Coco Bodu Hithi Maldives Achieves Travelife Gold Certification

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Coco Bodu Hithi is delighted to announce the achievement of the prestigious Travelife Gold certification. In line with one of the core values of Coco Collection, Coco Bodu Hithi shares a sustainable outlook by supporting the fragile environment and the local community. Travelife is an international certification system, promoting sustainability within the tourism industry by monitoring social and environmental impacts.

During the process that led up to this achievement, the operations of the island were carefully assessed by the Travelife team, taking into account 150 sustainability criteria. These included environmental policies to minimize waste, energy and water consumption. To become more energy efficient, Coco Bodu Hithi has replaced incandescent bulbs with LED lights and controlled public area and pathway lights with photocell and timers. The amount of waste produced has been controlled by creating natural compost for the lush gardens around the island. Additionally, the resort utilizes various water-saving methods; including collecting rainwater to underground tanks and re-using treated non-toxic sewerage water for gardening purposes.

Coco Bodu Hithi came up strong with further measures to protect the marine environment through the initiatives of a dedicated marine biology team. Contribution to several key projects such as the sea turtle and manta ray identification project has put the island at the top of the list of research submitters identifying the behavioral patterns of these fragile species. Furthermore, Coco Bodu Hithi is very keen on communicating the environmental policies and the conservation initiatives. Citizen science projects have become a norm on the island with the contribution of guests, either by submitting identification pictures of marine life, planting coral nurseries, or taking part in the reef cleaning activities.

One of the most important partnerships that Coco Collection is a part of is the Olive Ridley Project, where both parties have teamed up to reduce the effects of ghost nets on marine life. Phase 1 includes a turtle rescue centre at Coco Palm, the portfolio’s property in Baa atoll, with phase 2 seeing the construction of another centre at Coco Bodu Hithi. Through generous contributions from the purchase of plush turtle toys and by direct donations, guests have played a tremendous role in supporting this initiative.

“This achievement is celebrated by each and every associate on our team! Coco Bodu Hithi is the ideal retreat for the romantics looking to get away from the hassle of it all.” comments General Manager, Georgios Papazoglou. “At the same time, it is a haven for the conscious travellers seeking to make their holiday matter. This certification puts us on the map with islands that are committed to making holidays greener.”

Among other recent developments in the green arena, both Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu have been hand-picked by Green Pearls, a portfolio of sustainable and unique places worldwide. The members of the portfolio show a large diversity of different approaches to sustainability. But they all have one thing in common: they guarantee a dedication to the social balance of their respective vacation area, and both Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu are proud to be associated with this.

Store Helper (Maldivians only)

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Inviting you to be a ROBIN.  ROBINSON Club located on the island of Funamauddua in the Gaaf-Alif Atoll in the southern Maldives, invites you to be a ROBIN, that’s what we all call ourselves here at ROBINSON club.

With more than 24 Clubs worldwide and as a part of the World of TUI, ROBINSON Club offers opportunities for enthusiastic individuals with a dedicated passion for hospitality.
For more info, visit www.robinson.com

Interested candidates are requested to send their updated CV with recent photograph by mentioning ST0816 as job reference code on the subject line before 16th August 2016.

Only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Exotic Underwater Dining in Malé Atoll – at M6m, OZEN

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OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo opened its shores to the world on 15th July 2016 – as per promise! Located in South Male’ atoll, OZEN is the 3rd inclusion within the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts portfolio.

A stunning Lifestyle Luxury resort, OZEN has also introduced a uniquely exclusive Luxury All‐Inclusive holiday plan – the Atmosphere INDULGENCE™, which offers the discerning traveler a blissful hassle‐free holiday experience, encompassing ALL aspects of a Luxury Holiday in the Maldives!

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, now renowned worldwide for creating unique experiences, has now launched an Exotic Underwater Dining Experience at OZEN. Aptly named M6m (acronym for Minus Six Meters), the underwater restaurant in addition to offering some mesmeric views of the underwater world around, also offers gourmet, fine dining modern Seafood cuisine.

Deep Sea Dining

Led by the creative, passionate and young Executive Chef – Mr. Arun Katoch together with M6m’s very own Master Chef Mr. Chaitanya Sharma & his extraordinary culinary team, M6m strives to deliver some of the finest Modern Seafood cuisine in an absolutely mesmeric underwater space! The cuisine creation, vibrant design & amazing presentations showcase the exemplary use of fine‐dining cooking techniques with quality ingredients, whereby drawing a fine line between Gastronomy and Art!

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts launched its first resort in December 2013 as Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives – a 5‐star Premium All‐Inclusive resort, following which, opened a trendy & cool 4 Star Superior resort – OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli in November 2015. Both the resorts have been a roaring success since the start of operations and have established & positioned themselves as market leaders within their specific market segments.

M6m at OZEN - Table Set Up Detail 02

Outrigger in the Maldives Celebrates 1st Anniversary with Travel Industry and Guests

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KONOTTA, MALDIVES – The Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort celebrated its 1st anniversary July 30-August 1 by inviting travel industry professionals to the resort for the weekend.

As part of the celebrations, travel agents spent time on a site inspection, dolphin spotting, relaxing in the Navasana Spa hydro pool, enjoying complimentary non-motorised water sports and dining.

Hotel guests then joined the travel industry guests for a management cocktail by the main pool followed by a Maldivian night with barbecue dinner on the beach and Bodu Beru dances and music.

Resort Manager Elza Artiaga shared a thank you message that was posted live on Facebook during the reception.

To celebrate its 1st anniversary, the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort has launched a special half board package that guarantees up to 40% discount as part of its limited-period celebrations. Special anniversary prices start from *USD619++ and can be booked until 30 September 2016 and are valid for stays up to 30 April 2017.

The deluxe 53-key resort has the largest average villa sizes in the Maldives.

The Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort won “Luxury Contemporary Resort of the Year,” in the Luxury Travel Guide Global Awards 2015.

ABOUT THE OUTRIGGER KONOTTA MALDIVES RESORT

The award winning Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort offers guests the largest average villa sizes in the Maldives. Comprising 29 Beach Pool Villas, 21 Ocean Pool Villas, two Lagoon Pool Villas and a Presidential Villa, the resort offers a complete sense of privacy and intimate luxury. Captivate your senses with innovative dining concepts, the Navasana Spa, and high-end facilities. In between your diving lesson and massage, indulge in sumptuous Maldivian cuisine or a glass of white Burgundy in one of our restaurants or the comfort of your villa. As the sun sets, sample Japanese single malts at our Teppan bar while drinking in endless ocean views. Visit outriggermaldives.com

The private island of Konotta is located 211 miles (340 kilometers) to the south of Malé and conveniently accessible via a 55-minute flight from Malé to Kaadedhdhoo Airport followed by a scenic 30-minute journey on a luxurious private speedboat.

Kurumba Maldives Unveils Refurbished Main Pool Area

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Kurumba Maldives is delighted to announce the unveiled enhancement of the resort’s newly refurbished main pool and children’s pool, delivering the ultimate guest experience.

Kurumba Kids Pool and PagodaWith views of the Indian Ocean and set amongst beautiful palms and tropical gardens, the newly redesigned pool boasts a spacious, vibrant design, incorporating light granite, striking turquoise glass mosaics and a brand new children’s infinity pool also with a fresh and modern design. The new colour scheme for both pools echoes the tone and feel of the recently upgraded Thila and Vihamanaa restaurants.

Kurumba Kids Pool and PagodaA highlight of the new features of the pool offers guests luxurious in-water sun loungers, perfect for relaxing and cooling off, while the stunning new feature jets offer beautiful water displays throughout the day and night.

Kurumba PoolIn addition to this exciting new facility upgrade, Kurumba Maldives also presents a new outdoor lounge area for parents and children to relax in the shade, near to the children’s infinity pool. With added benefits for other guests, as the children’s pool and shaded lounge area have been moved away from the main pool and dining areas.

Kurumba PoolJudit Rosa, Sales and Marketing Manager of Kurumba Maldives stated: “Kurumba is always striving to continually improve our guest experience and resort product. The remodelling and refurbishment of the main pool space has made a remarkable impact for the entire resort, which we hope our guests will enjoy!”.

Kurumba PoolKurumba Maldives believes in continual improvement and is looking into new plans for further improvement in the near future. For more enhancements to the resort and the guest experience, please check:

www.kurumba.com

www.kurumba.com/maldives-experiences

About Kurumba Maldives

Kurumba Maldives is set on a tropical island in the North Malé Atoll, conveniently situated a brief 10 minute speedboat ride from the airport. Dotted with coconut trees that are the island’s namesake, Kurumba was the first private island resort in the Maldives. Beautiful gardens, palm fringed white sandy beaches and a vibrant house reef is the hallmarks of this classic Maldivian resort.

The resort offers an array of nine styles of accommodation, ranging from comfortable Superior rooms to the spacious Royal Residence, spread amongst the island’s lush tropical gardens with easy access to the beach. With eight different restaurants to choose from Kurumba Maldives will charm you with its unparalleled choice of dining experiences and a wide range of recreation activities and entertainment. All while maintaining idyllic refuges and quiet spaces of relaxation to create the perfect balance for a holiday in paradise, perfect for honeymooners and families alike.

Over the years, Kurumba has played host to a variety of foreign dignitaries and Heads of State. It has also been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, including Maldives Leading Hotel (World Travel Awards) in 2010 and 2011, and Trip Advisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for Best Service and Luxury (2013) as well as the number one All-Inclusive resort in Asia (2014 and 2015), and number one best All-Inclusive resort in the world (2015).

MALDIVES TRAVEL AWARDS 2016; deadline extension of application for nominations

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Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO) has extended the deadline of Maldives Travel Awards’ application for nominations till 15th August 2016. During this period, a special focus will be given on encouraging nominations for the new and exciting nomination categories introduced this year targeting local travel markets.

Maldives Travel Awards is a product of MATATO, deemed as the most prestigious and exclusively recognized label in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector of Maldives. While 2016 marks the Travel Awards’ 5th Anniversary, it features nomination categories comprehensively covering all the sectors of the industry. This Award aims at encouraging and raising service standards within the Maldivian tourism industry.

In April 2016, Think Advertising was awarded the exclusive rights to organize and host the Travel Awards for the next 3 years. In the coming weeks, Think Advertising will be communicating further details regarding the event.

Motions of the Ocean: Ballet at PER AQUUM resorts

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Until now the only type of ballet to be found in the Maldives has been the graceful antics of manta rays. PER AQUUM is changing the tempo this August with one-of-a-kind performances at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi and PER AQUUM Niyama by Xander Parish and dancers from Russia’s renowned Mariinsky Ballet Company.

In another premiere for the island nation, the ensemble of ballet dancers, including first soloist, Xander Parish, will swap St Petersburg’s Theatre Square for a tropical beach backdrop as part of PULSE, PER AQUUM’s stream of avant-garde experiences. Overwater stages will spring up at each of PER AQUUM’s luxury island resorts in the Maldives as performances of Swan Lake, Scheherazade, Giselle, Carmen and Don Quixote come to life over two magical nights.

Photo courtesy of PER AQUUM

Guests at PER AQUUM Niyama will enjoy an exclusive performance on 21 August with an encore at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi on 23 August. Xander Parish, originally from Yorkshire in the UK, was the first British dancer to be accepted into the Mariinsky company and will be joined by his hand-picked ensemble including Oksana Bondareva and Renata Shakirova.

Courtesy of PER AQUUM, budding ballerinas and ballerinos will also have a once in a lifetime chance to take centre stage themselves. True to form for PULSE which features immersive experiences, guests can get up close and personal with Xander and his dancers who will also be offering masterclasses at each resort during their visit.

PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi - Dream Island
PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi – Dream Island

A honeymooner’s delight, PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi is an exclusive luxury resort, located just a 35 minute speedboat ride away from the international airport near the capital, Male. Encircled by one of the best house reefs in the Maldives, this private island paradise is home to the world’s first and only underwater spa. In contrast, the twin islands of Chill and Play at PER AQUUM Niyama, located 45 minutes south of Male by seaplane, offer immersive dining experiences as well as the world’s first underwater nightclub, recently restyled as a restaurant and lounge.

Guests who book directly via peraquum.com will receive exclusive benefits including an upgrade to half board at PER AQUUM Huvafen Fushi and a 60-minute massage for two at PER AQUUM Niyama, as well as an invitation to the pre-event cocktail party and a host of surprises including a signed copy of Xander’s book – from PER AQUUM with love.

LUX* Resorts & Hotels appoints Dominik Ruhl Chief Operating Officer

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Following the announcement of the re-opening of LUX* South Ari Atoll on the 1st September 2016 and the development of the new island LUX* North Male Atoll, LUX* Resorts & Hotels appoints former Regional Director Dominik Ruhl to his new role as Chief Operating Officer for the Group. He is responsible for the group’s properties in the Indian Ocean, Europe and in the Middle East.

DominikPassionate hotelier at heart, Dominik Ruhl spent the last 25 years in hospitality across the globe, but it was in the Maldives where his career path led him to his first General Manager role. ‘I believe that adding value to the time our guests choose to spend in our resorts is vital to create not only memories, but trust’ says Dominik Ruhl ‘that is why we continue to focus on our service culture both in the Maldives and across all the LUX* properties’.

Originally from Germany, Dominik Ruhl left his home country after his hotel studies and started his career in the United Sates, where he spent several years with Ritz Carlton, first in Cleveland and soon after at the iconic Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Hawaii. He then joined the Four Seasons Resort, Punta Mita in Mexico before moving to the Maldives in 2000 where he lead the management teams of 5star properties such as Hilton Maldives (now Conrad), Mirihi and the Anantara Resort to name a few. Dominik joined LUX* Resorts & Hotels as General Manager in 2010. In 2014 he progressed to the role of Regional Director overseeing Maldives, Middle East and Greater China before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2016.

“His many years of expertise in hospitality operations and his vast international experience will enable Dominik to support our ambitious growth plans as we will open several new properties in the next few years”, explains Paul Jones, CEO of LUX* Resorts & Hotels.

Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort Announces Special 1st Anniversary Offer

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KONOTTA, MALDIVES – The Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort is offering a special half board package that guarantees up to 40% discount as part of its limited-period 1st anniversary celebrations.

Outrigger anniversary2Special anniversary prices start from *USD619++ and can be booked until 30 September 2016, but are valid for stays up to 30 April 2017. The deluxe 53-key resort opened on 1 August 2015 and has the largest average villa sizes in the Maldives

To enhance family bookings during school holidays, kids below 12 are entitled to stay on complimentary basis and join the parents’ meal plan. Kids can participate in the Coral Kids activities and learn how to make pizza or cookies, do facial paintings with nail art and henna tattoos for little girls.

For children up to two years old, a babysitting service is available for free for up to two hours once during the stay – just the right time for parents to enjoy a sunset cruise or go for a relaxing massage at the Navasana Spa, where all massages are subject to a 20% discount if booked in advance along with the 1st anniversary offer.

Outrigger anniversary1On the activities side, guests can paddle around the lagoon with a stand-up paddle board, enjoy watching coral life from a glass bottom kayak, or go on a snorkelling trip with the full-time marine biologist who also gives educational talks on request.

If you are an experienced windsurfer, enjoy chasing the waves or cruise around on a catamaran. Kite surfing is also possible and is among the non-motorized water sports available at no charge.

To book the Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort 1st anniversary offer before 30 September, call +960 684 7770, visit your travel agent and quote “First Anniversary Offer” or visit //www.outrigger.com/specials/mok/1st-anniversary-special

ABOUT THE OUTRIGGER KONOTTA MALDIVES RESORT
The award winning Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort offers guests the largest average villa sizes in the Maldives. Comprising 29 Beach Pool Villas, 21 Ocean Pool Villas, two Lagoon Pool Villas and a Presidential Villa, the resort offers a complete sense of privacy and intimate luxury. Captivate your senses with innovative dining concepts, the Navasana Spa, and high-end facilities. In between your diving lesson and massage, indulge in sumptuous Maldivian cuisine or a glass of white Burgundy in one of our restaurants or the comfort of your villa. As the sun sets, sample Japanese single malts at our Teppan bar while drinking in endless ocean views. The private island of Konotta is located 211 miles (340 kilometers) to the south of Malé and conveniently accessible via a 55-minute flight from Malé to Kaadedhdhoo Airport followed by a scenic 30-minute journey on a luxurious private speedboat. Visit outriggermaldives.com.

Baani Hotel

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With its spectacular, panoramic views across to Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, the foaming waves of the surfers’ beach, the city’s skyline, and the breathtaking, azure blue waters of the Maldives surrounding the capital and stretching to the horizon. Baani Hotel is an idyllic oasis in the heart of Malé, where the guests can experience both the day’s Sunrise and Sunset in perfect relaxation.

Baani Hotel is the ideal point of departure for your excursions in Male City and Airport. Only 0.5 km from the city center, the hotel’s strategic location ensures that guests can quickly and easily reach many local points of interest. A well-kept environment and its proximity to ADK Private Hospital, Olympus, Mulee-Aage (President’s Palace) give to this hotel a special charm. Baani Hotel is situated at the eastern waterfront of Malé, capital of the Maldives. Baani is targeted mainly for both Business Travelers and Leisure Travelers.

At Baani Hotel, every effort is made to make guests feel comfortable. To do so, the hotel provides the best in services and amenities. For the comfort and convenience of guests, the hotel offers free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour security, convenience store, daily housekeeping, 24-hour front desk.

Guests can choose from 17 rooms, all of which exude an atmosphere of total peace and harmony with modern amenities, a selection of facilities: hot and cold water, mini-bar, safe-deposit box, and internet connection. In addition, Wi-Fi Access is available at no charge.
Besides, the hotel’s host of recreational offerings ensures you have plenty to do during your stay. Baani Hotel is an ideal place of stay for travelers seeking charm, comfort, and convenience in Male City and Airport

Beijing Terrace Restaurant
Beijing Terrace offers a wide selection of food and beverages. A breakfast buffet is served daily to cater for the in-house guests. The Restaurant is air conditioned for nonsmokers, located on the 7th floor.

Housekeeping and Laundry
Housekeeping will provide extra mattress and pillows on demand with an extra charge. All rooms and bathrooms will be cleaned daily also attend to your needs upon request. Laundry service available.

Reception Travel Desk
Reception staff will assist the guests in making travel arrangements such as airline ticket booking, airline ticket reconfirmation, flight information, onward hotel or safari reservations and arrange tours. Whale Submarine Tours, Night Fishing, Diving, Surfing, Sightseeing, Picnics and Island Hopping. Resort and safari bookings can also be made.