Intelligent luxury in the Maldives Soneva Fushi

As a spectacular rustic chic resort located in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi has outdone itself again with its new organic restaurant in the trees.

Soneva Fushi is situated on the island of Kunfanadhoo, the largest resort islands in the Maldives archipelago. It is one of the most heavily natural jungled islands and is perfect for this new restaurant.

This latest dining experience sits four metres above the organic garden, with views of a jungle canopy from every angle. The jungle adventure starts before you reach the restaurant – to get in, you had to climb a suspended rope and plank bridge, where you will be greeted with a fresh selection for fruit, vegetables, fish and a selection of organic meat as you sit on a beautiful terrace.

The Soneva Fushi organic garden restaurant currently opens for dinner. The innovative design and ecologically orientated timber construction are a testament to the Soneva philosophy of intelligent luxury.

Source: e-travel blackboard.

MTDC to develop resorts via joint-venture

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has decided to develop some of the islands it obtains for tourism development by forming joint-venture companies with people who do not own any shares in resorts. As an added incentive, MTDC will own 51 percent of the company while the other company will be given 49 percent share of the joint-venture company.

Chairman of the Corporation’s Board of Directors Hussain Afeef said that even though MTDC would develop islands via joint-ventures the company would always look for ways in which the public limited company’s 55 percent shareholders, the public, would be benefit most.

MTDC’s Managing Director Mohamed Solih said that any person older than 18 years who does not have any share of a resort or company running a resort and submits a bank guarantee of US$ 10,000 (Rf 128,500) can become shareholders of the 41 percent of the joint-venture company.

Chaaya Lagoon opens in Maldives

'Chaaya Lagoon' the first overseas hotel to come under the John Keells Group re branding was opened in the Maldives.

Located in Meemu Atoll, Hakuraa Club is a self contained all inclusive island tourist resort. Landing from a 45-minute seaplane transfer, the hotel and its landscape are impasive with 70 well-designed luxury over-water bungalows and 10 land bungalows.

"The Chaaya brand has been well accepted. We are beginning to reap the benefits of the rebranding and we are confident our investment in the Maldives will be crucial to retain our competitive edge in a more advanced tourism industry," said Jayantissa Kehelpannala, Chief Executive Officer of Chaaya Hotels and Resorts.

Maldives Tourist Board hands £1m account to Personal

Personal has landed the Maldives Tourist Board's £1m above- and below-the-line business for 2007/8 without a pitch.

The agency is working on a campaign for the end of the year comprising press, poster, ambient and online media to coincide with the busy 2007 booking season. It has been given a brief to diversify the Maldives' traditional honeymooners and couples market while retaining its premium, exclusive positioning.

Chris Ward, managing partner of Personal, said: "Travel marketing can be very one-dimensional and very ineffective in terms of cost. This is a sector crying out for more personalised marketing and we're looking forward to bringing our ideas to life."

The Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, covers more than 1,190 islands and 25 protected coral reefs.

Maldives, the paradise on Earth

Resorts in the Maldives woo tourists with promises of 'the last paradise on earth'. If your idea of paradise is a pristine, tranquil tropical island with swaying palm trees, pure white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons, then the Maldives won't disappoint.

This group of 1190 coral islands is also a major destination for scuba divers, who come for the fabulous reefs and the wealth of marine life; however, this is not a place for low budget backpackers or amateur anthropologists who want to travel independently and live as the locals do.