MTDC completes waterway between Herethere & Hulhudhoo

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has revealed that a waterway between Herethere Island Resort and Hulhudhoo has been completed on 20 June.
MTDC in a statement issued on Thursday revealed that all associated works such as installing geo textile materials and placing rock boulders and sand bags on the embankment of the waterway has also been completed.

MTDC press release comes at a time when MTDC and Yacht Tours, current lessee of Herathere Resort, are engaged in legal battle in court. Yacht Tours leased out the 546 bed Herethere Resort from MTDC on 1June 2008.

Yacht Tours stopped paying rent in December 2008, claiming MTDC had failed to fulfill contractual obligation to build a waterway between Herethere Resort and Hulhudhoo, an adjoining inhabited island, by 30 November 2008.

MTDC responded by terminating the company’s contract and giving Yacht Tours seven days to hand over the resort.

In response, Yacht Tours lodged a civil case to sue MTDC for US$67 million, which was later reduced to US $ 45million in compensation for the incomplete channel and projected losses.

However, Civil Court ruled against Yacht Tours saying that the court could not establish if the company actually lost the amount.

However, Yacht Tours has again submitted case against MTDC for US$55 million in damages due to the dispute over Herethera Resort. The company claimed the dispute led to a low occupancy level and that tour operators have informed that they would no longer send tourists to the resort.

Six Senses appoints General Manager for Soneva Gili by Six Senses in Maldives

Marteyne van Well has been promoted to General Manager of the multi-award-winning Soneva Gili by Six Senses. In her new role, she will focus on the day to day operations of the resort and will report directly to the Managing Director for the Maldives.

Marteyne most recently held the position of Spa Director at Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village & Spa in Doha, Qatar. She brings an extensive knowledge of the hospitality industry to Six Senses, with two decades of hospitality experience in internationally acclaimed 5-star luxury hotels and small luxury boutique hotels across locations including the French Alps, Marrakech, New York, the Bahamas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C and London.

After graduating from the Hotelschool The Hague, a member of the Leading Hotel Schools of the World, Marteyne spent over ten years in sales and marketing roles in the US before moving into operations and general management in Morocco. She opened the former Millennium Hotel Agadir as director of sales and marketing, and was the general manager at La Lune d’Or in Marrakech. Under her leadership the luxury villa property achieved the distinction of being named “one of the ten best villas in the world” by the acclaimed Robb Report.

Marteyne is based at Soneva Gili in the Maldives. Her e-mail address remains: marteyne@sixsenses.com

Maldives tourist arrivals decrease by 10 percent - Ministry

Some 282,518 foreign tourists visited Maldives by end of May this year, tourism ministry statistics have revealed. According to the ministry this is 10.5 percent reduction when compared to same period last year.

Statistics indicate tourist arrivals in May this year dropped by 11.5 percent when compared to in May last year. In May this year, 43,154 tourists arrived in Maldives while in May 2008, tourist arrivals were 48,764.

Looking at tourist arrivals for the past 5 months of this year, least number of tourist arrivals were in February and March. According to World Tourism Organization (WTO) there was an 8 percent reduction in global tourism in the first 2 months of 2009. Global economic downturn and the A1H1N1 influenza have had devastating impacts on global tourism industry with an anticipated reduction of 2-3 percent by the end of this year.
Highest number of tourists arrivals, in May this year , were from Italy ,UK , Germany , France , Russia , China , Switzerland , Japan , Australia , and India. In this regard, some 47,714 Italians visited Maldives in May while 43,511 tourists arrived from UK. German tourist arrivals in May this year were 30,010 while some 27,791 tourists arrived from France in that month. Russian tourists’ arrivals stood at 18,919.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort in the Maldives to Feature Tree House Villas

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives will offer guests the fun option of staying in a luxury tree house villa when the resort opens on 26 July 2009.

Perched on stilts three metres above the ground and featuring an elevated infinity pool, the 16 tree house villas will offer guests views of the surfing waves of the Indian Ocean through lush foliage.

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. With the light breeze blowing from the sea, guests will find the spacious wooden deck ideal for romantic alfresco dining experiences.

The tree house villas, each measuring 218 square metres with separate bedroom and living room pavilions, will feature both indoor and outdoor showers as well as an oval bathtub, where guests can soak as they contemplate the surroundings. Each villa will be equipped with custom-made furniture selected to complement the villa’s interior and infused with elements from the Middle East and touches of India.

From 26 July until 31 October 2009, guests can experience a tree house villa by booking the resort’s exclusive opening offer and enjoy a seven-night stay while paying for five nights only.

In addition, the offer includes benefits such as return domestic flight transfers from Malé to Gan, daily half board as well as a complimentary spa experience for two at CHI, The Spa.

Among the recreational activities to be made available at the resort, guests booking the opening offer will be able to enjoy a bicycle tour of the neighbouring local islands as well as a guided walk of the resort’s nature trail to explore Villingili island’s diversified fauna and flora.

Guests looking for a shorter break can enjoy one additional complimentary night when paying for a three-night stay.

Malaysia Airlines and SriLankan Airlines expand codeshare partnership

Malaysia Airlines and SriLankan Airlines today signed an agreement to enhance their longstanding codeshare partnership, signifying a strengthening of the close co-operation between the two Asian carriers. The agreement enables Malaysia Airlines to codeshare on SriLankan’s flights to Male in the Maldives while SriLankan Airlines will access Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Jakarta, and Seoul through Malaysia Airlines.

Malaysia Airlines General Manager, Government & Industry Relations, Mr Germal Singh said, “We are delighted to expand our partnership with SriLankan Airlines. This will provide our customers with easy access to the Maldives, a favourite destination among high end tourists from Europe and Asia, while enabling us to further enhance our loads to the major cities in North America, Asia and Australia. Kuala Lumpur’s position as a key gateway for travellers will also be strengthened.”

SriLankan’s Head of Worldwide Sales, Mr Mohamed Fazeel said, “SriLankan is making a clear effort to strengthen our relationships with award-winning airlines in Asia, which is home to the finest airlines in the world. Both Malaysian and SriLankan have a history of winning global accolades for service, and we have no doubt that this partnership will be of significant mutual benefit to both airlines, and most importantly to our respective passengers. The partnership gives SriLankan access to several markets in the Asia-Pacific, notably the US west coast and Australia.”

Members of the frequent flyer programmes of the two airlines, Malaysia Airlines’ Enrich and SriLankan FlySmiLes can also earn and redeem points on flights of either airline. The codeshare is effective from 25th June 2009. Tickets for some of the destinations are already available in the market.

The two airlines have been codesharing between Kuala Lumpur and Colombo since 1999. In conjunction with the Malaysia Airlines Travel Fair (MATF), Malaysia Airlines is offering a promotional all inclusive fare of RM348 from Kuala Lumpur to Colombo and RM718 from Kuala Lumpur to Male from 22nd June until 5th July 2009.

ftnnews.com

Angsana Velavaru to Open 34 InOcean Villas

Located in the Maldives’ pristine South Nilandhe Atoll, Angsana Velavaru is to open an exclusive cluster of 34 InOcean Villas on 1 July 2009 to complement its current 79 beachfront villas.

The InOcean Villas range in size from 175 square metres to 290 square metres. There are 20 InOcean Villas, 11 Premier InOcean Villas and 3 Sanctuary InOcean Villas.

All the InOcean villas are suitable for both couples and families with children above 12 years.

Introductory rates start from US$ 750++ per villa per night, including daily breakfast for two people, for the Premier InOcean Villas.

Two for one in Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort and Spa

On 1 July, the Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa will officially open in the idyllic Noonu Atoll as part of Hilton’s ongoing expansion in the Maldives. To celebrate, the resort is offering a fantastic ‘two for one’ offer for bookings made on or before 17 August 2009, valid for travel before 31 August 2009.

Throughout the promotion, a stunning Beach Villa is available from just $129.30 (approx £78) per villa per night including taxes and service charges and a buffet breakfast.

Nestled within the island’s natural vegetation with glimpses of the shimmering lagoon, the spacious Beach Villas feature a large bedroom, an en-suite bathroom opening out onto its enclosed private courtyard with an i-spa bathtub, an extensive sun-deck, a large gazebo and two rain showers, as well as a front terrace with over-sized day bed, perfect for relaxing in the Indian Ocean sunshine.

The re-branding will offer guests a wealth of new service enhancements at the 52 acre private island resort as well as a new Spa programme, revamped dining experiences and additional leisure activities.

Highlights include a newly designated Adults-Only Infinity Pool area and separate children’s pool to offer families and couples alike their own private space on the island; enhanced Dive centre with access to a wealth of new dive areas in the north of the Maldives and a new Spa programme in the stunning 21 pavilion Spa Sanctuary using internationally renowned Thalgo products. Guests will also have access to the exclusive Hilton lounge upon arrival at Male international airport, with complementary refreshments, shower facilities and entertainment.

The Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa joins the award-winning sister resort Conrad Maldives Rangali Island as part of Hilton’s ongoing expansion in the Maldives, which will also see The Beach House join the Waldorf Astoria Collection on 1 November and The Doubletree by Hilton Malé open in the capital in 2011.

easier.com

Yacht Tours sues MTDC for US$55 million

Tourism company Yacht Tours is suing the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for US$55 million in damages due to the dispute over Herethera (Handhufushi) Resort. Speaking to Minivan News today, Dhiyana Saeed, lawyer for Yacht Tours, said US$10 million was for the losses incurred since the start of the legal dispute. The company claimed the dispute led to a low occupancy level and earlier this month, tour operators announced they would no longer send tourists to the resort. The remainder, said Dhiyana, was for the projected losses, as Yacht Tours entered into a 20-year rental agreement with MTDC last year. “A court ruled that MTDC was in breach of the agreement, therefore that entitles us to damages,” said Dhiyana.

The two companies have been in and out of the courts since January after Yacht Tours refused to pay MTDC rent, claiming the public-owned corporation failed to fulfill its contractual obligation to build a channel between Herethera and neighbouring inhabited island, Hulhudhoo. At the time, MTDC asked Yacht Tours to pay the outstanding rent and hand back the resort.

Yacht Tours responded by filing a claim for US$67 million in damages, which was later reduced to US$45 million. While the court ruled against them, saying they were unable to calculate the proposed projected loss, Dhiyana said Yacht Tours now had two reports to back up their claim: an audit from financial advisory company Ernst & Young and a second from a management consultancy firm, which conducted a financial forecast. “We have asked for a declaration that we don’t have to pay rent or liquidation,” said former attorney general Dhiyana. MTDC Managing Director Mohamed Mihad said the US$55 million “simply” did not make sense to him. “They started with US$67 million, it came down to US$45 million and now another figure has come.” MTDC has three cases lodged against Yacht Tours.

The first is to recover unpaid rent, the second to evict the company from the resort and the third is to recoup money paid by MTDC for insurance and stock. Mihad said MTDC handed over the resort to Yacht Tours last summer with around US$800,000 worth of stock, which was never repaid. Further, insurance for the resort had been paid for by MTDC ever since the takeover. The last court verdict issued in April ordered Yacht Tours to pay the outstanding rent of US$8 million and gave MTDC permission to retrieve the US$10 million bank guarantee. But a second ruling ordered Habib bank, the holder of the guarantee, to withhold the money until further notice.

The MTDC was established as a public enterprise with 55 per cent of its shares sold to the public to encourage the redistribution of tourist profits. The resort, which opened in 2007, was intended to boost the local economy in Addu atoll, considered by many to have been economically neglected by the government. But, hundreds of the local employees have been dismissed due to the resort’s low occupancy levels. The ongoing dispute led to government ministers holding a press conference this month, announcing plans to step in as mediators. Speaking to Minivan News earlier this month, Yacht Tours Chairman Abdulla Jabir said he was willing to settle out of court. Asked whether this was an option, Mihad said he heard Jabir had publicly announced he would be willing to hand over the resort if the bank guarantee was returned. “The board is considering it and we will give a counter offer. It’s not an easy decision to make,” said Mihad.

Related posts:

MTDC urges the Court to acquire the rent despite the court proceedings
MTDC files lawsuit demanding return of Herathera Resort
Yacht Tours to layoff Herathera Resort staff
Yacht Tours dismisses reports that new MTDC director is their employee
Six Days To Surrender Handhufushi: MTDC
MTDC terminates Herethere contract with Yacht Tours
Hulhudhoo Islanders Protest Against Yacht Tours
Handhufushi staff begin strike to protest against delay in getting paid

www.minivannews.com

The Luxury Diva Holiday Resort, Maldives

The Maldives is infamous for its breathtaking beauty and crystal-clear blue seas, and the luxurious Diva resort is an ideal destination to sample this beauty. The tranquil location, removed from the complexities of modern day life, is a haven for swimming and snorkeling. The islands of the Malidives are renowned for its marine diversity, and with guests at Diva only an hour away from some of the best diving locations in the world, seeing 20 feet whale sharks is a daily occurrence.

Guests have the option of staying in water villas based in the islands lagoon, which feature an exclusive stairway leading down to the water, allowing you to dive when the wish arises. The villa`s are finished using local Maldivian wood flooring, Egyptian cotton sheets and Pierre Frey fabrics from Paris which give bedrooms a warm and luxurious feel. The décor follows on from the lagoon colour, with hints of turquoise and shades of beige and ochre. The restaurants available on Diva offer a wide range of fine cuisine, from local delicacies to international flavours, with 24-hour room service also on offer for those wishing to relax in their luxury villas.
For those wishing to get married in a exotic location, Diva offers an idyllic setting for weddings and honeymoons, with planners available to take care of everything for you, and make the day memorable and perfect.

adelto.co.uk

Global Downturn Impacts Mauritius and Maldives

The luxury island destinations of Mauritius and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, both of which rely heavily on tourism from European markets, have been negatively impacted by the global downturn. According to the latest data from STR Global, both destinations experienced occupancy drops for the first four months of the year, as their main European source markets were hit by recession, falling employment and declining consumer confidence.

Mauritius and the Maldives are renowned for their upscale to luxury image, which is well-represented in their hotel offering. Whilst occupancy levels, at the 23 hotels in Mauritius and 17 hotels in the Maldives that STR tracks, declined, average room rates increased slightly when measured in local currency. Mauritius’s occupancy fell 16 percentage points to 62.5%, compared to the Maldives’ 15.1-percentage points decline to 70.5% for January through April 2009.

Average room rates grew 2.8% and 6.9% in Mauritius and Maldives, respectively. Unfortunately, the rate increases could not hold up the revenue per available room performances, which declined 18% in Mauritius and 12% in the Maldives.
Comparing the ADR results in euro terms, the currency used by the majority of visitors to both islands, a different picture emerges.

Maldives took the top spot with an increase of 26% to €704, compared to Mauritius’s 3% decrease to €184 for the first four months of this year. The currency fluctuation and weakening Euro against the Maldivian-Rufiyaas made Maldives more expensive to its European clientele. The Maldives had an ADR premium of €520 over Mauritius for year-to-April 2009 compared to the same period last year.

www.asiatraveltips.com

Agreement to facilitate air services signed

Agreement facilitating air services between Hong Kong and Republic of Maldives has been signed. The agreement was signed at a ceremony on Thursday, 11 June in Hong Kong. The agreement on behalf of government of Maldives was signed by Maldives Ambassador designated to China Ahmed Latheef and behalf of Hong Kong by Secretary for Housing and Transport Miss Eva Cheng. Under the agreement, air carriers of both countries can enjoy fifth freedom rights. Under the agreement, designated carriers can increase number flights and passengers to both countries.
www.miadhu.com.mv

World's top hotel mini-bars add luxury to nuts

Hotel minibars catering for a discerning type of guest are becoming more inventive with luxurious items such as Champagne cocktails and designer clothing found alongside the drinks and snacks.

Men's website AskMen.com has come up with a list of some of the world's top hotel minibars. This list is not endorsed by Reuters:

1. W Retreat & Spa, Maldives
The W Retreat & Spa has stocked its mini-bars with an unusual item -- a bikini by luxury beachwear label Heidi Klein. Crafted in W's signature purple, the bikini is a limited edition sold only on-site and comes with silver hammered-chrome detailing. If the bikini provided doesn't fit, a "Bikini Butler" is on-hand to measure guests for the right size. Read more

www.reuters.com

Mantas in Maldives

When tide and current turn a tiny bay into a bowl of plankton, manta rays in the Maldives gather for a roiling, whirling feast.

Four hundred forty miles off the southern coast of India, in the archipelago nation of the Maldives, there is an uninhabited island named Hanifaru. It's not much to see from the air: a spray of tropical shrubs on what appears to be a truckload of sand. Hanifaru is so small a child could walk its entire scimitar-shaped coastline in a ten-minute stroll. The island's size isn't unusual for the Maldives, a collection of 1,192 tiny islands clumped in 26 atolls encompassed by the vastness of the Indian Ocean. But several times a year, when time and tide align, manta rays from throughout the Maldives converge here to feed in a spectacular coral-reef ballet.

From May through November, when the lunar tide pushes against the Indian Ocean's southwestern monsoon current, a suction effect pulls tropical krill and other plankton from deep water up to the surface. The current sweeps the krill into the cul-de-sac of Hanifaru Bay. If the krill stayed at the surface, they'd wash over the bay's coral walls and out to the safety of the open sea. But they can't. Instinct forces them to dive away from daylight. When they do, they get trapped deep in the bowl. In just a few hours a massive concentration of plankton builds up, a swarm so thick it turns the water cloudy.

Cue Manta birostris. "Just after high tide you'll see a few manta rays turn up," says Guy Stevens, a British marine biologist who's been researching the Maldives mantas for the past three years. "Then poof, a whole group will move in, and you'll get as many as 200 feeding for two to four hours in a bay no bigger than a soccer field." Read more

www.nationalgeographic.com

Maldives surfing recieves rave reviews

“For now, I’m not looking forward to having world champions in the Maldives...just more surfers,” says Nahshid Nasir (Nahu), 28, who started surfing 17 years ago on a plank of wood. “People used to be closed to surfing. But now they are open.” Nahu says that while surfing began in the Maldives 30 years ago, real surfboards have only become widely used in the past twelve years or so. He grew up surfing in North Male’, the one spot where there is no sea wall blocking out surf-worthy waves.

Nahu, also member of the Maldives Surf Association, explains how the growth of surfing in the Maldives now allows people to make a living off out of it. He uses himself, as well as Hussain Areef (Ibu), the Maldivian surfer who earned public affection after taking first place at an invitational surfing competition in Sri Lanka last year, as examples of people who are making a living out of the activity. Nahu works as a surf judge, guide, and coach. He says that boys, and a few girls, across various atolls, anywhere between the ages of 13 to 50, have started surfing for leisure as equipment becomes more widespread.

During the championship round of the 10th annual Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series (WQS) earlier today, Nahu watched from a glass balcony overlooking Pasta Point at Chaaya Island Dhonveli resort. Many say that this is the best surfing spot in the Maldives, not to mention one of the best surfing spots in the world. Nahu was observing alongside other judges, who were enjoying the last day of the week-long event. The competition was rated at six star prime, the highest possible ranking for quality of waves at a surfing competition.

Greatest final
At what many ASP officials deemed as the greatest final round they had ever witnessed, 19-year old Australian Owen Wright came in first place, followed by Patrick Gudauskas, a 23-year old surfer from the United States. Wright said it was the “best final” he had ever been in; his thoughts were echoed by ASP world tour head judge Perry Hatchet, who said that out of the hundreds of finals he had watched, this one placed in the top five.

Even before the memories created in the final round today, the competition had already earned a spot in surfing history. Two days ago, Gudauskas completed the first ever rodeo clown manoeuvre (a 540 degree summersault with a surfboard) in a competition. This past week set a strong precedence in professional surfing culture.

Out of 150 of the world’s best male surfers, 128 participated in last week’s competition, representing 20 nations. Countries that came first were the USA, Australia, and Brazil.
The Maldives has hosted this event for the past decade. According to Steve Robertson, Media Director of ASP, and part of the group who first established the series, the competition was held on Lohifushi Island Resort for the first five years before being moved to Pasta Point because of the better quality of waves.

Catching a wave: surfing at Pasta Point Wild card slots were granted to four Maldivian surfers, including Ibu, in this year’s competition, and although none got past the first round, Nahu says that each contender improved from the previous year. Read more

www.minivannews.com

Mollycoddled in the Maldives

Imagine lolling on an atoll with the softest white sandy beaches, surrounded by the bluest waters, where you can shut out the rest of the world and just surrender to the thrall of the islands. You’ve just pictured life in the Maldives.

If there’s only one complaint I have about this corner of paradise, it’s the getting there.
The Malaysia Airlines flight lands in Maldives at night, so as the plane descended, I could only imagine the spectacular sight of the myriad atolls by day.

Even so, my excitement was building up when I was greeted by a Club Med representative or G.O. at the Male airport and directed to a cruiser docked right outside the airport.

“How cool is that,” I thought, “that the taxis from the airport are all boats?”
After speeding across the waves for half an hour, I realised that the bright stars I had been gazing at were matched by twinkling lights in the far distance. This was my first glimpse of the dock at Kani, the island which is home to Club Med here.

Club Med is the only resort on Kani so I could practically call it my own. Shared with 400-odd other guests to be sure, but still large enough for me to stake out my very own space as a modern-day Robinson Crusoe. With all the perks and pleasures of a luxury resort thrown in, of course. After all, we are talking about Club Med on the isle of Kani in the Maldives, which has been designed to answer the hedonist’s call for pleasure, the perfect spot to escape from the world.

Nothing prepared me for the view that greeted me the next morning when I drew back the curtains of my chalet: an expanse of the bluest ocean less than 10m away. After I picked my jaw up from the softest sand, I could only go, “Wow! Wow! Wow!”

This, I realised in the days to come, is one of the reasons visitors fly thousands of miles to the Maldives. Waters so clear you can look right down to the ocean bed from your boat, and see every shade of blue, from azure to cerulean to ultramarine (somehow turquoise seems so mundane a description). I sat on the dock and spied schools of colourful fish swimming right up to say, “Bonjour!” (This is Club Med, after all.)

As I soon discovered on a discovery tour around the facilities, everything has been thought of and prepared at Club Med to make guests check their brains at the door (or dock in this case) and just surrender to the idyllic experience here. Read more

Shangri-La Villingili Resort & Spa Maldives is almost there.

See more pictures.

Maldives sets up zones to protect whale sharks

The Maldives has marked three sea protected areas that limit fishing and diving to safeguard rare whale sharks in waters around the islands, the government said Tuesday.
Environment Minister Mohamed Aslam announced the protected zones to mark the World Ocean Day, which fell Monday. The zones will have only limited fishing, while strict guidelines apply to diving and snorkeling.

Speed limits will be imposed on boats to prevent lacerations on the shark, and waste management programs will be initiated in surrounding islands to stop pollution, a government statement said.

"The marine environment is the bedrock of our economy, supporting our largest industries, tourism and fisheries. Not only will this initiative protect whale sharks, but also other mega fauna including manta rays and reef sharks," the statement quoted Aslam as saying.

Whale sharks _ the world's largest fish species _ are listed as a threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the world's largest conservation network.

Considered harmless, the whale shark can live up to 100 years and can grow to 46 feet (14 meters) long _ as long as a bus. It is normally found in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Maldives Whale Shark Research Program has counted 120 whale sharks and said they could be seen throughout the year around the islands.

In March, the Indian Ocean archipelago banned reef shark hunting to bolster its tourism industry.

www.etaiwannews.com

Alila Villas Hadahaa is a luxury villa resort in the Maldives

The opening of Alila Villas Hadahaa in August 2009 will herald an unparalleled experience in island living and destination discovery in the Maldives. This boutique luxury resort will be the first to open in the Gaafu Alifu (North Huvadhoo) Atoll in the previously untouched southern Maldives. It is also the very first property in the Maldives that has been awarded the prestigious Green Globe certification for ‘Building, Planning and Design Standard.’

As one of the oldest inhabited regions of the Maldives, the Huvadhoo Atoll is rich in history. However, this history has remained hidden as only very few adventurous divers have traveled here in the past. While the Maldives is a well established and much sought-after destination, it is only in its southern atolls that travelers can truly experience the original tranquility and unspoiled conditions of the Maldives which first drew tourists many years ago.
Alila Villas Hadahaa is located in the Huvadhoo Atoll, one of the largest natural atolls in the world and the deepest atoll in the Maldives with a central lagoon plunging about 90 metres down. Despite the size of the Atoll, it encompasses only 250 islands over a lagoon area covering 2,800 square kilometers, resulting in the sparsest distribution of individual islands in the country.

The magnificence of nature and culture in the luxury resort’s secluded yet strategic location creates an inimitable hideaway. Hadahaa’s proximity to the equator together with its location far away from artificial light sources (the closest inhabited island is more than 10 kilometers away) ensures that guests will be dazzled nightly by the stars that shine brightly after sunset. This unforgettable and unique show that features bright constellations from both hemispheres will wow even the most jaded city-slickers.

Deep within the atoll’s turquoise lagoon is a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of unspoilt coral reefs and diverse marine life. The marine life here is abundant and varied, not to mention still delightfully curious and unwary of divers. There are six spectacular dive sites with vibrant marine life just 30 minutes away as well as many other stunning dive sites just an hour away by boat. Alila Villas is also looking forward to uncovering the treasures of yet to be discovered dive locations. Read more....

Maldives to host Asia’s first Beach and Water sports tournament

The Cabinet has decided to hold Asia’s first Beach and Water sports tournament in the Maldives. The tournament is planned to be held in 2010. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. The cabinet made this decision after discussing a paper proposed by the Ministry of Human Recourses, Youth and Sports. The members of the cabinet noted that hosting this event would be an opportunity for the Maldives to promote its tourism as well as to promote sports tourism in the Maldives.

A committee was also appointed to organize the tournament. The committee would include State Ministers at the Ministry of Human Resources, Youth and Sports; Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Ministry of Defense and National Security; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Finance and Treasury; and, Ministry of Economic Development.

First Shine Spa for Sheraton Opens in Maldives

Starwood’s latest spa endeavour, Shine Spa for Sheraton, has been unveiled to the world in the idyllic island paradise of the Maldives.

The Shine Spa for Sheraton at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa is connected to the resort by an overwater jetty, Shine Spa for Sheraton is housed on its own island. There guests can be pampered with signature treatments that are influenced by local flavors and delivered in one of the spa’s 6 treatment rooms with inspiring Indian Ocean views, Separate Relaxation Pools for male and female guests, stream rooms and a post treatment Relaxation Room.

The new Shine signature treatments are specifically designed with local influences surrounding Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, while also highlighting modalities from locations along the Silk Route.

For example, the Ocean Massage mimics the fluid and flowing motion of waves bringing relaxation and rejuvenation to the body and mind. The Silk Route Collection presents treatments from the Orient, Thailand, India, the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.
“We are very proud to open the world’s first Shine Spa for Sheraton in this unspoiled paradise,” said General Manager Brian Segrave. “From the warm atmosphere to the welcoming people, everything our guests see and feel here was carefully chosen to help them relax, feel pampered and have fun while they are at it.”

The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa opened its newly rebranded doors in December 2008. Significant enhancements to the resort include a new welcome pavilion and lobby environment, re-designed guest rooms and a revolutionary health and fitness programme.