The Islandchief , Travel Tabloid 15| October issue 2017

Email : news@islandchief.com | Hotline : +960 9994534

VOL 15 | OCTOBER 2017 | www.islandchief.com

Equator Village Welcomes SATA 2017

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AVIATION NEWS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES launches new HighFlyer program

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ingapore Airlines has launched an all-new Singapore Airlines HighFlyer program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to get more mileage out of flights on company business.

The new corporate travel program is designed to reward both corporates and employees when they fly with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir. Corporates will earn HighFlyer points while employees continue to earn KrisFlyer miles each time an employee flies with Singapore Airlines or SilkAir, making it a more rewarding way to travel for business.

Through a self-service web portal, corporates can check HighFlyer points balance, utilize HighFlyer points, manage travelers and bookings, and download e-statements.

“We are pleased to launch the Singapore Airlines HighFlyer program for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Said Singapore Airlines Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Mr. Campbell Wilson “We are always looking for more ways to delight our customers and make their journey with us more rewarding.”

The Singapore Airlines HighFlyer program highlights Singapore Airlines’ With no minimum annual travel spend commitment to constantly enhance the required, corporates earn five HighFlyer benefits for our corporate clients and points for every S$1 spend on tickets business travelers.” booked through Singapore Airlines’ corporate booking platform or an Corporates that reach a stipulated annual appointed travel agent. spend will have the choice of transferring to the Singapore Airlines Corporate Businesses have the flexibility of choosing Travel Program, a corporate program for how and when to utilize HighFlyer points large businesses to enjoy corporate fares earned, with the option to offset future and additional benefits. ticket purchases partially or in full for flights on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir to more than 100 destinations across 30 countries.

Srilankan Airways Unveil “Mega Sale” Promotion.

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riLankan airways have unveiled a new promotion called “Mega Sale” which entitles guests traveling by SriLankan airlines to a host of discounted ticket prices.

According to a statement by SriLankan airways they have announced special fares for tickets under their mega sale promotion for travellers flying to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Daka.

This promotion will be valid for all tickets purchased from now to September 30.

Furthermore Travellers can make the best of this promotion and enjoy its special fares for flights to select destinations until the end of march 2018.

Under the Mega Sale promotion; • Bangkok Return journey tickets will cost USD 407 per person • Singapore Return Journey tickets will cost USD 341 per person • Kuala Lumpur Return Journey tickets will cost USD 359 per person • Daka Single journey Tickets will cost 193 USD per person while return journey fares are at 442 USD per person

Launched in 1979, Sri Lanka’s National Carrier is an award winning airline with a solid reputation for service, comfort, safety, reliability, and punctuality. The airline’s hub is at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, providing convenient connections to its global route network of 100 destinations in 47 countries.

As of January 2016, the airline operates 258 weekly flights to 42 destinations in 20 countries across Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Far East. SriLankan Airways is one of the largest foreign carrier coming into the Maldives, with over 30 weekly flights between Male and Colombo.

Maldivian Airlines expands to new destinations in China

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aldivian, the national airline of the Maldivian airline has introduced its first scheduled flights from Hangzhou, China on the 15th September 2017.

The initial flight to Hangzhou the capital of Zhejiang Province located in southeast China departed from Velana International Airport on the 13th September and welcomed 200 passengers that arrived from Hangzhou to Maldives on the 15th September morning.

The airline has stated that an Airbus A321 aircraft will be operating the route once a week.

Currently the passenger carrier operates scheduled routes to Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Nanjing, and Wuhan of China.

Maldivian is the airline division of Island Aviation Services based in Malé, in the Maldives. It is the national airline of the Maldives. It operates international flights in addition to inter-island services. Its main base is Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

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Adventures of the Maldives An opportunity to Win Big

October 2017 | www.theislandchief.com

TRENDING

First ever World Travel Writers Conference held in Maldives

Photo by Shifaaz shamoon on Unsplash

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aldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) in association with Six Senses Laamu has launched the Adventures of Maldives - Dhivehi Aahitha Video Competition.

A special ceremony was retained at Hotel Jen in the capital city on Tuesday afternoon to launch the event which consisted of an informational session about the competition including a demonstration of the video submission process and the launching of the official trailer.

The event was attended by the Minister of Tourism Moosa Zameer,Acting Managing Director of MMPRC Mr. Haris Mohamed, senior officials of Six Senses Laamu, senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism and MMPRC, Visit Maldives Photography Ambassadors, officials of various associations and media representatives.

activity planned for this year, aimed to showcase personally shot videos of locals and tourists engaging in adventurous activities in Maldives, which will have positive promotional value towards marketing the Maldives as a tourist destination.

According to MMPRC, Adventures of Maldives - Dhivehi Aahitha has been designed to convey adventure related activities in the Maldives such as scuba diving, island excursions, festivals, free diving, surfing, snorkelling, water-sports, etc.

MMPRC stated that the top 10 videos will be featured on the official YouTube channel of Visit Maldives and promoted on other social and online media channels of MMPRC as well as International Travel and Trade Fairs after judging.

In addition to the social media recognition,the winner of the competition Adventures of Maldives - Dhivehi Aahitha is set to receive a grand cash prize over is a video competition carried out under MVR 100,000. the “Story of Maldives” campaign – a two-year sponsored, integrated campaign The videos can be submitted through launched by MMPRC. This campaign is www.visitmaldives.com/adventures from planned to be executed for the years 2017 the 12th of September 2017 till the 12th of and 2018.

October 2017. The prize will be broadcast to the winner during the second week of The Adventures of Maldives - Dhivehi December 2017.

Aahitha, is a co-promotional marketing

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he first ever global travel writer’s Furthermore travel writing experts also conference hosted by Maldives TV expressed their views and experiences was held in Maldives this month. during the panel discussions on various topics such as ‘Turning factual travel Fifteen participants, including eminent stories into crafted narratives’, ‘Are luxury travel writers, bloggers, photographers destinations failing in their storytelling?’ and social media influencers, from 10 and ‘Storytelling through digital: every different nationalities across the globe travel experience starts with a search’ attended the two day event.

Keynote speeches and panel discussions Travel Writers Conference is a chance for were held at Bandos Maldives resort on leading travel writers to come together Sunday 17th September 2017, while a and engage in a networking platform with gala dinner with networking sessions industry professionals while providing took place on Monday at Adaaran Select businesses with opportunities to choose a Hudhuranfushi travel writer to promote their businesses.

“The travel writer’s conference will The conference is aimed to give the travel open a window of opportunity to the & tourism business the opportunity to tourism business operators of Maldives understand the importance and impact to advertise their products and services at travel writing has on the industry and the valuable cost to a wider audience and its growth by keynote speeches and feature Maldives on a channel designated presentations given by travel writing for the country.” read a statement by experts.

Maldives TV Interesting topics for discussion was presented by key note speakers which focused on themes such as ‘Progressive economy and sustainable tourism’,’ Keeping a memory to a moment otherwise gone’, ‘Sharing experiences and the art of storytelling’ and ‘Bringing the travel destination story to life through immersive technology’.

Zoona Naseem

The first ever Maldivian female PADI Dive Course Director

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oona is a key figure in the field of diving in the Maldives. She’s one of the most respected divers of the archipelago and has been the President of the Dive Association of Maldives for several years.

Throughout Maldivian History, Zoona is renowned as the country’s first female dive course director who has been certified from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Subsequently earning the title of being the second dive course director from the Maldives, the first course director being ‘Sendi’ Hussain.

“We take a moment to congratulate Zoona Naseem. She became the 1st Female

Maldivian PADI Course Director. A very proud moment for Maldivian women and to the dive community!!!” read a statement by the Divers Association of Maldives Zoona started getting interested in diving in the nineties while she was working for the Sun Diving School in Male and around the same time she started going for dives.

She achieved the certification for PADI Dive Master at the age of 18 and has learned about and dived in all the impotent dive spots of the Maldives throughout her 20 year dive career.

is completely confident that she will be able to coach and conduct dive instructor certification programs to the international recognized level set forth by PADI.

PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization with a diver education system based on progressive training that introduces skills, safety-related information and local environmental knowledge to student divers in all stages. The association owns more than 6400 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, and more than 133,000 individual PADI Professionals who have issued more With the experience and training she had than 25 million certifications around the achieved throughout her career, Zoona world.

The partners for the conference was announced at a ceremony held at Hotel Jen in Male’ on 13th September 2017 Wednesday evening, where partnership agreements were signed for the World Travel Writers’ Conference

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ISLAND PRESS

Chef Eyck Zimmer to Prepare Special Dining Experience at Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort

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utrigger Konotta Maldives Resort is privileged to announce that Eyck Zimmer will be guest chef at the resort 21 October to 2 November 2017.

One of the truly great talents in modern haute cuisine, Zimmer has won accolades such as Portuguese Chef of the Year 2008, British Chef of the Year 2006, Meilleur Ouvrier de Grande Bretagne 2000, and Ordre Du Merite Agricole, to name a few.

Zimmer, 48, a German national, has wowed diners and culinary judges across Germany, Switzerland, UK, Hong Kong and Portugal in a 30-year career that has seen him cook in some of the best restaurants in the world: Claridges, The Dorchester, and The Ritz in London; The Palasthotel, Berlin; The Grand Hotel Regina, Grindelwald, Switzerland; and The Choupana Hills in Madeira, Portugal.

While at the Outrigger, Zimmer will create a special five-course menu on 24 & 25 October at the intimate 16-seat Driftwood Restaurant by the beach. The wine pairing will be presented by guest sommelier LuAndre Volschenk. Zimmer will also prepare a special Halloween dish on 31 October.

At the Outrigger, the multi-award winning chef will also conduct a cooking class on the beach, again with paired wines. Participants will receive an Outrigger chef ’s apron, a signed menu and a photograph with Zimmer. The private cooking class costs US$150 per person.

“Eyck’s visit is a wonderful opportunity for guests to make the ultimate pairing of world class beach setting and sumptuous cuisine,” said John Allanson, General Manager of the Outrigger Konotta

Maldives Resort. “It will be a marvellous occasion for our guests. Eyck looks forward to meeting everyone before, during and after the dinners.”

Zimmer was born in Erfurt, Germany in 1969. “In those days of the Cold War, Erfurt was part of East Germany. But I was lucky to grow up in a family where good food was always appreciated. Both my grandmother and my father were keen amateur chefs. Their passion for cooking encouraged me at quite an early age to take it up and experiment with their recipes.”

When the Berlin Wall came down, Zimmer was liberated and quickly moved to learn and then perfect his trade in some of the best restaurants in Europe.

On arrival in Madeira in 2003, after earning many accolades at the best restaurants in London, Zimmer found

Save the world with Kuredu Island Resort & Spa

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uredu Island Resort & Spa recently took part in “Clean up the world” the largest communitybased environmental campaign in the world, and announced a host of activities for guests to join the Kuredu team with.

The program of events that took place on the 17th of September included a half day snorkel- boat trip clean up with free equipment, a house reed cleanup for certified divers with a free dive and equipment, an island and beach cleanup for non-divers and concluded with a group photo session followed by a cocktail party.

Furthermore, thank you T-shirts was presented to guests who took part.

The resort advised Guests who wished to volunteer for this event to sign up at Providers dive enter on 16th September.

An estimated 35 million people in over 130 countries takes part in this global event each year and it all started in 1987 with Australian Yachtsman, Ian Kiernan.

Ian observed the toll that rubbish and pollution were taking on the oceans when he sailed around the world during the BOC Solo Yacht Challenge in 1987 and later In 1989 Ian motivated 40,000 volunteers to remove rubbish from Sydney Harbor, the following year the event became ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ and it saw nearly

300,000 volunteers take part. The event went global in 1993 and has been growing ever since.

According to the Kuredu Island Resort, One of the things that will stay in the hearts of all who visit the Maldives is the breathtaking natural beauty, both above and below the ocean. And to honour the beauty and spectacle of it all, the resort invited guests to join the team and to help keep the island and its surrounding reefs beautiful as part of Clean up the world 2017.

“Not going to be on Kuredu? Simply grab a pair of gloves and a bag and join members of the local community to remove rubbish from beaches and the ocean somewhere near you… to make it feel more like Kuredu, you could always don a few sweaters to replicate the tropical temperatures!” said the resort in a statement, encouraging global participation of the event.

Kuredu Island Resorts & Spa is a beachfront property situated in Lhaviyani Atoll Region. The resort is equipped with a complimentary free-of-charge use fitness center, a spa and an amazing outdoor pool.

Guests can also engage in golfing, snorkeling, canoeing and fishing at the resort. With six room categories, four restaurants and seven bars, guests can indulge in a perfect holiday get away.

inspiration in the Portuguese sun. “I discovered fusion cuisine. A marriage of Portuguese, Asian, French and North African influences allowed me to experiment with all manner of innovative and intriguing dishes.”

“I discovered fusion cuisine. A marriage of Portuguese, Asian, French and North African influences allowed me to experiment with all manner of innovative and intriguing dishes.”

This October, at the culinary crossroads of the Maldives, guests will be able to discover the latest mouth watering inspirations of itinerant chef Eyck Zimmer.

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David Stepetic appointed new General Manager of Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives

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ili Lankanfushi has announced David Stepetic as the New General Manager of the resort.

Over the past five years, the resort has set the benchmark for barefoot and understated luxury in the Maldives, with 45 sophisticated over-water villas and a serious commitment to sustainability.

David Stepetic joins Gili Lankanfushi from Jumeirah Dhevanafushi in the Maldives, where he held the position of General Manager for three years. Within the role, he became an expert on the country and brings with him an abundance of local knowledge to make sure that Gili Lankanfushi will always be an island that stands apart, offering its guests a truly authentic and intimate experience.

David is an avid naturalist and feels most at home in an island setting. He has a keen interest in ornithology and looks forward to getting to know the island’s wildlife and further developing the recently unveiled marine biology centre, Gili Veshi.

“We are very excited for David to be joining the Gili Lankanfushi family. He brings with him a wealth of experience both from his early years with Four Seasons, a brand synonymous with seamless service and refined hospitality, and his many years as a General Manager of island resort properties.” said the Chairman of HPL Hotels & Resorts “David understands, more than most, the importance of a personal and inclusive approach while making sure guests are enjoying nothing but unrivalled privacy, in the beautiful settings of our secluded island sanctuary.” said the Chairman of HPL Hotels & Resorts” added the chairman of HPL Hotels & Resorts

Prior to that, David was the General Manager of Laucala Island Resort, an exclusive 25 room resort in Fiji. A U.S. National, David has more than 25 years of luxury hospitality management experience, and spent 19 of those years with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in various Food and Beverage and senior management Located in the North Malé Atoll, Gili Lankanfushi capacities. His experience has taken him from roles in opened in 2000 as the original over-water resort, America and Asia, to the South Pacific and the Indian Soneva Gili. In 2012, the island was acquired by HPL Ocean.

(Hotel Properties Limited), a Singapore-based company investing in hotels, lifestyle and properties around “Gili Lankanfushi is a name that is renowned the world the world. Voted number one hotel in the world by over for its passionate approach to creating a guest TripAdvisor in 2015, Gili Lankanfushi is an easy experience that goes beyond just luxury accommodation 20-minute speedboat transfer from Malé international and a beautiful beach.” says David airport. Set in the middle of its own lagoon, guests enjoy a barefoot existence with 360-degree views of the Indian “I truly believe it is an island for all the senses and I Ocean. Gili Lankanfushi’s 45 overwater villas, including am looking forward to working with the team to keep the vast and secluded Private Reserve, offer unrivalled developing unforgettable and bespoke experiences for privacy. both our new and longstanding guests”

Hurawalhi Maldives hosts environment programme for local students

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urawalhi Maldives hosted a group of students from the Nature Club of Naifaru school Madhrasathul Ifthithaal for an exposure session on the resort’s commitment to a healthy and clean environment.

On August 26th, students from the Nature Club of Naifaru school Madhrasathul Ifthithaah joined Hurawalhi Maldives with the goal of becoming familiar with the resort’s commitment to a healthy and clean environment.

“August 26th saw an invigorating portion of laughter, curiosity and excitement as seventeen students from the Nature Club of Naifaru school Madhrasathul Ifthithaah” said the resort in a statement Starting out with a presentation on sustainability in the Maldives, Lisa Bauer, resident marine biologist at Hurawalhi, familiarised the inquisitive youngsters with Hurawalhi’s green initiatives like glassbottled water, solar panels, greenhouses and rainwater capture system, which are some of the eco-oriented practices and facilities Hurawalhi is proud to have. In addition to focusing on the resort’s efforts, Lisa also shared several ideas about ways to reduce plastic waste in everyday life.

After the presentation, Bandara, Hurawalhi’s

landscaping manager, and Lisa took the group on a nature walk around the island, during which the students and their teachers were acquainted with both indigenous Maldivian plants and the introduced ones.

Bandara shared his extensive knowledge on plants and landscaping, wowing the group with his career highlights, love of nature and the beauty of his gardening projects alike.

Bandara kindly donated two boxes of plants to the students as an encouragement for their upcoming gardening competition; they have until the end of October to plant the most beautiful garden, and surely received plenty of inspiration from their visit.

“We hope to have helped the Nature Club have an exciting day at Hurawalhi and we look forward to organising many more community events and to be able to share our passion for these fascinating island with them.” A statement issued by the resort reed.

Hurawalhi Island Resort, located on a private coral island on the northwestern edge of the Lhaviyani Atoll, nestled between the uninhabited and picture perfect island of Kudadoo on one side, and Kuredu Island Resort on the other is an adults-only island haven, home to the largest undersea restaurant in the world and offers 90 villas of which 60 are ocean villas and 30 Beach Villas.

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WORLD TRAVEL NEWS

The ‘Travel Trends’ of Today and Tomorrow

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e live in unsettling times.

Who really knows what is going on-let alone what will be. The wonderful world of travel is no different. No one has a proverbial crystal ball and the annual rituals of forecasting future trends usually come from last year’s predictions and forecasts based on statistical data gathered.

That’s why we’ve put together a relevant report highlighting three vital trends of 2017 which would most likely be carried on to the coming year. At the island chief we strongly believe that staying up to date on travel trends will help businesses and tour operators to boost revenue and to provide guests with a more fulfilling service.

Younger generations most likely to book online

At present we are now at the midst of a digital globe connecting people to business and experiences unlike ever before.

Statistical data provided by TreckkSoft for 2017 shows that 75% of end users who book tours or activities online are aged 34 or younger. 41% out of that percentage are users aged 25-34 and 34% aged 18-24.

The rise of the digital world at hand is spear headed by a generation of young minds that are used to having their option conveniently available to them in their fingertips through digital media. The rise and popularity of online booking and tours have seen

a remarkable increase in the past few years.

Data shows that only 12% of people who book tours and activities online are aged 35-44 while the smallest portion of bookings come from older generation with just 6%of bookings from customers aged 45-55, and another 6% aged 55 and above.

It is imperative to reach the wider market of the rising generation of digital minded youth and business and tour operators should keep their business models and services flexible to incorporate online facilities to meet the rising demand of the globes digital upraise.

Sustainable organizations reaping the benefits

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Global change affect us all whether we want it to or not and for the most part where we can we like to make a difference. More travelers are aware of the impact their experiences have on the planet and as a result, more are opting for sustainable measures in their travel.

Data from booking.com shows that only 42% of those questioned considered themselves to be sustainable travelers.

This number increased from last year among travelers from Italy, Germany, and China, but Australia, Brazil, Japan and the US have seen a decline Global campaigns have been set in place to promote more sustainable forms of travel and industry. Travelers are taking

more interest in the environmental, economic and social impact they’re making at the destination they visit and are likely to support companies that embody these values.

Furthermore, booking.com predicted that the number of travelers staying in an eco-friendly or ‘green’ accommodation at least once could double up this year.

Moreover data from NY Times in 2017 states that eco-friendly tours are increasing. Intrepid travel, for example, now offers more than 1,000 group tours a year that are fully carbon neutral.

Therefore, making tourism business more sustainable is a great choice.

While we should all be doing our bit for the planet, it also makes sense from a business perspective. Now is the ideal time to solidify reputation as a conscious organization and set apart from local competitors

‘Experiences’ is still the favorite word for travelers

Apart from the rising popularity of the digital integration to our common reality, We are shifting to an “experience” driven economy where the best product businesses can sell is the experience of travel itself.

According to a paper titled Waiting for Merlot which was published in 2014 by psychologists Amit Kumar, Thomas Gilovich and Mathhew Killingsworth, Experiential purchases ( money spent on doing ) tend to provide more

enduring happiness than material purchases ( money spent on having).

Furthermore the paper points out that people generally report being more frustrated before the planned purchase of a thing but mostly happy before they bought an experience such as a trip or an activity In addition to numerous research papers on consumer behavior, data gathered by TrekkSoft in their destination report for 2017 show that 56% of destination marketing organization consider experiences to be a “vital” part of their marketing strategy whereas only 7% consider experiences to be “somewhat important”, It has also been noted that the most forward-thinking DMOs use a digital and content-first strategy to build an emotional & inspirational brand with experiences at its center.

There is science behind the concept of experience marketing and selling but the key take away of it is that we are spending more on doing stuff and choosing to cut back on buying stuff.

Given the data, Travel brands can stay up- to date in the game of trends by entering their marketing around inspiration and get consumers even more excited about their upcoming experience. A positive guest experience will encourage feedback, sharing and will double as a word of mouth marketing strategy while leaving guests satisfied with what they spend for.

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“Your Fuel Has Arrived.”

October 2017 | www.theislandchief.com

Our fuel bunkering service delivers fuel right to your vessels. Our trademark is to supply fuel in the most convenient and timely manner for all our customers located at different docks and moorings across the nation.

STO Aifaanu Building, 4th Floor Block A Boduthakurufaanu magu, 20026 Male’, Maldives Tel: + 960 333 6655 I Fax: + 960 331 3881 Mail: sales@fuelmaldives.net

Promising Technology to mark the end of in-flight turbulence.

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s many frequent and new travelers alike can relate, turbulence is often the most unpleasant part of the aviation experience.

However turbulence may become a thing of the past thanks to new technology that promises to predict the type that lurks unseen and steer plans around it Boeing and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have been collaborating on the integration of LIDAR technology into a commercial airplane platform since 2010. The JAXA LIDAR technology offers the potential to accurately measure winds as much as 17.5 kilometers in front of airplanes and provide pilots with sufficient time to take appropriate action to avoid wind shear and clear air turbulence, which does not have any visual cues such as clouds.

According to Boeing that will begin trailing remote-sensing technology that can detect clear-air turbulence early next year, The concept, which they hope could be rolled-out across all commercial carriers, comes from a seven-tear collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and has huge potential for travelers.

Statistic from the Federal Aviation Administration show that the number of turbulence-related injuries doubled in 2016, from 21 to 44.

But this could be slashed by LIDAR (light detection and ranging technology), which will work by emitting pulses of laser light from the plane’s nose, scattering small dust and other particulates.

Observing the reflected light in segments, the pulse provides measurement of the wind speed at

increments all along the direction of the laser.

These anomalies will trigger audio cues, which will be broadcast to pilots and cabin crew. Experts believe it would provide at least a 60-second heads-up. Even if pilots couldn’t steer around the turbulence, a minute’s notice could allow passengers to brace for the bumpy conditions ahead and cabin crew to stow away risky items such as hot coffee, This next phase of the JAXA-Boeing LIDAR research collaboration is possible due to Boeing’s Eco Demonstrator flight-test research program.

Since 2012, the Eco Demonstrator program has used a series of flying test beds to develop and test aviation technologies that enhance safety and environmental performance.

The Boeing Eco Demonstrator program plays a key role in the company’s environmental strategy by using flight testing to accelerate new technologies that can reduce emissions and noise, improve airlines’ gate-to-gate efficiency and help meet other environmental goals.

In 2018, Boeing and FedEx Express will work together for six weeks to flight-test more than 30 technologies including LIDAR aboard a new FedEx-owned 777 Freighter. FedEx and Boeing are committed to reducing the environmental impact of their products and advancing technology that will improve performance.

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NEW OPENINGS

Emaar Hospitality Group

expands to South Asia with ‘Address Madivaru Maldives Resort + Spa,’ the Group’s first resort in the Indian Ocean

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maar hospitality group based in Dubai UAE, the hospitality & leisure business of Emaar properties PJSC, has announced its expansion to South Asia with a hotel management contract to operate Address Madivaru Maldives Resort and Spa, a striking beachfront resort set in a private island in the Indian Ocean, only 20 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport.

Scheduled to be operational in 2020, Address Madivaru Maldives Resort + Spa will be the first-of-its-kind island hotel project by Address Hotels + Resorts, the premium lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand of Emaar Hospitality Group.

Among the stand-out features of Address Madivaru Maldives Resort + Spa include a dedicated Spa Island and Water Sports Island offering diving, surfing and a host of leisure pursuits, as well as water villas and presidential suites that redefine the standards of

ultra-luxury hospitality. Amenities such as floating restaurants and lounges, over-water fitness facilities, swimming pools, and children’s play areas are all thoughtfully designed to maximize the oceanfront location.

“One of the world’s most popular holiday destinations, Maldives is an ideal fit to our expansion plans to take our proven competencies in hospitality to newer geographies. It is our privilege to have been chosen by Finolhu Investment to manage this iconic property in the Indian Ocean. We will work closely in the design and development of the hotel project, with a focus on maximizing its oceanfront location.” stated Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group Emaar Hospitality Group LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emaar Properties PJSC, the Dubai-based global property developer, and manages Emaar’s

A reflection above and below the waterline- Fushifaru Maldives

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ushifaru Investments Pvt Ltd announced the launch of its first resort, Fushifaru Maldives located on the far North East border of Lhaviyani Atoll in the Maldives. The resort is set to welcome its first guests at the end of this year.

Fushifaru is uniquely positioned between two channels connecting the atoll’s inner lagoon to the vast Indian Ocean.Fushifaru Kan’du, the bigger of these two channels is a national Marine Protected Area teeming with marine.

The luxurious resort owns 18 beach villas with private plunge pools, 26 beach villas and 5 water villas. Various categories of villas face the open ocean, lagoon and the channel reflecting designs inspired by their locations on the island.

The exclusive resort features a state-ofthe-art gym and a multi-sports court while also gives access to diving coral rehabilitation and marine education where a Resident Marine Biologist will be on hand to share lessons on conservation and conduct guided snorkeling tours around the island and nearby reefs. for those who want to experience island living and local culture of the Maldives, the resort offers guests the chance to visit the atoll’s capital island, Naifaru,

hospitality and leisure projects globally. Defining its competency in managing mixed-use property developments, Emaar Hospitality Group owns and manages a diversified portfolio of assets including hotels, serviced residences, golf clubs, polo club, marina and lifestyle dining restaurants.

home to the atoll’s turtle conservation program or the island of Hinnavaru, offering an immersive experience of local island life.

Furthermore the resorts embodies its very own exclusive “Heylhi” Spa with five-treatment rooms. Each treatment room resembles traditional Maldivian cottages, complete with outdoor garden bathrooms, with renowned UK wellbeing experts, Aromatherapy Associates combined with an indigenous product range from local artisans, Fushifaru resort is host to three food and beverage outlets that will take guests on a gastronomic journey starting at Korakali for an international breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Raakani Grill showcases signature Asian recipes with a focus on the finest local seafood. Finally there is the Fanihandhi Bar, unwind with a cocktail in hand.

Fushifaru Investments Pvt Ltd owned by the Muni Enterprises was incorporated to develop, operate and manage Fushifaru Island in Lhaviyani Atoll as a tourist resort. This is Muni Enterprises’ first venture into resort management, diversifying their already existing portfolio of luxury safari boats, luxury residences and a travel agency

Gran Meliá Maldives

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ran Meliá Maldives will be a resort located in Kalhudiyafushi in Thaa, an atoll located 40 minutes from Male International Airport, as well as a short ride by speedboat or seaplane from the domestic airport at Kaadhedoo.

Scheduled to launch October 2017, Gran Meliá Maldives will be amongst the very best of the luxurious international resorts, operated by brands such as ShangriLa, Park Hyatt and Jumeirah, as guests can experience one of the best fishing destinations in the Maldives.

Set amongst virgin coral reef, the Gran Meliá hotel will offer 95 private villas, including 100 rooms, as well as three restaurants, a bar and café, spa, leisure centre and several retail shops.

The hotel will also be able to arrange and host exclusive private events and romantic dinners on a smaller nearby island. 66 per cent of Maldivian visitors are honeymooners or guests who wish to enjoy an idyllic beach holiday with exceptional diving.

During the contract signing, Maria Zarraluqui, Director of Expansion for Meliá Hotels International, commented, “Opening a Gran Meliá

hotel in the Maldives has been a dream for us for a long time, but we were always waiting for the right project to come along. This hotel meets all our expectations. We are confident that our unique Gran Meliá brand will enhance the magic of these privileged islands, giving a new meaning to the concept of luxury.”

Founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International is one of the largest hotel companies worldwide as well as the absolute leader within the Spanish market, with more than 370 hotels (current portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries and 4 continents under the brands: Gran Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus Resorts, ME by Meliá, Innside by Meliá, Tryp by Wyndham and Sol Hoteles.

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THE PIONEER OF SMART LUXURY Mr. Stefanno Ruzza is the general manager of Conrad Maldives Rangali, he has had a very inspiring career with the Hilton brand that spans for almost two decades. He has a unique view and insight into the indus-try with his travels and has a distinctive flair in bringing the Conrad philosophies of ‘Smart Luxury’ to Rangali Island.

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1. Could you give us a brief intro into how you got into this field and your early days?

My name is Stefano Ruzza. I have been with the company for almost 19 years now and before joining Rangali, I was in Thailand with the hotel for almost four years. I have been all over the Asian continent, to countries such as South Korea, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. I graduated from the Swiss Hotel Management School in Luzern, Switzerland, and moved to Malaysia after joining Hilton as my first job.

And basically I am very happy with a company that takes such good care of its employees.

2. Tell us a bit about Conrad Maldives Rangali.

Conrad Rangali is a very special place in the Maldives. I believe the twin island setup with a connecting bridge is very unique. It is like you have one special island that is designed for family guests and one for the honeymooners seeking a bit more privacy.

One of the key features of Rangali is the delightful cuisines. Our guests can literally stay 10 nights and en-joy the different taste of cuisines from different cultures. This is certainly rewarding and a key motive to choose Rangali.

3. Why is the Conrad philosophy so popular?

I think it’s popular because it’s a luxury brand that understands that traveling isn’t just about the destina-tion, it’s about the journey. The Conrad guest is a global and inspired tribe defined by the smart luxury mindset and lifestyle. They are curious, passionate, and well-traveled, as their love for going beyond the ordinary always leads them to unique experiences. . Guests are also very well connected through smart phone and other technological methods, as an example our Conrad Concierge app allows guests to pre-book spa treatment before they even arrive to the resort or have flowers as a welcome gift.

Conrad is an incredible brand. All our hotels and resorts are located in metropolitan cities set against in-spired environments including Maldives, Tokyo, Seoul, Bora Bora and New York, London and our latest addition Osaka. We aim to give our guests the most inspired stay possible, locating them in the most inspirational location in each of our destinations and giving them access to local, cultural ex-periences.

4. As Conrad is one of the best brands in the world, how do you manage the challenging task of maintaining the standards here in Maldives?

It is certainly a very interesting task. I believe the key skill is being flexible and listening to team members as well the guests to find the perfect balance and to execute a smooth transition. I am one of those peo-ple who strictly believe that happy team members make happy guests.

I once received an email from a guest who wrote two A4 pages about how happy he was with the experience he had here and how special he felt. He also mentioned 10 team members by name and applauded us on our hospitality, and that is a guest who took time from his holiday to write such a long letter.

5. What are the differences that you can see between Conrad and other resorts?

It is a bit difficult to say. I think the main difference is our philosophy.

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We are a bit more open, we let guests connect with each other in order to let them have more fun and enjoy more activities together. Because that is what we do we intuitively connect people with each other through this unique philosophy of smart technology.

6. What do you think of the changing traveler trends throughout the world, such as millennial travellers?

Millennials are a group of customers that are growing. They have a level of entrepreneurship with crea-tive new ideas and they love to travel to new destinations and be pampered. It is something that we need to be ready and prepared for.

I believe that Conrad with our smart luxury philosophy is very appealing to this travel segment and we can connect with them very well. But some resorts are a bit distant to that whereas Conrad offers that spec-trum very well.

7. What do you think of being an eco-friendly resort? What are some of the steps taken here in Conrad Maldives Rangali, for this?

It is a very important tool. We are committed to driving sustainable actions and fostering a cul-ture that inspires our team members to be accountable for steering community social re-sponsibility that enriches the lives of surrounding communities. As an example one of our key focusses is trying to reduce the amount of plastic usage throughout the entire resort. Hilton in general is also working towards this for instance they just introduced a way to replace the plastic key cards for the doors with a QR code on your phone that you can use to open your door. We like to call these values and beliefs as ‘Traveling with a purpose’.

8. What do you think of the Maldives?

In simple terms, it is number one. I really love the people. The people here are amazing. We have a lot of loyal guests who come here repeatedly from 10 to 15 times. And I believe that the warmth and honest feelings of the team members are the reasons for this.

Maldivians have unique skills in hospitality. And of course, the amazing marine life, beaches with the sea complimenting them all, the Maldives truly is an amazing place. There are a lot of great hotels with differ-ent concepts. The Maldives is very popular and will continue to be.

9. How do you try to inspire and mentor your team here? How do you feel about your team?

Leading as an example is one of the ways I try to inspire, mentor and motivate them. I try to meet guests on arrival and also show them around. This way we can show that we in Conrad Rangali are together in what we do, and I think that inspires them.

I believe that we have a very passionate, strong and dedicated team and that is the main reason why the operation runs so smoothly.. My team has a lot of different ideas and is really connected with a bond that is very much like a family.

10. Do you have any future developments or plans that you can share?

We are trying to move in the direction of being even more eco-friendly. We don’t have a specific timeline but we are trying to bring new products and technologies to Rangali as soon as possible.

11. Can you give us some ideas from your perspective on how to improve the industry even further?

I got involved in Maldivian parties in international tourism fairs while I was abroad. So I can only say some-thing from an outside perspective since I’m still very new here. However, I believe that they did a very good job in positioning Maldives as a luxury destination. Right now, even the name Maldives personifies the ultimate in luxury travel. I can only say, Maldives is a luxury paradise of its own and it will remain to be for many years to come.

12. What would be the highlights of your career?

The opportunity to experience many diverse cultures and the history between different countries in Asia has been an incredible opportunity Because if you travel just 2-5 hours from here, you can experience a whole different culture and country.

For instance, countries and places such as Hong Kong, Malaysia and India. Asia is a continent full of uniquely varied environments.

13. Do you have any words that you live by?

I read in a book once a very simply quote which goes like this ““traveling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer’’. This was incredibly inspiring to me.

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NEWS

Most Expensive Indian Menu in the World Swarna, Jumeirah Vittaveli

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umeirah Vittaveli is celebrating Swarna’s second anniversary with the ‘Gold at Swarna’ 15 course menu - the most expensive Indian menu in the world priced at US$2,000.

This award winning Indian signature experience combines the essence of opulence with the name of the restaurant, which translates to ‘gold’ in Sanskrit. Diners can discover an evening of royal treatment and edible gold will be an essential ingredient of each dish.

Kanchan Gucchi - A golden dish on the swarna gold menu The experience begins at the guest’s villa where they will be collected by a Darban (gold buggy royal escort). Guests then arrive at a luxurious cabana where they have the chance to wear traditional Indian attire. Chef de Cuisine Bharat Kapoor then explains how he chose the combination of flavours for each dish which includes Blood Orange Soup with gold coated Himalayan Pink Salt and Rose Gold coated Lamb Patty served over Bread from the inverted grill touched with gold.

Passionate about Indian cuisine, Chef Bharat calls himself a spicewala or spice traveller. He takes pride in selecting ingredients on trips to India and only uses spices available in India.

“Authenticity is key,” says Chef Bharat Kapoor. ”You can’t get truly Indian flavours if you use international ingredients.”

Kundan Kaliyan - A golden dish on the swarna gold menu Since Swarna opened two years ago it has won ‘Best Indian Cuisine in Asia,’ by World Luxury Restaurant Awards and the resort’s newly opened 5-bedroom Royal Residence was recently recognised as the ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa’ at the World Travel Awards.

“Swarna continues to amaze our guests in terms of the ambiance and the progressive approach to food and beverage experiences. The new menu ‘Gold at Swarna’ is a celebration of its continued success and takes the restaurant to another level,” says General Manager Amit Majumder.

Khad Ka Khargosh - Another golden delight from the Swarna gold menu.

Swarna takes guests on a culinary journey through India in a Maharaja style garden. Menus alternate between the 10-course journey menu, picking up flavours from every corner of the country and taking your palate on a voyage through the land of spices, and the signature 15-course Swarna Thali, an innovative new take on the Indian classic, in the form of an indulgent menu incorporating a host of rich flavours.

Jumeirah Vittaveli offers romantic escapes as well as a host of land- and water-based activities, including a PADI Dive base, water sports centre, four restaurants and two bars.

With its focus on cultural connection and organic experiences in a luxurious setting, Jumeirah Vittaveli offers guests a true Maldivian island experience.

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Addu City Welcomes SATA 2017

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ddu City’s Equator Village has been confirmed as the official venue for the South Asian Travel Awards 2017 Gala event.

According to the Organizer High Rise Maldives, SATA 2017 Gala will be on 27th of October and will be held as a festival. The SATA festival will comprise of 3 major events. The second and third event, SATA Gala and SATA Celebration to be held on 28 October.

SATA’s Gala was held during 2016 at Mount Lavinia Hotel, Sri Lanka while 2017 edition has been scheduled to take place in the Southern Most atoll of Maldives passing the zero degree Equator at Addu City. The official host of SATA 2017 is Equator Village.

Speaking at the ceremony, founder of SATA concept and event organizer, Ismail Hameed stated that their decision to host the event in Addu city is to help bring development to the region. He also added that the event is going to have a positive impact on Maldivian Tourism.

Addu atoll is home to the Gan International Airport, which is the only international airport apart from Velana International airport. Located in the island of Gan In Addu Airport, Equator village is accommodated with 78 spacious garden view bungalows. Complimented with a restaurant, The Serena spa, poolside bar, a large swimming pool overlooking the vast ocean. The village offers variety of activities including squash, table tennis, tennis etc.

With over 450 nominations for 34 categories from 10 segments. SATA received over 450 nominations from Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Nepal for the 2017 edition. Properties and services nominated for SATA competed in 39 major categories. Silver titles are honored for the best from each destination and Gold are awarded for Region’s best.

SATA has earlier announced the partners of this year’s edition, including: • Platinum Partner: Ooredoo Maldives • Gold Partner: Hawks Private Limited • Gold Partner: Gan International Airport • Exclusive Insurance Partner: Allied Insurance • Silver Partners: Coca Cola/Minute Maid , Asia Forwarding, Everest Carpets, Stagecore and Grape Expectations • Hospitality Partner for Maldives: Champa Central Hotel • Hospitality Partner for South India: The Chancery Pavilion • Hospitality Partners for North India: Udman Hotels and Resorts by Ferns N Petals •Hospitality Partner for Sri Lanka: Ramada Hotel • Hospitality Partner for Nepal: Hotel Mulberry • Media Partners: Maldives Insider ,The Islandchief, Sun Online, MV Hotels, Asian Traveller andTravel World Online • TV Partner: Maldives TV • Videography Partner: Visual Beams from NERN Private Limited • Photography Partner: Digital Studio • Auditing Partner: Crowe Horwath Maldives Travel for All international nominees are coordinated by Inner Maldives Holidays (PSA of Sri Lankan Airlines) and accommodations coordinated by One Tours Company for the Gala Participants.

Launched last year by Maldives-based event management company Highrise, SATA has been endorsed by regional tourism authorities and organizations, including the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Sri Lanka (FCCISL), Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), Confederation of Associated Tour Operators (India), Association of Travel Agents (ATA) Maldives, Association of Travel and Tour Operators India (ATTOI), Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT, India), Kerala Hotel General Managers Club (KHGMC), Maldives National Chamber of Commerce(MNCCI), Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Live aboard Association of Maldives (LAM).

SATA is the first ever regional travel awards endorsed by multinational associations, providing the tourism sector of the South Asian region with recognition towards their facilities and service excellence. It aims to encourage and raise service standards in the region’s tourism industry.

V

ED T O

In five lip-smacking flavours • Veggie Twist • Peppy Tomato • Chinese • Classic Masala • Italian Research shows that diets high in fibre help in weight management. Oats are a high fibre wholegrain breakfast and hence a smarter option than refined cereals.

Saffola encourages you to exercise regularly, follow a healthy lifestyle and consume a diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium to keep your body fit. *As per study dated July 2016. Creative Representation.

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IMPORTED & DISTRIBUTED BY

Lily International Pvt. Ltd | H. Coal Field, 2nd Floor | Kalhuhuraa Magu | K. Male’, 20085, Republic of Maldives T: +960 333 2882 | F: +960 333 2893 | E: info@lily-international.com | W: www.lily-international.com

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FEATURE

The islandchief Travel guide to Addu The southern metropolis of the Maldives is a getaway from the whirlwind pace of life of its northern rival and country’s capital Malé.

Sprawled across the equator, sparkling like a beautiful pearl necklace, over a group of six islands, of which five are ringed by a tangle of causeways, if you drive in any direction, you’ll soon find yourself awed by the sublime panoramas stretching beyond.

Despite the commencement of the only international flights to Addu with four frequencies a week from Sri Lanka since December 2016, the colonial relic remains blissfully calm, laid-back and is a monumental city where you get a real sense of the Maldivian history.

During WWII, when the British forces withdrew Sri Lanka, they built a naval base on Addu’s Gan island, later converted to an air force base during the Cold War, and now is the city’s international airport.

ACCOMMODATION

There are three resort hotels in Addu City: EQUATOR VILLAGE

CANAREEF RESORT MALDIVES

SHANGRI-LA’S VILLINGILI RESORT & SPA

78 rooms and rates start from 1,500 MVR a night

Canareef Resort Maldives – 271 villas under three categories, rates start from 14,000 MVR a night.

132 villas under eight categories, rates start from 8,300 MVR a night.

+960 6898721

+960 689-6677

+960 689 7888

reservation@equatorvillage.com.mv

reservations@canareef.com

slmd@shangri-la.com

www.equatorvillage.com.mv.

ww.canareef.com

www.shangri-la.com/male/villingiliresort/

In addition to the three resort hotels, Addu City is home to an array of cheaper Guest House alternative that offer Air-conditioning, WiFi and attached bathrooms are relatively standard at most guesthouses across the Maldives, but, if you’re looking for accommodation including a swimming pool, the most economical hotel in Addu would be the Equator Village.

Guest house rates range from as low as 40 usd to 80 usd per night.

Our top recommendation for guesthouses to stay at in Addu include; CHARMING HOLIDAY LODGE

AQUAVENTURE MANTA LODGE

PEBBLES INN

a fabulous 4 bed room property.

Perfect to relax /and enjoy the Sun, Sand and Sea.

Located in Addu Atoll, Maldives Islands, is a popular choice for Scuba Divers.

Pebbles Inn offers a perfect retreat to relax and enjoy a wonderful stay in Addu Atoll.

+960 794-3884

+960 7974310

Phone: +960 688-0660

charmingholidaylodge.com

dc-aquaventure.com/guesthouse

www.pebblesinn.com

Hulhumeedhoo, Addu City

Maradhoo, Addu City

Location: Hithadhoo, Addu City

FOOD Food – If you are staying at a resort hotel, food can be expensive, costing 1200-1500 MVR per meal. It can be included based on your preferred meal plan at the time you confirm your hotel reservation, if not, you can dine at the property’s restaurants.

A nice buffet breakfast with table service could cost between 45-70 MVR at a casual city restaurant, but at a local “saai hotaa” (less standard café), it could be between 35-40 MVR. Buying your own groceries and cooking at your own pace is not an option, since guesthouses will not allow you and you probably not have sufficient kitchen utensils and space to do such at your guesthouse room, unless you are staying at a friend’s home.

Our top three recommendations for eateries in Addu are: PALM VILLAGE

QUENCH RESTAURANT

SUVADIVE CAFE

Known for their great indian and international cuisine, this

Is an aesthetically pleasing, visually stunning restaurant with

Enjoy freshly brewed coffee and quality food in a relaxed

restaurant is well reviewed by guests and locals alike for good

a great family atmosphere. The food here have also received

atmosphere. For couples, families & friends.

customer care and services.

exceptional reviews.

TRANSPORTATION Transfers to resort hotels depend on how you book and settle the payment for your accommodation, it could be included in the price if you book your stay directly with the resort hotel, or pay separately if you have booked it through an online hotel booking website.

Equator Village is located in Gan and is a 5-minute drive from Gan International Airport, but Canareef Re-sort Maldives and Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa are located in two different islands and require speed boat transfers. If you have your transfers booked with the resort, airport representatives will meet and greet you on your arrival and assist you with swift transfers to the resort hotel. Getting from the airport to Feydhoo in a taxi to will cost 50 MVR, to Maradhoo it will be 70 MVR, and to Hithadhoo it will be 130 MVR. TIP Rent a motorbike – Roadside shops in Addu rent motorbikes for 200-300 MVR a day, get one and explore the city instead of paying expensive taxi fares in Addu. If you have a driving license from your home country, and is in English, you are good to ride a motorbike in Addu.

ACTIVITIES – Activities tend to cost 900 MVR or more depending on what you want to do.

Diving, for exam-ple, will be around 925 MVR for a single-tank dive and a week’s worth of diving will cost around 6,000 MVR.

Ideal daily budget – 500-700 MVR / $33-46 USD (Note: This is a tentative daily budget assuming you will stay at a local guesthouse, eat local food at a saai hotaa, and rent a motorbike for transportation

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TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN ADDU Eat until you explode – While in the Addu city there are so much local food options that beckon you to savor the authenticity of the cuisine. Roadside cafés and food establishments commonly referred by locals as “sai hotaa” churn out some delicious fare, making your dining experience a memorable one.

They serve some delectable delicacies like faraata and Addu kukulhuriha, curry prepared with Addu hawaadhu (a spice mix available only in Addu), kalhu sai (black tea), Addu bendi – a delicacy made of sweetened coconut, palm sugar and rosewater and much more at very reasonable prices. Most saai hotaas start their business as early as 5 AM and remain open till early morning 1 AM. You will find plastic chairs and tables scattered in these establishments.

Try spotting a Dhondheeni – The White Tern (Gygis alba), a small seabird confined to Addu has all its body white with a black eye-ring and bill. In recent years the unique bird has been proudly used as a symbol by its inhabitants to represent Addu.

Partake in any of the two Eids – Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha celebrates the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The residents of Addu mark both the ceremonies in social atmosphere including the traditional “Maali Neshun” and “Bodumas Beynun” performances.

Maali Neshun showcases masked performers dressed in ash and palm leaves attempting to scare the pa-rade onlookers. Bodumas Beynun exhibits a form of black magic to catch a large fish woven with palm leaves. Over time, the customs of celebrating the Eid have been changing and the various cultural events associated with these two Eids now differ from island to island across the country.

Admire the British war memorial In 1976 when the British forces withdrew from Gan, they left two can-nons from the World War Two-era. It stands as a monument today, symmetrically placed inside a square surrounded by a cement railing with a small entrance. Rumors say the British government pay a royalty to the Maldives government to maintain the monument.

Immerse yourself in nature at Eedhigali Kilhi – One of the largest wetlands and mangroves in the nation, the uninhabited area is now an environmentally protected area for its delicate ecosystem. Rent a motorbike and ride all the way to the north end of Addu Atoll, southernmost of the Maldives.

Koagannu Cemetery – A 900-year-old cemetery located in the island of Meedhoo is the oldest cemetery in the Maldives. In February 2017, the Magistrate Court of Addu City’s Meedhoo issued an order for Police to watch and protect the historical heritage after reports of vandalism inside the cemetery. .

Take a trip to Hulhumeedhoo island – Hulhumeedhoo is geographically a single island, but administrative-ly divided and considered as two, “Hulhudhoo” and “Meedhoo”. The island lies in the eastern side of the at-oll and is incredibly different from the rest of the islands in Addu — some of the locals in the island still use diesel generators for power and fetch water from wells. Rent a bike from the Charming Holiday Lodge guesthouse and explore the beautiful sights of Meedhoo. The Southern Transport Link operates daily ferry round-trips by dhoni and speedboat between Feydhoo and Hulhumeedhoo.

Be Awed by the incredible sunsets in Addu – While the islands of Addu are the southernmost in the Mal-dives archipelago, it boasts some of the most spectacular sunsets in the world, with the sun’s rays bounc-ing off the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean. Don’t forget to Instagram your sunset shots of Addu!

Find tranquility at the Ranin Hanaa Fengandu – Also known as the Queen’s Pond, is a large natural pond surrounded by coconut palms and lush tropical foliage, located in the environmentally protected area of Hithadhoo island. Local myths say the pond was once used by fairies to take showers. The color of the pond water is of a pale yellow and green.

Explore Addu’s bountiful underwater marine life – Located 33-meters beneath the turquoise blue waters of Addu, lies the wreckage of the 5.5 ton oil tanker, the British Loyalty. It was torpedoed twice during World War II, and today its remains make it one of the best dives sites with excellent coral growth in the country.

Umarus Place is another underwater oasis waiting to be explored with brilliant overhangs and caves. The reef starts at a depth of five meters and goes down 30 meters like a staircase. You will find hundreds of fish at Umarus Place from gorgonians and table corals, sweet lips, schools of snappers, groupers, and with some luck also manta rays, eagle rays, sharks, sailfish, green turtles and lobsters.

GoPro the Link Road – The five neighboring islands Gan, Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo and Hithadhoo are connected through a 17-kilometer road, also called the “Link Road”, the second longest paved road in the country. You should also be careful riding motorbikes on the Link Road as it claims sev-eral lives an year through tragic road accidents. There is also a particular section of the Link Road with a minimum speed limit of 60 km/hour and cycle helmets are compulsory. Don’t forget to GoPro the amazing roadside views, especially if someone else is riding the motorbike, and you are seated at the back!

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