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FEATURE MALDIVES


MALDIVES  Top Selling Tips...


• Accommodation options… “People think the Maldives is all about over-water or beach villas, however we would encourage agents to promote the product differentiation available”


MAXINE ROBERTS Head of Marketing, Carrier


cellar has more than 3500 bottles of 'fine vintages'. The Waldorf Astoria Maldives has an Early Saver which gives a 15% discount for bookings made at least three in weeks in advance. www.waldorfastoriamaldives.com And for those clients who relish some


From The Front Line VICTORIA HILLEY


Director of Sales and Marketing Dusit Thani Maldives


“The resort offers a premier


luxury experience; a blending of unique Thai artistry and heritage with the relaxed barefoot luxury of the Maldives. Differentiation occurs at all levels – with guests treated as true individuals, dining has no borders, experiences and memories are subtly orchestrated. "The service embodies the


refinements of Thai culture and manners, where every service action is regarded as a reflection of the provider, not just the receiver. This blending of world-renowned Thai gracious hospitality with the true nature of the Maldives elevates the guest experience. "The resort features the Maldives’


first ‘tree top’ spa – with treatment pods uniquely elevated above a grove of coconut palm trees. The resort’s centrepiece is the expansive infinity pool, a full 750m, designed around an ancient banyan tree.”


Above: Take to the water for some surfi ng from Four Seasons and the Infi nity pool at the Waldorf Astoria


La Villingili Resort on Addu Atoll, one of the largest atolls in the Maldives. The nine-hole golf course, mostly par


three holes, will also be situated on Villingili island (7km x 0.89km), the first proper golf course in the region. It will be for the use of hotel guests


only, and a package will be available to include one round, golf set rental, 10 golf balls and mineral water. www.shangri-la.com/maldives Other new developments include what


is claimed to be the Maldives’ first dedicated champagne bar – the Bubble Lounge offering 50 different varieties – and a new à la carte breakfast concept, both at the Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa. The resort is a 55-minute seaplane transfer from Male and offers 221 villas with three bars, four restaurants, an over-water wine cellar and what is claimed to be the Maldives' largest spa sanctuary. www.MaldivesIruFushi.hilton.com A new ‘wine discovery journey’ with a


wine degustation programme featuring wines from Spain, France, Australia and South Africa is available in the 83-villa/ suite/pavilion Waldorf Astoria Maldives for $140 pp. The resort's wine


involvement with local communities, the Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort has a new community involvement project which donates supplies and materials directly to local schools. Vilu Reef is the first resort in the


Maldives to work with the charity Pack For A Purpose, founded on the principal that those fortunate to travel to other countries have the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the communities they visit and a big impact on the lives of children around the world. All it takes is a small amount of holiday luggage space for educational materials (five lbs/2.27kg is recommended). Visitors can also personally meet the schoolchildren and teachers, and deliver their donated items in person on 'local island tours'. These half-day or full-day excursions visit Meedhoo and Bandidhoo island to explore the local fishing villages and to experience Maldivian culture and traditional life. www.vilureef.com NEXT MONTH (April) sees two


new additions to the Maldives’ accommodation portfolio. Opening on April 2 is the 61-villa


Viceroy Maldives Resort on Vagaru Island, part of the company’s steadily expanding Viceroy Hotels and Resorts brand. Arrival will be by seaplane. Each of the resort’s luxury beachfront


“Our resorts


were full 74% of the time in 2011 which puts us at number one”


or water villas are on the white sand beachfront or set directly on the turquoise sea. Villa features include private plunge pools, ensuite baths and ‘generous’ outdoor areas. Viceroy Maldives will feature some of the most spacious accommodation in the Maldives, from 1,300 sq feet to 3,000 sq feet. Amenities include five dining options,


an underground wine cellar and spa treatments at the resort’s over-water spa


• Water villa romance… "A tip for honeymooners and those wanting a special getaway is to stay in a water villa for a unique romantic hideaway experience; many resorts offer private dinners on the deck"


SHEENA PATON Kuoni Market Manager, Indian Ocean


• Beyond the romance… “Agents must push the Maldives not only as a ‘romantic get- away-from-it-all holiday’ for couples and honeymooners, but also for water sports lovers”


SHAFIQUE COCKAR Enchanting Holidays


• More time in resort… “Guests to Centara Grand Island Resort, Sun Island Resort & Spa and Conrad Maldives at Rangali Island can now be transferred with night flights ”


DEBORAH WADHAMS Assistant Product Manager Indian Ocean, Gold Medal


From The Front Line TONY CAMEROTA


Product Manager Osborne & Ebel “The Maldives is


performing extremely well in 2012 with business to the four-star all- inclusive islands continuing to grow strongly compared with 2011. "The five-star market is also now picking up with the opening of new resorts and some very good rate reductions and early booking offers. "Our website offers live


availability to 85+ islands with exciting offers for summer 2012 as well as staff offers and incentives. Our 2012/13 rates will be released by end March.”


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