The Maldives HOW TO SELL...
An archipelago of private islands offering the best in design, service and luxury, the Maldives is broadening its product offering and now has plenty to offer families as well as couples and honeymooners
BY JANE ANDERSON
OF The Maldives' 200 inhabited islands, 105 are resort islands that place tourism at the heart of their economy. A minimum seven-night break is required and visitors usually remain on one resort island, although an ‘island hop’ twin-centre is possible for longer stays.
Blue waters are a feature of The Maldives
why sell? THE MALDIVES
VISAS: Visitors are issued a 30-day stamp on arrival. Those wanting to stay longer need to apply for a visa. TIME ZONE: +5 hours GMT CAPITAL: Male CURRENCY: Maldivian Rufiyaa. (23.82 Rufiyaa to the Pound). WEATHER: Year-round sunshine SEE:
visitmaldives.com/en OPERATORS: Kuoni offers seven nights on an all-inclusive basis at the five-star Maafushivaru in a beach villa including flights with British Airways from Gatwick, from £2,300pp, based on two sharing.
kuoni.co.uk GETTING THERE: British Airways operates a non- stop flight from Gatwick to the Maldives, three times a week.
britishairways.com SriLankan has daily flights to the Maldives from Heathrow.
srilankan.com Emirates has 16 flights a day from six UK airports (
emirates.com). Etihad has five daily departures from the UK.
etihad.com ALSO:
premierholidays.co.uk thomson.co.uk virginholidays.co.uk firstchoice.co.uk hayesandjarvis.co.uk itcclassics.co.uk elegantresorts.co.uk
Where else in the world
can you fi nd such a wide range of private island resorts? There is a trend towards all-inclusive stays – which means additional commission for agents.
who to? Couples and
This 'castaway' destination is made up of 1,190 islands
honeymooners
are a major target market, but remember, couples can’t legally get married there, though a popular choice is a wedding in Sri Lanka with a honeymoon in the Maldives. As resorts broaden their facilities, adding kids clubs, activities and special offers, increasingly the Maldives is appealing to families. Lux Maldives has partnered with Flyme to offer kids under 12 free fl ight transfers from Male. Divers are attracted by the
spectacular year-round diving, with more varied reef life and visibility on the western side of any atoll from May to November and from the eastern side of any atoll from December to April. Resorts like Niyama offer new elements to the Maldives such as kick-boxing and how to become a DJ!
sell what? The key to success is
matching the right island to your client’s requirements. Some islands are very small and intimate and others are much larger with lots of
“Some islands are very small and intimate while others are much larger with a host of facilities"
facilities such as tennis courts, shops, nightlife and kids clubs. Islands can be accessed via speedboats, if they are close to Male, or by seaplanes. Increasingly there is a focus on local culture and ocean conservation, which guests can get involved in. The top resorts also put a great deal of emphasis on the excellence of their cuisine and special touches such as excursions to deserted cays for champagne picnics and candlelit dinners on the sand.
what's new COMO Hotels &
Resorts opens the 66-room Maalifushi by COMO in October, the southerly Thaa Atoll’s fi rst luxury resort. A direct seaplane between sister property, Cocoa Island by COMO will offer a two-centre option.
www.sellinglonghaul.com LVMH, parent company to Louis
Vuitton, is to open Cheval Blanc Randheli this autumn, with its own customised Cheval Blanc seaplane for transfers to the 45 loft-style villas on the northern Noonu atoll. Independently-operated Velaa
Private Island is to open later this year with 43 pool villas and fi ve residences, each with four bedrooms and a million-dollar wine cellar. New resort brand Atmosphere launches its fi rst Indian Ocean property, Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, in November with 150 ‘Sunset View’ detached villas. Other openings in the last 12 months include Dusit with the largest pool in the Maldives, The Residence Maldives which has new all-inclusive packages from June and Viceroy with its cutting edge architecture.
July/August 2013 37
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