World Earth Day Expo at Hotel Jen Malé Maldives

Hotel Jen Malé Maldives in conjunction with World Earth Day 2016 hosted an Art Exhibition in keeping with its history of endorsement and engagement with issues of the environment, support for the arts and community involvement where community outreach and participation is a key part of our practice. The exhibition was guest curated by Ms. M.Uma, who is an aspiring and emerging marine coral painter from India.

World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives
World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives

The exhibition took place in Lime Restaurant of Hotel Jen on 22nd April 2016 from 8.00am till 11.00pm. Hotel Jen Malé Maldives has been always supportive and encourages its associates to participate in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities with the broad goal, simply, of contributing to the well-being of the local communities and society besides maximizing our positive impact on the social and environmental systems in which we operate. And to raise awareness on the environmental problems we are facing today.

Ms. M.Uma’s is also a PADI certified open water Scuba Diver with a great passion for Marine life, Her canvas paintings are inspired by her observation of these spectacular and intricate life forms during her dive and is a culmination of her creative output over the past years that has cemented her reputation as a well-known leading artist of underwater life forms in the Maldives.

World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives
World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives

She has conducted several Art Exhibitions in the Maldives over the past years in Shangri-la, Maldives in 2012 in conjunction with World Earth day and 2013 in Jumeirah Maldives also in 2013 and 2014 an Art Exhibition in conjunction with Environment day was held at Taj Vivanta, Maldives which depicted her passion for Marine coral and underwater life.

World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives
World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives

The Art was playfully arranged throughout the Lime Restaurant at Hotel Jen Malé Maldives, as a fully integrated part of the Lime restaurant buffet area, where these works can be discovered by the guests through a series of chance encounters.

Hotel Jen Malé Maldives also had a special Earth day buffet at a special price for locals, expatriates and Hotel in house guests starting from morning breakfast with a spread of the widest selections of local delights such as Mas huni and Roti, to breadbasket with pastries and a cheese platter to cuisines such as Asian, Western and a salad bar and live stations. A Special Set Lunch which consisted of the semi buffet salad bar paired with the all-time favorite Thali meal that offered a choice of either Indian or Maldivian flavors were featured for Lunch and as for dinner it was an International buffet in which live action stations were prominently featured in the buffet with an incredible spread that definitely has something for everyone.

World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives
World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives

The exhibition on Marine corals was presented to educate people and actively engage the audience on local environmental issues as well as create awareness and ignite conversation on marine environment fragility.

The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. This day was created by American Senator, Gaylord Nelson, to make people aware of the importance of keeping our planet healthy and clean. On that day, people made promises to help the environment and make positive changes in their community.

World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives
World Earth Day Expo, Hotel Jen Malé Maldives

Since then many countries, inspired by the collective effort, have since started marking the World Earth day and Shangri-La and its properties are one of them who raise awareness and contribute in conducting initiative awareness program every year with interesting happenings & activities for their guests and staffs.

Etihad Launches May Maldives Madness

Etihad Holidays promises guests 3 nights in the Maldives for AED 1 per night as part of the campaign

Etihad Holidays, the leisure holiday division of Etihad Airways, has launched a new campaign promising guests a three – night stay at a luxurious Maldives resort for just 1AED per night.

As part of the ‘May Maldives Madness’ campaign, guests who pay for four nights at the exclusive five-star Maldives island resort of Anantara Veli will be able to add three additional days to their holiday for just one dirham per night.

Guests will be able to enjoy the tropical island in a serene adults-only setting. The resort features over water bungalows, an infinity edge pool, fitness centre, yoga pavilion and wellness retreat. A host of dining options are available including Japanese, Thai, seafood and grilled cuisines – all in a tranquil lagoon setting.  Guests can also take advantage of the multitude of watersports on offer including diving, surfing, sailing and deep-sea fishing.

The offer is available for bookings made from 22 April – 2 May 2016 with travel dates between 22 April – 31 August 2016. The package costs 9,599 AED, and includes seven nights at the five-star resort and return economy flight tickets by Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi. Guests will also enjoy complimentary breakfast and speedboat transfers.

Mohammed Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways’ Vice President – UAE Commercial, said: “Etihad Holidays is committed to delivering exceptional experiences to guests.  Our partnership with Anantara Veli enables us to offer our guests a holiday in an exclusive resort in one of the world’s most stunning travel destinations at an affordable price.

“Etihad Holidays is dedicated to constantly developing innovative partnerships that will allow us to continue to bring exciting new products and services to all of our guests”

The “May Maldives Madness” campaign has been launched in conjunction with Etihad Holidays’ Summer Sale, which offers guests more than 30 special deals on holiday packages worldwide.

Guests can explore more of these fantastic deals with Etihad Holidays by visiting www.etihadholidays.com or by calling 800 2324. Highly trained travel consultants will also be available at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai from 25-28 April to answer any questions.  The Etihad Airways stand will be located at ME2310.

Maafushi Village

Maafushi Village is a guest house newly built in 2015 featuring 7 cozy deluxe rooms. Located in the inhabited island named K. Maafushi in the Maldives, its just 3 minutes’ walk to the famous bikini beach. Maafushi Village is not a guest house that only provides an affordable place to stay but also gives you memories and experiences like no other! Maafushi Village crews are always there to welcome and provide personalized service to the staying guest.

Maafushi Village features 7 cozy Deluxe Rooms with ensuite bathrooms comes with all necessary accessories. 5 Deluxe Rooms (16sqm / 170sqf): These Rooms are simple stylish decorated which has an open-plan feel. They are spacious and private, making them ideal for couples and families with one child. These Rooms offers Double and Twin beds according to the preference. 2 Family Rooms (20sqm / 216 sqf): These elegant accommodation has same features as the Deluxe Room but are extremely spacious making them ideal for 3 person or families with children. These Rooms also offers Double and Twin beds according to the preference.

“Village Restaurant” is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with flexible dining suit guests’ preferences. Menu at Village Restaurant is light and appetizing with a range of local, Sri Lankan, Indian and intercontinental dishes served all day, from morning to late evening. Village Restaurant also hold themed nights each week, including Maldivian night, barbeque night and Indian night. Themed nights will be hold based on demand of in-house guest. In Room Dining is available from 7am till 11pm. Maafushi Village’s all day Guest Services will assist all the Activities and Excursions.

The Fusion of Romance and Gastronomy

People always say that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. At Kuramathi, we strongly believe that there is no better way to rekindle romance than with the old fashioned way of sharing a sumptuous meal together. There is indeed a magical feeling evoked, when you dine with your loved one at a surreal location, away from the clicking of cutlery, whispering conversations and for a change of scene to quiet the mind. And it is for these reasons, we offer Private Dining Experiences at 3 distinct venues that would promise a ‘memory stamp’ when you flick through the sweet memories of your holiday.

Kuramathi Island Resort
Kuramathi Island Resort

Designed for the ardent love birds, the Private Dining Experiences at Kuramathi are suitable even for the nitpickiest eater. A 5 course meal is offered, with a variety of mouth-watering dishes from tasty entrées to delectable main courses one could indulge in. The Lobster Dinner is set at the expanse of beach beside the Infinity Pool, with the tables adorned with tropical flowers. A lagoon lobster is the highlight here and you could choose to indulge it with rice or baked potatoes. The Romance Dinner shares similar features to the Lobster Dinner as it is also located on the beach, but in Athiri which lies at the heart of the island. Unbeatable panoramic views would become your backdrop as you share a gorgeous meal comprising of fresh seafood to succulent meats along with sparkling wine served by your personal waiter. Serenade Dinner, the favourite of the three dinners is a well-picked choice by our guests, since you enjoy the fare under a gazebo all to yourself, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the Indian Ocean. It would be hard to reach a decision, with the alluring enchantment each experience provides.

Lobster Dinner, Siam Garden, Kuramathi Island Resort
Lobster Dinner, Siam Garden, Kuramathi Island Resort

The Private Dining Experiences can be booked prior to your arrival or during your stay at the resort. So for those wanting to mark your anniversary, or a special occasion we are more than happy to make it a reality.

Beach Dinner, Kuramathi Island Resort
Beach Dinner, Kuramathi Island Resort

When was the last time you escaped reality with your partner to engage in the simple beauties of the world? Here at Kuramathi, we make it possible!

Crystal Sands Beach Hotel

Crystal Sands have been a long term dream of symphony Maldives to extend services to hospitality industry. Crystal Sands have been in the restaurant business for more than 20 years.Crystal Sands aim to provide preeminent consistent services from all group of restaurants.

Kurumba Maldives – Party With A Purpose

On Thursday 21st April Kurumba Maldives proudly hosted the fundraising event “Party with a Purpose”. This event was held for the fifth consecutive year in aid of 145 orphaned and foster children residing at “Kudakudhinge Hiyaa” located on Villingili and Hulhumalé islands. Support from 9 different Maldivian musician acts, many suppliers and partners contributed to raise over US$23,000. This upcoming year, the funds will be destined mostly to educational projects, in cooperation with the local non-governmental organization ARC – Advocating the Rights for the Children – and Kudakudhinge Hiyaa.

Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives
Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives

Local artists volunteered their time to perform Maldivian and international tunes in an outdoor setting for the resident guests and invitees’ enjoyment. Performances took place at Kandu Bar between 5.00pm to 12am. The musicians who offered their time and joie de vivre were: Island Fusion, Passive Harmony, Flower Rain, Mishy, Mira, Rishvan Imon, Def Note, DJ Paidé, DJ Maapu and Ammaday.

The set up for the event would have not been possible without the immense support of Event Maldives, as well as a taskforce of more than 55 team members from Kurumba Maldives, who volunteered cheerfully.

Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives
Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives

Local and foreign suppliers; Cosmopolitan, SIMDI Beverages, Grape Expectations, MMI Maldives, Navean, Coca Cola, SAFCO, Yeoman Group, Good Food Exports, donated goods that were used as refreshments and nourishment throughout the day, from which all proceeds went to the cause. Other suppliers that contributed with diverse useful goods were M7 Print, Bee House and Rateria.

The silent auction was blessed this year with the remarkable support of 24 resorts and 3 major airline carriers as sponsors. This was conducted throughout the event with many guests bidding for the following resorts and prizes: Amari Havodda, Amilla Fushi, Bandos Maldives, Coco Bodu Hithi, Crown & Champa Resorts, Four Seasons Resort at Kuda Huraa, Gili Lankanfushi, Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma, Hotel Jen, Jumeirah Vittaveli, LUX* South Ari Atoll, Maalifushi by COMO, Oblu by Atmosphere at Helengeli, Olhuveli Beach Resort & Spa, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Reethi Beach Resort, Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Thulhagiri, Velassaru, Vivanta Coral Reef by Taj, W Retreat & Spa, Universal Resorts, Kurumba Maldives, Veli Spa, Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airlines.

The evening was a great success with many locals, expatriates, local media and senior business invitees plus Kurumba’s in house guests joining in. There was non-stop live entertainment and the evening was blessed with almost perfect weather to host such an event. This year, we also counted on the support of Think Maldives and Digital Studio for photography and videography purposes.

Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives
Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives

The Kudakudhinge Hiyaa orphanage, located on Villingili and Hulhumalé islands, hosts children between the ages of 6 months and 21 years old. This is a self-supporting service that requires help from the community and industry in order to continue providing a caring, safe and educational environment for these children.

Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives
Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives

Ali Farooq, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager and Champion of ARC and the orphanages commented: “This is the 5th consecutive and successful year for Party with a Purpose. We are very thankful for the vast support and contributions of performers, suppliers, resorts, airlines and attendees. This is a great achievement for us and we are very proud to support our local community, ARC – Advocating the Rights of Children – and the Kudakudhinge Hiyaa orphanage. We will strive to continue with this charitable event year after year.”

Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives
Party with a Purpose 2016, Kurumba Maldives

For more information on Kurumba Maldives’ CSR program, please check www.kurumba.com/maldives-csr-activities
For more information about upcoming events in Kurumba Maldives, please check www.kurumba.com/maldives-event-Calendar

Luminous Resident Artist Tom Bacher Lets It Glow At W Maldives

Coming directly from Cincinnati, Ohio to the Maldives, the award-winning glow-in-the-dark artist Tom Bacher will bring W Hotels’ passion for design to life at W Maldives by taking his residency from May 21 until June 5, 2016.

Preferring showcasing his paintings rather than himself, Tom Bacher will use the iconic W Maldives as his own workshop and art gallery, showcasing his luminous art and holding art classes for inhouse guests and W talents alike. Getting his inspiration from the New York City’s vibrant 24/7 skyline and the Indian Ocean’s colorful marine life, twinkling stars and phosphorescent plankton, the luminous artist will transform the tropical playground into a magical island set to ‘Let It Glow’ with sparkling neon colors.

Studio Walls
Studio Walls

Artists are supposed to love light, but Tom actually works with crystals of phosphorescence that he mixes with acrylic paints. The amalgam that results has a half-life. The paints on the canvas absorb light during the day; as light fails, the colors change, and when darkness invades the studio or gallery, the pictures start glowing, popping off the wall.

“I do paintings that actually incorporate an element of time and change,” Bacher describes his creative process. He recalls that his fascination with phosphorescence stems from the glow-in-the dark toys, religious statues, and rosaries so popular in the USA in the 1950s.

“I consider paintings that glow and emit their own light as new, just as Impressionism was new at one time,” says Tom Bacher. “I look at Impressionism as the art movement that captured the sun and daylight effects, while today, with luminous colors, it’s possible to capture the night effects because we’re looking at the paintings in the dark. I’ve been using luminous pigments exclusively for 38 years, and I’m still discovering new things.”

Tom Bacher’s work appears in numerous museums, corporate and private collections in the USA and has been exhibited in Paris, Zurich, and Brussels. The artist has also showcased his paintings in West of Soho Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio and New York’s OK Harris Gallery with world famous art dealer Ivan Karp for 20 years. Bacher is currently represented by Cincinnati Art Galleries, Ohio and 100 Titres Gallery in Brussels, Belgium.

Studio Walls 4
Studio Walls

Come and check Tom Bacher’s artwork at W Maldives that can be reached by a short and scenic 25-minute seaplane flight from Male International Airport. The resort is set in a wonderland of white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and breath-taking reefs. It features 78 private retreats – each with its own plunge pool and sundeck; six gourmet eateries and lounge bars, including 15BELOW, the Maldives only underground nightclub and an over-water AWAY® spa for an ultimate escape.

For bookings and more information, please explore wretreatmaldives.com/en/letitglow

Kaani Beach Hotel

Kaani Beach Hotel is the Ideal destination for those looking for a honeymoon or just something a little more out of the way and slower paced. With Sea View rooms and private balcony just in front of the beach and a wide variety of relaxing recreational activities such as fishing, snorkeling, sailing, and diving right at the hotel itself.

The Beehive

Ideal for fun and relaxation, The Beehive Hotel is located in Malé, capital island of the Maldives just a 10 minute ferry ride from Ibrahim Nasir International Airport. With its convenient location, the hotel offers easy access to the city’s must-see destinations.

The ambiance of The Beehive Hotel is reflected in every guestroom. The Beehive offers modern rooms with flat-screen TVs and free Wifi, non smoking rooms and air conditioning are just some of the facilities that can be found throughout the property. The rooms comes with a fridge and ironing facilities. Private bathrooms have hot shower facilities and toiletries.

A hearty buffet breakfast is served daily at the Beehive’s restaurant, The Hive. The restaurant serves Western and Asian dishes.

For convenience, guests can deposit valuables in the safe at the 24-hour front desk. Staff can assist with business and laundry needs.

The hotel offers an excellent variety of recreational facilities, including diving, fishing, water sports (motorized). 

MATATO Maldives Travel Awards 2016

Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO) has awarded Think Advertising the rights to organize and host MATATO Maldives Travel Awards. The agreement was signed between MATATO and Think Advertising on 18th April 2016. Mr. Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, President of MATATO signed on behalf of MATATO and Mr. Adheel Ismail, CEO of Think Advertising signed on behalf of Think Advertising.

MATATO, established in 2006, is one of the leading organization in the Travel Industry comprising of Travel Agents and Tour Operators. MATATO also represents Resorts, Hotels and Airlines in the Maldives. In addition to the advocating efforts of the organization, MATATO takes part in major international travel exhibitions, publish the annual Travel Guide and also hosts the Maldives Travel Awards. “We are very excited about this new partnership and what Think Advertising will contribute to the awards with their years of experience and expertise. Together we will bring yet another successful edition of the Travel Awards, and the Industry can expect a better show with changes that will retain and elevate the significance of the Awards” – Mr. Abdulla Ghiyas Riyaz, President of MATATO.

Formed in 2005, Think Advertising is the leading advertising and events management company in the Maldives. For the past 11 years, Think Advertising has served a major clientele and hosted the largest events in various industries. “We thank MATATO for entrusting us to organize and host the Award. We also acknowledge and appreciate the efforts from MATATO and the previous organizer to have organized the Award for the past 4 years. We, at Think Advertising ensures MATATO and the industry that we are committed to take the Award to the next level” – Mr. Adheel Ismail, CEO, Think Advertising.

MATATO Maldives Travel Awards was launched in 2012 and the year 2016 marks the 5th Anniversary. The Travel Awards is the most prestigious and highly recognised label in the tourism sector of the Maldives. Coinciding with the Visit Maldives Year 2016, the event will be one of the premium events of the year in the country.

Think Advertising will be organizing and hosting the next Maldives Travel Awards for MATATO in 2016. In the coming weeks, Think Advertising will be communicating the date of the event and notice for nominations and sponsorships.