Newly Refurbished Grand Beach Villas Introduced At One&Only Kanuhura

One&Only Kanuhura, Maldives, announces the re-opening of two beautifully renovated Grand Beach Villas. Following a four-month revamp, the newly designed and extended villas feature private courtyards, two bedrooms with large en-suite open-air bathrooms with Jacuzzi bath, living room, large veranda and wide beachfront, air-conditioning, satellite television, DVD player, complimentary high-speed Broadband Internet connection with business facilities, espresso machine, private bar and 24-hour personal villa host service.

Measuring 288 square metres, the Grand Beach Villas at One&Only Kanuhura are ideal for families or those requiring total privacy.

Source: Visit maldives

Maldive islands on top and Maui falls from top, no longer best island

Maui fell off its perch as the Best Island in the World this week, finishing second to the Maldives, which are not one island but about 200 tiny islets a few hundred miles from Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean.

It’s fortunate that the tourists who read Conde Nast Traveler magazine like the Maldives, because aside from tourism, the only export is a local form of bagoong popular in India. It is also the lowest country in the world – the highest hill is less than 8 feet above sea level – and the government is alarmed that rising sea levels will erase it within a century.

That total score also made Maldives the highest-rated destination in the world in the magazine’s Readers Choice poll. At the same time, Maldives is not nearly as much competition for Maui as lower-rated but bigger and closer resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean – or even Kauai, which was ranked the second best Pacific island.

The complete list of winners will not be revealed until Conde Nast Traveler’s November issue is on newsstands Tuesday, but Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele was picked by 21,000 readers as the top resort in the Pacific Rim. Don’t rush over yet; the lodge is closed for renovations.

The Maldives was not really on Vencl’s radar screen, although she never expected that Maui would lose its top ranking.

Source: gnatoll .com

A milestone for Maldives with MATATO`s establishment

The formal registration of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) is now a reality. The aim of this establishment is to promote cooperation among the tourism industry stake-holders and protecting the interests of travel agents and tour operator registered in the Maldives.

"Whilst this is another important milestone in Maldives tourism industry the association will work hand in hand with all concerned governmental as well as non-governmental organizations to further improve and enhance a better future for those working in the tourism sector," said MATATO.

"We are confident that we will continue to receive all the support and cooperation for a successful future for the Maldives tourism industry."

Source: Travel Daily News

Private Island Sanctuary in the Maldives selected to join Small Luxury Hotels of the World

The Rania Experience, a private island sanctuary with a luxurious 86-foot GulfCraft Majesty speed yacht in the Maldives, has been selected to join the ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ (SLH) brand, an exclusive collection of over 400 independently-owned high-end boutique hotels in nearly 65 countries.

Named after the word ‘rani’ means queen in the Dhivehi language of the Maldives.

“This is the only experience of its kind in this part of the world to limit bookings for exclusive use targeting couples, friends, family and even the corporate market. Being part of the prestigious SLH brand is a huge achievement for us and will help target the right clientele,” said Vijai Singh, General Manager, The Rania Experience.

“The Rania Experience fits our SLH brand perfectly. It’s a holistic escape for discerning clientele, where guest needs are at the core of each stay,” said Lynne Ireland, VP Marketing, Asia Pacific for Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

Source: Asia Travel Tips

Destination Maldives is new the CoolBrand!

The Maldives was announced as one of the UK’s coolest brands at the exclusive CoolLive event held at one of London’s rare hidden gems - the ‘Gymnasium’ in King’s Cross.

As a CoolBrand, the Maldives as a destination ‘has become extremely desirable among many style leaders and influencers.’ The Maldives consists of 1,190 natural coral islands with white sandy beaches surrounded by clear turquoise waters. The 88 resort islands in the Maldives range from ultra-luxurious hideaways to properties which epitomise true barefoot chic. The resorts in the Maldives have an enviable reputation for trendsetting and recent developments in the Maldives – among them some world firsts – include an all-glass underwater restaurant, an underwater spa, an underground nightclub and an open-air cinema showing classic black and white films. The archipelago recently won Condé Nast’s ‘Traveller’s Reader Award’ for Best Island.

CoolBrands is an unprecedented initiative from the Superbrands organisation and is considered a key barometer of the nation’s coolest brands, people and places.

Sourse: Visit Maldives

MTDC to build hotels on most inhabited islands

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation has decided to build hotels on most of the inhabited islands in the Maldives, the company has revealed.

MTDC Managing Director, Mohamed Solih, said that MTDC was thinking about building 10-room and 15-room hotels and guesthouses throughout the Maldives as a means to improve the atolls and economies and to provide comfortable lodgings for those who went there for various reasons.

There are many who visit the atolls for many different reasons, said Solih on Saturday. But there are no means for these visitors to stay, no places such as guesthouses. Solih said that whether MTDC would proceed with the plans was still unsure, and that there was much planning and discussion among the board as of now.

MTDC Chairman, Hussein Afeef, said that using multiple models would be advantageous to the islands. He elaborated by saying that some islands could have guest houses geared more towards surfing, while others could cater to cultural tourism, and bigger hotels be built on large population hubs.

Source: Haveeru