourced materials. The largest of the villas have private spa facilities, and the water villas extend over a lively coral reef affording stunning sunrise and sunset views. Mandarin Oriental’s seamless technology and superior entertainment systems, for which the Group is renowned, are employed throughout.
Alfresco and underwater dining with an eclectic selection of local and international cuisines will be available at seven restaurants and bars, including an all day poolside café and bar, a beachfront signature restaurant, an alfresco Maldivian grill, a comfortable lounge and a dramatic underwater wine cellar with private dining room. An authentic Lebanese restaurant and bar, as well as a Japanese restaurant will be built over the ocean. Meeting facilities include a spacious multi purpose function room, a business centre and a well-stocked library.
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Maldives will be a destination in itself, focusing on the well-being of its guests by offering total rejuvenation and relaxation in a serene, meditative setting. A spacious spa which is situated within 13,000 sq metres of tropical gardens, will feature 14 expansive treatment villas and six treatment suites, situated around a lavish outdoor Jacuzzi. Each villa consists of four separate pavilions dedicated to Mandarin Oriental’s welcome rituals, signature treatments, water and heat therapies and relaxation areas, allowing guests to be guided through an intimate and personalised spa journey.
There are endless leisure pursuits for those who tire of the transparent waters and remote beauty of the island, including a fully equipped fitness centre, a badminton court, tennis courts, squash courts, a soccer field and a beautifully appointed outdoor lap pool. In addition, there is a comprehensive water sports centre with a full service diving school, catering for guests who wish to explore the abundant coral reefs that fringe the island. For added peace of mind, the resort also has a fully equipped decompression chamber and emergency medical clinic available on site.
The project is being developed by Athama Investments Pvt. Ltd., a private Maldivian company with extensive and intimate knowledge of the destination.
“Mandarin Oriental, Maldives will be a unique and extraordinarily private hideaway retreat that offers our guests tranquillity and seclusion in a stunning, natural setting. We look forward to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s renowned levels of service to this important leisure destination,” said Edouard Ettedgui, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
“We are delighted to be working with Mandarin Oriental on creating the most exclusive resort in The Maldives,” said Ibrahim Abdul Latheef, Managing Director of Athama Investments Pvt. Ltd. “On opening, this luxurious retreat will embody Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service philosophy and the unique sense of place inherent to all its hotels,” he added.
