MALDIVES
T
here’s no doubting that the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives is a special one-
off destination, with its castaway atolls and innovative private island resorts where luxury has been taken to unprecedented new levels. Sabina Shaida, founder and Managing Director, of Mosaic Holidays says: “The Maldives seems to be winning out over Mauritius and Seychelles due to the perceived expense of the Seychelles and it having more of a wow factor than Mauritius. Premium all-inclusives are in huge demand compared to last year, with Lily Beach and Moofushi especially popular.” Juliet Darlington, Hayes and Jarvis
Product Manager for the Indian Ocean also notes the ‘real growth’ over the past year has been in bookings for all- inclusive resorts. “The success of all-inclusive packages explains why we have added the new Centara Ras Fushi to our Indian Ocean brochure and more recently to the newly launched all-inclusive programme. “We have also added the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa and the all-inclusive Chaaya resorts (Chaaya Reef Ellaidhoo and Chaaya Reef Hakuraa Huraa) to our Indian Ocean portfolio.” Gill Standeven, Worldwide Product Manager at Virgin Holidays reports: “The Maldives is our fourth-biggest
54 March 2013 •
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volume-driving destination in our Worldwide programme. We are currently nine per cent up year on year for 2013. “All-inclusive resorts are proving more popular, from the three-star level through to more extensive dine-around options at the fi ve-star end. Every resort in the Maldives boasts an idyllic setting; it isn’t just scuba diving and snorkelling. There are resorts with great
watersports facilities, resorts suitable for surfi ng and fantastic spa resorts. Honeymooners and couples have been the traditional clientele but we are seeing some signifi cant growth in family bookings.” Travel 2 is also seeing demand for the family market with more resorts offering family villas, interconnecting rooms and clubs for kids and teenagers. It is currently running an offer at the Hilton Iru Fushi where kids stay, play and eat for free. Carolina Svensson, Product &
Purchasing Manager – Middle East and Indian Ocean for Travel 2 says, “A lot of families like the Maldives as it’s safe (only staff and guests on the whole island), waters are calm for swimming and snorkelling and everything is on your doorstep.” Joanne Clarkson, Director of
Partnerships, Seasons says, “With so many new islands having opened in recent years and more set to do so, the choice for fi ve-star
luxury is virtually unrivalled and it’s exactly this that is drawing many clients back time and time again. It will always be a favourite for honeymooners because as a destination it just oozes romance on every level. “We have single clients who love
to switch off and enjoy the isolation, while on the other extreme, we’re seeing a huge growth in the family market. Maybe it’s because there are so few other distractions down there that families really feel that this is the perfect setting to enjoy quality time together.”
What’s new Resorts: The Centara Ras Fushi
Resort & Spa Maldives is due to open on March 14. This four-star all-inclusive has 140 adult-oriented villas (over 12s only). Chevel Blanc Randheli, the second
Blanc Maison by LVMH Hotel Management, opens this summer. Set on Noonu Atoll, this 45-villa Maison complements the group’s Alpine property, Cheval Blanc Courchevel and has been designed for high-end, barefoot living. A team of ‘Experience Alchemists’ are on hand to provide a personal service; the spa is by Guerlain and three-Michelin starred chef Yannick Alleno is at the helm of the resort’s culinary scene. Park Hyatt Maldives is located in the south, which is still largely
MALDIVIAN COOKERY CLASS BY JO DEY, CITRUS PR “A small group of us travelled by colourful Dhoni boat from The Beach House at Iruveli Maldives across to a much smaller island and met the resort’s chef, Naxxa, and two local Maldivian ladies. Together they involved us in the grinding and mixing of an extraordinary array of spices and introduced us to the delights of ingredients such as bread fruit and smoked tuna to create the delicious dish Rihakuru Adhi Valhoa Mas. Naxxa continued to regale us with humorous stories of his childhood while we ‘oohed’ and ‘aaghed’ over his grandmother’s intricate recipes. And the best bit…we got to eat it!” The half-day Maldivian Cooking Class costs US$470 (£299) pp (00 960 3321 943, reservations@
beachhousecollection.com
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