Maldives and India keeps Sri Lankan leisure operators afloat

Sri Lanka's top hotel groups are increasingly relying on their Maldivian operations and investments into India for survival, as an escalation in violence deters visitors to Sri Lanka.

Aitken Spence group, one of the largest leisure chains in Sri Lanka has been able keep its leisure division afloat for the last few months thanks to the five resorts in Male, which are performing well.

Source: lankabusinessonline.com

F1 Champion Fernando Alonso married in Maldives

Current World champion Fernando Alonso was married on Saturday in a private ceremony in the Maldives.

The new McLaren man wed his fiancée, Spanish singer, Raquel del Rosario in front of an estimated fifty people.

The island in the Indian Ocean was a holiday destination for the pair recently but was then selected as the location for their big day.

The marriage will seemingly cap off an amazing two years for the Spanish driver which saw him win two F1 drivers titles with Renault as well as secure a deal with the McLaren team.

Source: Planet-F1.com

Tom and Katie jet off to Maldives after fairytale wedding

Newlyweds Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have jetted off on honeymoon to the Maldives after a fairytale wedding in a 15th century castle in Italy.

The guest list read like a Who's Who of Hollywood as Cruise and Holmes tied the knot in Bracciano on Saturday. There were fireworks inside and out too as the couple sealed their vows with a "never-ending kiss".

The kiss lasted so long it caused guests to shout "stop, stop!" said Giorgio Armani, who attended the wedding and designed the outfits of the bride, the groom and their baby, Suri.

The couple flew out of Rome on Sunday morning for a honeymoon in the Maldives, said Ciampino airport spokesman Adriano Franceschetti. The rest of the wedding party was due to fly to Los Angeles later on Sunday.

The wedding party included Cruise's two children, Isabella and Connor, from the actor's previous marriage to Nicole Kidman, the publicists said in a statement. The best man was Cruise's best friend David Miscavige and the matron of honour was Holmes' sister Nancy Blaylock.

Holmes wore a black dress and boots before she changed into Armani's off-the-shoulder ivory silk gown. Her father, Martin Holmes, walked her down the aisle and she carried a bouquet of flowers made by Armani, including calla lilies.

Source: 2dash.com

Maldives Toursim Development Coperation to sell shares in December

Maldives Tourism Development Corporation has announced the sale of 833,000 shares next month. MTDC announced on Thursday that it will sell the shares through the Bank of Maldives starting on 3rd December at 10:00am. The sale of the shares will be closed on 15th January 2007 at 1:30pm. Shares are to be sold at Rf 100.

MTDC first announced that the company would sell more shares earlier this year, on 15th June. The company urged parties who were interested in the purchase of shares to be financially have the means ready by 3rd December.

The company’s Managing Director, Mohamed Solih, had previously announced that they were selling 800, 000 shares, and that each party would only be allowed to buy 100 shares, which is Rf 10, 000 worth of shares. The announcement had also stated that those who had bought 100 of the 1 million shares sold in the first time around would not be allowed to buy any shares in this second round.

Solih said that a supplement would be produced before the sale of more shares. According to the company’s policy, no party except the government may own more than 0.1 percent of the company’s shares. With an expected capital of Rf 1 billion, the company has sold 1.5 million of its 10 million shares to the government before opening the sale of shares to the public in the first round of sales.

650 shares for a board of directors consisting of seven appointed by the government, and an extra 300 shares owned by members who do not constitute the board have been paid for. If the initial 950 shares bought by the directors and the shareholders are not taken into account, 60 percent of the company is owned by the government, and 40 percent belongs to the public. Once MTDC sells the 833,000 shares from December to January, the public will own 55 percent, while the government will own 45 percent.

Source: Haveeru Daily

InterContinental Hotels Group to manage Holiday Inn Malé

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed an agreement with Malé Hotel Associates Sourcing Limited, to manage the Holiday Inn Malé in Maldives, scheduled to open in late 2008.

The new Holiday Inn property is set to become a prominent landmark in Malé, the capital island of the Maldives. With genuine service of a global reputation, Holiday Inn Malé will attract business travellers and holiday maker’s enroute to neighbouring destinations.

Enjoying an ideal location at the junction of Nasreeny Goalhi and Ameer Ahmed Magu, Holiday Inn Malé is adjacent to The President’s office, several banks and government ministries.

Malé Hotel Associates Sourcing Limited, shareholders Mr Abdul Sattar Ali and Mr Lawrence Lee expressed confidence in the InterContinental Hotels Group saying the Holiday Inn Malé will serve as the business and social focal point for Maldivian’s , commercial visitors and guests enroute to the outlying resort islands.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru now open

Just a month and a half after the successful opening of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is opening its second resort in the Maldives.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru is located in the northern Baa Atoll, 120 km north of Male. The Resort occupies the entire 18-hectare (44 acres) island - a natural wonder with its western tip sloping into a two- kilometre lagoon and surrounded by white sand beaches. The Resort was built amidst the raw beauty and wilderness of the island, making for an atmosphere of sensuous calm and serenity.

The architecture and interior design of the Resort is influenced by the work of Sri Lanka's most celebrated architect and interior designer, the late Geoffrey Bawa. His protege, Ismail Murad, led the project, following traditional Maldivian architectural principles and using indigenous materials and details that meld with the surroundings.

Source: Yahoo Biz