Atmosphere Kanifushi awarded number one all-inclusive resort in Maldives by Thomas Cook
The Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives has earned the number one spot in the top ten listing of all-inclusive resorts in Maldives by Thomas Cook Intercontinental. “This is a great recognition indeed,” said Dinesh Bhaskar, director of sales and marketing at the Atmosphere Kanifushi Resort. The five-star resort opened for business in December 2013 and is located in Lhaviyani Atoll, a 30-minute seaplane transfer from the Male’ international airport.
Environment ministry conducts Energy Audit Training Programme
The Ministry of Environment and Energy has conducted an energy audit training programme in collaboration with the German International Corporation (GIZ). Environment Ministry Permanent Secretary Ajwad Musthafa officially inaugurated the 3-day programme at the SHE building in Male’ on Tuesday, January 20.
Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives 2015 Expo to take place in August
The annual ‘Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FAHM) 2015 Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge’ is due to take place at the Dharubaaruge convention centre in Male’ from August 10 to 12. The exhibition offers an opportunity to showcase products and services from international companies to the local hospitality industry, Mohamed Ajmal, managing director of the event organiser Dhivehi Expo Services, told the press after Tuesday night’s ceremony.
Gili Lankanfushi earns top spot in Traveller’s Choice Award for Best Hotel
TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, announced the winners of the 13th annual awards on Wednesday, January 21. According to TripAdvisor, the winners were selected based on millions of traveller reviews, opinions and ratings. Gili Lankanfushi was also named the best hotel in Asia. “TripAdvisor’s community of millions of travelers have helped us highlight some of the very best hotels from around the world,” said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.
British Airways to operate flights to Sri Lanka, Maldives seasonally
According to Voyages Maldives, the General Sales Agent of British Airways, flights from London and Colombo to Male’ will cease operations on March 29, 2015. However, flights to the Maldives will resume in November for the winter holiday period, said Mohamed Nashath, Airline Ticket Reservation Manager at Voyages Maldives. There are currently three British Airways flights a week to the Maldives.
National University launches first Masters Degree Programme
The Maldives National University’s Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies (FHTS) has launched its first ever masters programme with a Masters in Hospitality and Tourism Studies course. The first batch of students has already enrolled in the programme. Students will be required to complete four semesters of study over the course of two years. Both foreign and local lecturers with academic qualifications and experience in the field have been chosen to conduct the course.
Four Seasons introduces ‘revolutionary’ new TDA facials
The Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru has introduced the A.W. LAKE’s revolutionary ‘Science of Beauty’ PURE® TDA facials at the luxury resort’s Spa and Ayurverdic Retreat. “TDA stands for transdermal application: a therapy system that transports PURE®’s bioactive serums at supersonic speed and frequency directly to the dermis via a computer-guided applicator, without even making direct contact,” Four Seasons explained in its latest e-newsletter.
Trans Maldivian Airways Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence
Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) held a special dinner at Hulhule Island Hotel (HIH) on January 8 to celebrate “25 Years of Excellence”. The event also marked the receipt of “World’s leading Seaplane Operator” and “Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator” by TMA at the 2014 World Travel Awards.
Four Seasons ‘Baraabaru’ Restaurant Scoops Coveted Culinary Awards
Four Seasons Kuda Huraa’s signature restaurant, Baraabaru, has won the hotly contested ‘Outstanding Hotel Restaurant’ accolade in the Saveur Culinary Travel Awards 2014. The Daily Meal, USA, also named the Indian restaurant one of the ‘World’s 101 Best Hotel Restaurants of 2014’ for the third consecutive year. Four Seasons noted in its latest e-newsletter that Baraabaru was “listed alongside a veritable smorgasbord of the world’s finest culinary establishments”.
Panchshil Realty to develop high-end resort in Maldives
Indian real estate company Panchshil Realty has announced plans to develop an 82-room high-end luxury resort in the Maldives. According to media reports, the Pune-based developer of luxury hotels has reached an agreement with Marriot International to use their Bulgari brand for the new resort property.
Tourism Ministry trains Inspectors to check standards of guest houses and travel agencies in Atolls
A workshop to train guest house and travel agency inspectors was initiated by the Ministry of Tourism last Wednesday. Some 20 staff from 17 council secretariats participated. The one day event covered theoretical aspects of such inspections including registration procedures, regulations governing guest houses and travel agencies. Further to this, Maldives Inland Revenue Authority also did a presentation on taxation.
Maldives runner-up in Telegraph Travel Awards’ World’s Best Destination
The Maldives came in second place in the Telegraph Travel Awards’ World’s Best Destination category. With almost 90,000 people voting for their favourite travel companies and holiday destinations, the Telegraph Travel Awards is touted as “the most comprehensive, wide-ranging, and reliable reader travel survey in the world.” The award ceremony took place at the Banking Hall in Central London, England. Comedian and actor Sean Lock presented the awards in a variety of categories.
