The Islandchief , Travel Tabloid 09| April 2017

VOL 09 | APRIL2017 | www.islandchief.com

Few minutes of Wisdom with

Alex Azzola: The visionary behind Cocoon Maldives P:6 Bakery & Pastry Training Opportunity

by Lily International

P:16 Experience the ultimate speed nationwide

ooredoo.mv

5 Of The Best Resorts In Maldives According To Tripadvisor P:9

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AIRLINE PRESS

Maldivian To Start Operations To Colombo

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he National carrier of Maldives - Maldivian has officially been granted permission to commence direct flights to Sri Lanka. As a result of discussions between the Tourism Minister of Maldives, Mr. Moosa Zameer and the Sri Lankan Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, during Minister Moosa Zameer’s recent visit to the neighboring country. As Sri Lanka is one of the neighboring countries of Maldives, it is a very demanding and a

convenient country among the Maldivians to reside in for further studies, medical treatments & business opportunities. At the same time, it is going to be an opportunity for the Sri Lankans and tourists to visit the Maldives and enjoy the Natural Paradise of Sun, Sand & Sea. With this opportunity, Maldivian can now begin non-stop flights between Velana International Airport and Colombo Airport Ratmalana in Sri Lanka.

Maldivian have plans to commence other new routes in 2017.

Emirates to Launch Daily Flights to Croatia

Emirates announced that they will further expand their European network with the introduction of a daily flight from Dubai to Zagreb (ZAG), the capital of Croatia from June 1, 2017. The new southeast European destination will be served by an Emirates Boeing 777-300 aircraft, the only wide-body service operating to/from Zagreb.

The country is a popular destination for business and leisure travel from around the world, in particular with tourists from Far Eastern destinations like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Singapore, plus Australia. The favourable flight times offered on Emirates’ new service will make travelling to Zagreb from these markets and many more, a more seamless and enjoyable experience.

The new flights will not only benefit travellers in Croatia, but also those in neighbouring Slovenia and even the southern regions of Hungary and

Austria making it more convenient to travel with Emirates to Dubai and beyond. Visiting the airline’s

home of Dubai for leisure or business, in a choice of three different cabins, on a modern, wide-body aircraft, is now a viable option. Onward travel to Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, or Sydney, Melbourne, Maldives, Seychelles and Sri Lanka can all be reached with less than four hours’ transit time.

From the perspective of trade and commerce, the whole southeast Europe region will now be more accessible to businesses in the Middle East and beyond, an area previously unreached by an Emirates route. Emirates’ daily 777 service will also offer up to 16 tonnes of cargo per flight, opening up access to more global markets for Croatian exports, and to support trade.

QATAR AIRWAYS UNVEILS ‘QSUITE’ – A REVOLUTIONARY NEW ‘FIRST IN BUSINESS CLASS’ EXPERIENCE Class, with privacy panels that stow or quadrants.” away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room.

Adjustable panels and movable TV monitors on the centre four seats allow colleagues, friends or families travelling together to transform their space into a private suite, allowing them to work, dine and socialise together. These new features provide the ultimate customisable travel experience that enables passengers to create an environment that suits their own unique needs.

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atar Airways hosted a packed press conference to unveil its highly anticipated and revolutionary new Business Class experience to the world’s media and travel trade leaders. Ushering in a neverbefore-seen standard in Business Class travel, the customisable private suites, named QSuite, introduce a host of firsts to Premium Class travel, reshaping expectations for global business travellers.

The new seat design was first unveiled by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, moments before the airline’s annual press conference at a spectacular reveal ceremony, on the opening day of the ITB Berlin exhibition, at the Qatar Airways stand. Attended by an audience of

notable VIPs, including His Excellency Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman AlThani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Germany, with the Mayor of Berlin, Mr. Michael Müller, as special guest of honour, guests were captivated as a life-size cross-section of a Qatar Airways aircraft featuring the new QSuite was unveiled to rapturous applause.

Launched at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show, the unique and patented seat has been two years in the making. Its highly anticipated unveiling drew media from around the world and up until the reveal had kept industry experts guessing as to what features and developments it would include.

QSuite features the industry’s firstever double bed available in Business

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Today I am proud to unveil the future of Premium travel with our new QSuite Business Class. Our unique and patented design is a world first in many ways and challenges industry norms by offering passengers more privacy, more choice and more personalisation.

With these innovations, Qatar Airways has revolutionised the way we serve our Business Class travellers, enabling our passengers to enjoy a First Class experience in Business Class. This is truly Business Class as never seen before and is entirely in keeping with our Premium product and service philosophy. On Qatar Airways, you choose when you dine, and the menu options are varied, with something for everyone. You choose when you rest, and when you want entertainment; we offer more choices than any other airline. It only makes sense to give you the choice to make your own cabinwithin-a-cabin, creating double QSuites

In addition to the existing decadent ‘dine on demand’ service, the new Business Class menu will now offer a selection of snack ‘sharing dishes’ available throughout the flight, allowing travellers to turn dining at 35,000 feet into a social experience. A wake-up Express Breakfast will also be available for those who choose to sleep a little longer by making the most of the ‘Do Not Disturb’ option available on the door of their private QSuite.

H.E. Mr. Al Baker also announced that starting this summer, Qatar Airways will begin offering best-in-class inflight connectivity, with more announcements to come in the weeks and months ahead.

This extensive and ground-breaking refresh comes as the airline celebrates its 20th year of operations marking two decades of growth, industry leadership and innovation. The new QSuite concept will be retrofitted on to the existing Qatar Airways fleet starting from June 2017, at an estimated rate of one aircraft a month.

Qatar has become a popular stopover destination in recent years and with daily flights from Berlin and a double-daily offering from Munich and Frankfurt to Doha, more and more people within Germany are discovering the many delights that the country has to offer, from the traditional delights of the Souq Waqif market to the sparkling waters of the Arabian Gulf.

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CURRENT NEWS

Sounds Of Maldives 2017 After continuous 5years, HighRise proudly presented The Sounds Of Maldives 2017 internationally. This show have splendidly hit the attention of the world to the Maldives, with the dazzling Maldivian musical artists attracting the attention of visitors with their amazing voice and performance. Held at the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore, alongside the Diving and Resort Travel Expo, this year’s edition of Sounds Of Maldives was an achievement with the art performed by the great hits in the musical industry of Maldives. It was described as the perfect environment and show.

Lead artists such as Rishwan Aiman (Rittey) who is a famous Maldivian Solo

Artist, DJ Ali, Habeys By Gravity and Habeys Boduberu Group were some of the prominent names at this year’s show.

DJ Ali described the event as flawless and was grateful to HighRise for recognizing the local talents to showcase their skills in major platforms and contributing to their development by giving them this valuable opportunity for success. Habeys

By Gravity - showcased their talents outside of Maldives for the first time at the Sounds of Maldives 2017 edition in Singapore, described the event as very professional and was grateful to the organizers for giving new bands and artists, opportunities like this.

HighRise, stated that the prominent target of the show is to encourage and empower the local talents while promoting the country, which is achieved every year.

He also stated that with the help and support from the team and key leaders in the market, upcoming shows and future shows will be stronger every year.

Mr. Ismail Hameed also stated that the organizers have not yet finalized the venue for next year’s show. However, it is certain that wherever the venue may be, the next year’s edition of Sounds Of Maldives will also be filled with new and budding local artists full of talent, looking to promote their country on an international stage

Mr. Ismail Hameed, who is the founder of

Commercial Bank Of Maldives Launches Special Product For Women

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he Commercial Bank of Maldives (CBM) has launched a special product for women called

as ‘’Kulhadhaana Anhenun’’.

This product will include a special Savings Account for women, as well as a loan

scheme specifically targeted for women entrepreneurs.

The company secretary, Ms. Fathimath Muaza explained that the difference between this savings account and a normal one was that while it is much easier to open, it also provides free services such as cards and internet banking for one year. Moreover, account holders under this scheme will also be eligible to a 50 percent discount from the safety deposit and locker facilities services that the bank provides. She also explained attractive loan policies under this scheme and clarified that while the amounts provided in the loans may rise up to one million rufiyaa, it will currently

stay at two hundred thousand.

The Chief Guest of the event was Ministry of Economic Development’s Registrar of Companies, Ms. Mariyam Visam. She noted that new product such as these is a gateway for women to become more empowered and enthusiastic in the competitive business market. Despite some obvious obstacles, today more women are looking for massive opportunities and keen to become successful in their own right.

Commercial Bank of Maldives is a joint venture between the reputed Sri Lankan banking institutions, Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc. and the local investment firm, Tree Top Investments Pvt. Ltd.

Singapore’s Changi Airport - overall winner of the Routes Asia 2017 Marketing Awards

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he annual Routes Asia Marketing Awards recognize excellence in airport and destination marketing. Airlines vote for the marketing services that support the successful launch of new routes or the development of existing ones, making them highly regarded in the aviation industry.

local governments, tourism boards and even other airports to develop tourism and traffic flows between Singapore and markets around the world.

“We constantly seek strategic partnerships and collaborations with local governments, tourism boards and even other airports to develop tourism and traffic flows between Singapore Damon Wong, general manager, airline and markets around the world,” said development at Changi Airport Group Damon Wong, general manager, airline said: “We constantly seek strategic development, Changi Airport Group. partnerships and collaborations with

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Maldives At OneWorld Travel Mart In India co-exhibitors from the tourism industry of the country. OTM is one of the most prominent and leading travel trade shows of India. It is organized and run

by TTF, the most credible market leader in India formed in 1989 and has turned OTM into the best platform to focus on outbound tourism in India.

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he annual OneWorld Travel Mart 2017 was held from 21st to 23rd February in Mumbai, India

with participants from more than 50 countries. Maldives was also on display at the travel exhibition along with 15

For the Maldives, a 64 square meter area in Hall 1 (Stand: B-300) was granted and the organizers of the stand, planned promotional activities such as social media advertising and activities which were carried out at the stand. The exhibition space has been prepared to illustrate the singularity of the destination with resolute, enticing photos of the finest resorts in the Maldives. Furthermore, advertising such as billboards at the entry, pillar wrapping, lanyard design of exhibition

EVENTS

badges and the show carry bags will be displaying and promoting the Visit Maldives Year 2016 campaign.

The exhibition is expected to attract more than 12,000 visitors from all over the world. This year, OTM was kicked off with over 1,000 sellers from more than 50 countries spread over 200,000 square feet of exhibition area. OTM is India’s leading and only trade fair focused on Indian outbound travelers.

OTM 2017, was as a great opportunity for the Maldives to reach the high-value potential customers from India in order to significantly boost the number of tourist arrivals from the neighboring country as India, is the 5th largest market in terms of tourist arrivals to Maldives.

Soneva Jani & OZEN by Atmosphere wins “Best Hospitality Indian Ocean Hotel – 2017” at Connoisseur Circle Awards Sonu Shivdasani was honoured for his work and the new Soneva Jani, with the highest award in the category.

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onnoisseur Circle, a leading Luxury Lifestyle Magazine with the German speaking markets has awarded OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo and Soneva Jani “Best Hospitality Indian Ocean Hotel at its annual awards ceremony during the ITB 2017, in Berlin, Germany.

During the Awards Ceremony, OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo was awarded the “Best Hospitality Indian Ocean Hotel” for 2017, as a recognition for the fantastic positioning the resort has been successful in achieving since opening in July 2017.

The selection committee acknowledged the wonderful positioning and consistency in service delivery that OZEN has been able to achieve within such a short span of time since opening. OZEN

by Atmosphere is the first “Luxury All-Inclusive” resort in the Maldives and has been receiving strong sales support from key Luxury Tour Operators worldwide.

Venkata Giri, General Manager who accepted the Award on behalf of OZEN, said “It is just an absolutely

fantastic recognition for the wonderful work, done consistently by the OZEN team, and a great compliment indeed to be recognised so quickly within the German travel fraternity! We are truly swimming with the big Luxury boys now!”

Simone Dressler, chief editor of the Connoisseur Circle said, “We are very proud that the Connoisseur Circle Hospitality Awards have developed over the past five years to a fixed size among the events at ITB Berlin. With our commitment to service and hospitality, we reward the hotels and resorts with innovation and continuity again.

Maldives participates in MITT Russia

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he Maldives has participated in the recently concluded Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition (MITT) Russia from

14 th – 16 th March 2017. MITT is Russia’s largest and longest running travel exhibition. This year 42 representatives from 19 companies of Maldives were

promoting the destination in the Maldives Stand. The Maldivian delegation consists of 10 resorts and 9 travel agents.

The Maldivian stand is custom built in an area of 114 square meters, displaying the unique aspects of the destination through various colourful images.

MMPRC officials met with industry partners and travel & trade media in order to discuss possibilities of joint promotions to further strengthen the market throughout the 3 days. In addition to the business meetings, a social media campaign was carried out to win immediate gifts.

With over 1,800 participating companies and 192+ destinations, it is the key networking place for the

industry stakeholders. MITT welcomes both trade and consumer visitors, with specific ‘trade only’ days. In 2016, the event recorded an attendance of 28,035 unique visitors, 76% of whom were travel trade professionals.

Russia is considered to be one of the top source markets to Maldives. In 2016 Maldives recorded 46,522 tourists from Russia, which in an increase of 5% compared to 2015.

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INTERVIEW Let’s begin with yourself, could you tell us a bit about how you got into the hospitality industry of Maldives and how you have managed to build your successful career?

I have been in the Maldives since 1981, with Azemar which is one of the biggest travel agencies in Italy and we have been serving to the key leaders in the local hospitality industry such as Bandos and Sun Travel since then. I managed to develop excellent business and personal relationships with the local leaders of the tourism industry. By spending over 35years in the Maldives, I have learnt a lot about the country. I have learnt how to approach the people, how to work with and make the most of this unique and amazing place.

How did you come up with the unique ideas and concepts behind Cocoon?

I first met Daniele Lago at a dinner in Milan, Italy. After that we developed a very strong friendship, however at first I was very nervous about bringing this new approach in terms of design and architecture to the Maldives, mostly because it wasn’t something that you would normally see here, it might have been more in harmony places such as Milan and Paris but not here.

So, we decided to do a small mock up of our concept. The response was extremely positive and fantastic, and people were so enthusiastic about it, which made us decide to go with this new approach. We received comments such as ‘’Wow, finally something different’’, and we were very motivated by these comments. We wanted to say that we are completely different from other islands in the Maldives. We wanted to surprise and gain the attention of our guests. We wanted to create a connection between nature and the lush vegetation of Maldives while relieving our guests of the stress of everyday life and bring out the inner beauty inside them along with the happiness. For instance, the swings in some of our rooms are designed especially for that, and the logo of Cocoon fulfills its purpose by grabbing the attention of our patrons, with its unique curious design.

The Journey to make your dream into a reality must have been a long and hard one. Could you tell us a bit more about it?

Yes, to turn this concept into a reality, it took just 16 months. We had to work hard to make sure that everything was perfect and up to the standard. After the success of the mock up room, we moved on to designing the other areas of the resort, such as the reception area and the restaurants. The brilliance and innovative designs of LAGO can be seen everywhere on the island, making it the first ‘’design’’ resort of the country.

FEW MINUTES OF WISDOM WITH ALEX AZZOLA: THE VISIONARY BEHIND COCOON MALDIVES

We tried to maintain a constant relationship with nature, when designing everything. Like when we situated the beach villas 5 meters inside the island. It would still give an amazing view but also maintain the natural beauty of the island at the same time. Little intricate details like this, matter a lot for us here at Cocoon and that is the secret that distinguishes us from other resorts, even if it takes a difficult journey to turn it into a reality.

Do you plan on expanding your business in the Maldives?

Yes, of course, since the Maldives is a fantastic place, I would like to stay here and help my staff learn and implement what I am trying to bring about. A hotel for me, is not just a nice building, it is something that you pour your blood and sweat into in order to make it succeed and expand.

What are some of the challenges that you have faced in creating Cocoon Maldives?

There were many difficulties, but the biggest challenge would be the logistics.

Maldives is a very complicated country and problems such as the shallow lagoon surrounding the island were extremely difficult to solve. But luckily, we found ourselves great partners such as Bison Maldives pvt.ltd. And with the help of these partners provided, we managed to overcome such difficulties and open on schedule completely. There were no small openings and big openings, when we opened we opened fully with all 150 villas.

Maldives is famous for a lot of things such as diving, snorkeling and the sandy beaches. In your opinion, what do you think is the best quality of Maldives?

For me, every single time I come here, I get mesmerized for the view. The nature, the sea, the dolphins, the sunset and sunrise that is what makes the Maldives so amazing for me. Everything is easily accessible here. In other parts of the world, you might have to travel 3 or 4 hours by boat to see a pod of dolphins, but not here. Here you just have to travel five minutes out to the sea and you can see dolphins everywhere. The nature, is something that can truly satisfy the eyes, and that is the most amazing thing about the Maldives for me.

How do you work in harmony with the nature of Maldives at cocoon?

That is a very important part of Cocoon Maldives. Rooms are of prominance importance to us. The whole interior and atmosphere of the island is developed in tune with the fantastic nature of Maldives.

We are trying to link everything at Cocoon with nature.

This can be seen in the furniture and design of the resort and the positioning of the villas as well. Villas are placed inside the line of vegetation in order to protect the astounding beauty of the island. So that the picture of the beautiful and spotless white beaches of the island with lush vegetation is not ruined with the buildings. So you can see how much we try to emphasize nature in our design of Cocoon.

Also, there are no umbrellas on the island, except the pool area. I hate umbrellas, they are not in line with nature. This is the Maldives, the sun, sea and sand is the slogan of the country. People should try to understand what it is that we are trying to do, this is not like any other island. Here, we respect and display the Maldivian culture and traditions, the Maldivian food.

We are just as much in touch with the Maldivian ways as we are one with nature.

We are trying to teach our guests another side of life here. Which is the local ways, culture and food.

How do you try to fuse the cultural and traditional ways of Maldives and the contemporary experience of Cocoon?

Most of our employees are locals, and lot of locals visit us from nearby islands, such as Olhuvelifushi. We invite dancers and Boduberu groups as well as local cooks, who come here and cook for the guests, the traditional and local food. Every week, we also have a Maldivian night, where our connection with the locals and the country is on full display.

Do you have anything else to add?

I don’t like to say, ‘’come to Cocoon’’, but I do want to say that Maldives, is the best and most beautiful country in the world, every island in the Maldives is a beautiful island, but Cocoon is unique.

REVIEW

Vinorva Maldives: The True Maldivian Island Life Experience

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he island of

Vilingili, just a few minutes away from the capital city of Male’, is home to one of the best new guesthouse openings in the country. Having opened on 1st January 2017, the guesthouse is a blissful mixture of amazing views, contemporary designs and thoughtful services with a hint of the Maldivian island life. Vilingili, is one of the most peaceful and quite islands in the country, despite being located near the bustling capital of Male’ City and its hectic life. It is home to a friendly population and its gorgeous beaches and azure blue waters, overlooking the magnificent skyline of Male’ City gives it an aura of peace and tranquility, located just a stone’s throw away from one of the most buzzing and busiest capitals of the world.

Vinorva Maldives, located on the beachfront of the peaceful island of Vilingili, boasts stunning views of the capital Male’ City and the horizon. It is the ideal location on the island for a guesthouse which has made it very popular with tourists and locals to spend their weekends. One of the best beaches in an inhabited island can be found in Vilingili and is just a few seconds walk from the guesthouse. Meanwhile the main transportation service to and from the island to the capital Male’ City, is also close by and reachable within a minute.

Consisting of 29 rooms which are distributed into four categories, which are the Super Deluxe Rooms, Superior Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Twin Rooms and the Deluxe Rooms, they are filled with pleasing interior designs and thoughtful amenities. The guesthouse also features a large Sun terrace with BBQ facilities, as well as an onsite water sports facility to utilize the beautiful beaches and waters of Vilingili to its maximum. The water sports facility provides diving and snorkeling activities alongside the adrenaline pumping actions of jet skis and etc. Furthermore, the whole island of Vilingili with its amazing culture and Maldivian way of life is right there, beckoning to be experienced.

Although it is considered as a district of Male’ City, it is a whole other world when compared to the electric life of Male’ City.

Vinorva Maldives comes along with a dazzling restaurant located on the top floors of the guesthouse aptly named as Capital View Restaurant. À la carte menus created by the multi talented chefs of the guesthouse go hand in hand with the breathtaking views of Male’ City on display. The Queen of the Night Restaurant located in the ground floor creates an ambience with modern interiors. It is open throughout the day and has an entertaining menu filled with mouthwatering dishes. The guesthouse also provides amazing excursions to Male’ City and other nearby islands, fishing trips, Big Game fishing trips as well as submarine trips guaranteed to be included in the highlights of the stay.

Vinorva Maldives was made into reality to connect the thousands of visitors to the Maldives to its world-renowned beaches, natural beauty, exquisite design and consummate services with a twist of the local lifestyle making it a well thought out extravagant island experience of the Maldives which is truly something unique and beautiful.

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5 OF THE BEST RESORTS IN MALDIVES ACCORDING TO TRIPADVISOR NEWS

VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND

VELIGANDU ISLAND RESORT AND SPA

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elaa Private Island describes itself as the realization of a dream to create a ‘beyond luxury’ exclusive boutique hideaway. This unique destination was developed to embody the very best of this unique archipelago, bathed by azure skies in the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. It is home to fancy dining options and all the amenities that you could imagine which has earned it a Travelers Choice Award 2017 from Tripadvisor and has made it into one of the most exclusive, private and luxurious properties in the country.

LUX* SOUTH ARI ATOLL

AYADA MALDIVES

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yada Maldives is a private island resort offering a truly luxurious retreat with a genuine Maldivian style located in the relatively unexplored Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll in the south of the country, just a few kilometres above the equator. the luxury resort offers its patrons spacious villas and suites, with private pools, butler service and thoughtful five-star detailing. Offering absolute privacy amid tropical greenery alongside the powdersoft palm-lined white beaches, the island is home to six amazing restaurants, and a large spa which boasts a Turkish Hammam, making it one of least known but best resorts in the country.

COMO COCOA ISLAND

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ast but not least, Veligandu Island Resort, surrounded by a beautiful azure lagoon, and excelle nt house reef with long stretches of white, sandy beach, is located just 20 minutes away from Velana International Airport in North Ari Atoll.

Veligandu Island Resort and Spa has made a name for itself with its tropical paradise experience full of palm trees, white sandy beaches, sparkling clear, warm wa ter in­turquoise lagoons and colorful coral reefs filled with abunda nt marine life and a few surprises that distinguishes it from other resorts in the country.

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hether it is a peac eful hideaway or active adventure you are seeking, that the picture-perfect which is home to is la nd of D hi dh oofinolhu LUX* South Ari A toll is the perfect A luxury resort whe place to be. re your fantasies of a laid-back, de paradise is made sert island into reality, it is bo asts several world outlets and an am class dining azing atmospher e that makes its vi love with this isla sitors fall in nd. It is not hard to see why the re of a Travelers Cho so rt is a winner ice Award 2017 fro m Tripadvisor with outstanding review plenty of s from its many vi sitors.

has th Malé atoll and ou S in d te ca lo nd is perience to OMO Cocoa Isla unforgettable ex an g in d vi ro p r est in fo is some of the b been renowned nd la Is oa oc C d g at COMO ooms are inspire R e th d an its visitors. Divin s ef re jan o private house hed wood with ka ac le b the world with tw in ts oa b out into divian dhoni kways stretching al by traditional Mal w ed nk la p s a vi ached at offers wellnes re et R la roofs. They are re ha b m ha uring The COMO S e restaurants feat th the warm lagoon. ith w ul so d thful e mind an exciting and heal and peace for th an in s le ab et g anic ve vors. seafood and org ean and Indian fla op ur E of n io at combin

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Tête-à-Tête

Randy Postrado

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small chat with the Director of Food & Beverages at Bandos Maldives has provided us with some really good insights into the industry as well as some in depth knowledge of how things work in terms of F&B at one of the best resorts in the Maldives.

Mr. Randy Postrado described every detail of Bandos Maldives as specially catered and targeted for the satisfaction of their patrons as well as staying in line with the open minded legacy of Bandos and the Maldives, starting with the restaurants and bars.

Mr. Randy briefed on some of the F&B outlets of the resort, and reminded us how much of an effort is needed to make things work at the restaurants and bars to keep their guests satisfied and maintain their names in the list of the top F&B outlets found in the Maldives.

The Sand Bar at Bandos, was the first name to come up during our conversation and was described

by Mr. Randy as the main site of entertainment at the resort and the names of some of the stars who perform there almost regularly gave us an indication of what an amazing time the management provides to its guests every single night in terms of entertainment. Traditional dancers and Boduberu music bands also perform their craft at the bar.

On Thursdays, the Sand Bar was described as being on fire with DJ’s and dancing as well as different types of performances including some by the bartenders who displayed unrealistic skills with bottles on fire and demonstrate different techniques of making cocktails. On Saturdays, the Sand Bar caters for those guests who are looking for a more relaxing time and the area is kept as quiet and calm as possible with the entertainment being moved to the Huvan Bar across the island. It left us with the impression that every night at Bandos is organized under a theme as well as providing a different experience. The management carefully and equally divides the days for wild party nights and the more quiet and relaxing nights as well as nights for entertainment and leisure.

The most romantic and beautiful

Director of F&B at Bandos Maldives hosts. Whether it be a conference, convention or a gathering Bandos Maldives and its catering team take pride in providing the best foods for their clients. Bandos Maldives also has its very own kid’s menus in every outlet. The resort is also home to various locations for intimate private dinners for couples who are looking for the romance that the Maldives is so popular for. Mr. Randy informed us that the menu’s at the restaurants change every few months and also has a trouble free guest-waiter call system in place. He went on to describe their efforts as maintaining to the gold standards in dining. The resort even provides for guests who have specific setting point of the island was food for its guests. As the Thai cuisine allergy reactions to certain foods. The resort keeps improving every year described as the Huvan Bar. is a difficult one to master for any Traditional and romantic as well as chef, Bandos Maldives was described in accordance with the views they receive from their customers. comedy movies are played at the bar as being lucky enough to be blessed which is the most beautiful vantage with an experienced, wonderful and point for the sunset from the whole talented team, who are all from the Understanding and good island. The unique setting and exotic land of Thailand. communication were simply all that location on what appears to be a pier was needed for Bandos Maldives to made it impossible to describe the be labeled as the most family friendly Huvan Bar as nothing but magical.

Umi Yaki, which simply means ‘Grill by the Sea’ is one of the resort’s resort in the Maldives and also the newest openings, and it has proven to reason why the resort has a huge number of repeat guests who have The 24 hour restaurant Sea Breeze be hugely popular with their guests been visiting for almost 44 years. The which also comes with its very own so far. The restaurant is into its first bar was spread out over a large year since opening and has exceeded amazing food and beverage outlets at area. Comfortable seating spaces all expectations with its talented chefs the resort are certainly some of the best in the Maldives and would surely in addition to a vast menu filled who perform for their patrons in prove to be an unforgettable dining with every single choice of popular addition to providing the delicious experience for anyone. dining made it crystal clear why the foods from the Japanese cuisine. restaurant was rated as the most Even though limited in seating, the popular restaurant of the resort. restaurant has maneuvered itself The gorgeous view was certainly around the problem and something to have by your side when houses more than a dining at the outdoor decks of the dozen guests in two restaurant. Recently renovated, the sessions, giving Sea Breeze has seen a surge in the the opportunity number of customers who are dying for more to dine at one of the finest restaurants guests to the Maldives has ever seen. Home to experience a wonderful team, the chefs at the Sea the newly Breeze are full of diverse ideas and opened knowledge of the industry. Whether outlet. it’s Japanese Sushi or Mediterranean Pizza or a classy Lobster dinner, On top everything is available at the of these restaurant. amazing restaurants Home to a team of Thai chefs, the and bars, Koon Thai restaurant is one of the Bandos most welcoming places on the island. Maldives A massive restaurant with a beautiful also provides view, the main aims at Koon Thai is catering services to provide the most authentic Thai for the many events it

Amway hosts its European Diamond Conference at Atmosphere Kanifushi, Maldives

Kaani HOTELS

Along with series of activities and a total buy out of 5 star resort “Atomosphere Kanifushi” located in Lhaviyani Atoll was the host of Billion Dollar Company Amway’s European Diamond Conference 2017.

Award wining MICE service Provider from New Delhi “Creative Travel” with event organizers “Events Solution” Mumbai & “High Rise” Maldives managed the event involving Maldives finest service providers and vendors to conduct the services required in their plan for the client.

Filled with amazing Local Acts of Boduberu performances in the sunset bar by 1438 Boduberu , Stage Sound and Lights by Stage Core, Rentals from Shady Cabin, Logistics by Asia Forwarding and Branding by Print Lab Maldives , the event was held from 6th - 11th of March 2017.

AFFORDABLE MALDIVES

Final evening of the conference had special Bollywood acts from Raga Trippin and Hormuz Dance Troup of Mumbai during the Gala of the event bringing more colors filled with entertainments.

MICE is a growing segment of Maldivian Tourism where it needs to be grown with the support of the industry. With these type of large events held, Bigger organizations will consider Maldives as the premium spot to do there Annual retreats and conferences.

KAANI BEACH HOTEL

KAANI VILLAGE & SPA

KAANI GRAND SEAVIEW

KAANI PRINCESS

Organizer Creative Travel fulfilled the needs of the client with huge challenges, specially taking the task to do the event on a far away island from the nation’s international airport located 35 mins away by seaplane from the host location.

About Amway : Amway (short for The “American Way”) is an American company specializing in the use of multi-level marketing model to sell a variety of its products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets.

Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos. Based in Ada, Michigan, the company along with its sister companies under Alticor reported sales of $9.5 billion for 2015. Its product lines include home care products, personal care products, jewelry, electronics, Nutrilite dietary supplements, water purifiers, air purifiers, insurance, and cosmetics. It has several times been subject to investigation in various countries, by institutions such as the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for alleged pyramid scheme related practices.

A perfect choice for travelers who are looking for a comfortable accommodation with an affordable price. The hotel offers plenty of recreational activities such as shing trips, snorkeling, watersports, scuba diving, dolphin cruises, including airport transfers.

Candle Light Dinner

Snorkeling

Sandbank Trips

Dolphin Cruise

Night Fishing

Picnics

BOOK NOW! Tel, Viber, Whatsapp: +960 9630595, WeChat: +960 7771187 Email: reservations@kaanihotels.com

www.kaanihotels.com

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LILY AD

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DIVERSEY SOLUTIONS

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April 2017 | www.theislandchief.com

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NEWS

Bakery & Pastry Training Opportunity at SchapfenMühle, Germany by Lily International Some of the best chefs in the Maldives were rewarded with the opportunity to undergo training sessions at SchapfenMühle, one of the world’s most iconic institutes in Germany. This opportunity has been offered to chefs from all across the country

by Lily International since 2014 and this year’s participants were more than excited to be a part of this program and to learn from some of the best in the culinary industry.

would be encouraged to pass on the knowledge that they receive during their sessions at the institute. Even though they are some of the best in the country, these chefs were very enthusiastic about taking advantage of this opportunity and were looking forward to utilizing and passing on the knowledge they gained with these sessions and developing the culinary industry of the Maldives even further.

Lasting a total of five days with eleven participants from This trip was organized with countries such as Qatar, UAE the main purpose of renew and and Bahrain, these chefs took modernize the knowledge of in the beauty and the amazing these chefs nominated from culture of SchapfenMühle, different resorts and hotels and its facilities based in Ulm, across the country get a better which is not far from Munich. understanding of the new trends The members of this workshop being developed across Europe learned all about the current in the bakery and pastry sector. trends, special techniques and Lily International strongly history of baking which is very believes that this is one of the much a part of SchapfenMühle. best ways that the company can Experienced trainers and help the culinary industry of the staffs from SchapfenMühle, Maldives. Highly regarded for imparted their knowledge and their expertise and experience wisdom of the bakery sector in the Maldives these chefs with the participants, which experienced the full extent of included learning about the the new ideas, strategies and new techniques and trends methods about the bakery and as well as ingredients science pastry sector from the prominent during a visit to the Research SchapfenMühle institute in and Development Centre of Germany during their recent trip. SchapfenMühle, which was also Speaking to Chef Ravindran one of the main highlights of the Deivasigamani, the executive trip. chef at Hulhule Island Hotel who was one of the participants The training program was of this workshop, it was clear concluded with every participant how excited they were with being awarded a certificate of this massive opportunity and participation, who were over the were described as a chance of a moon with this workshop which lifetime and were grateful to Lily enhanced their knowledge and International that they could be gave them an insight into some the ones to gain this valuable new and developing techniques knowledge. These chefs will learn and trends of the industry from all about the new developments one of the leading companies in in the industry in addition to the sector. learning about the significance of healthy foods and how to create SchapfenMühle is one of the such cuisines. Supplies for these oldest companies in the industry cuisines would be provided by and are highly regarded company one of the most experienced with state of the art facilities and accomplished companies and filled with experts of the in the bakery and pastry sector, industry. The company is a SchapfenMühle, and Lily strong upholder of traditional International, and these chefs values by mastering new

technologies without forgetting the roots of their trade and since its foundation in 1452, SchapfenMühle has been one of the most prominent members of the baking trade. It is also an international provider with a broad range of innovative products, with a wide-ranging service portfolio. The company also provides bakers with support and ideas for applications that go far beyond the product itself and the chefs from Maldives will be receiving just that. This opportunity by Lily International is offered to chefs from all across the Maldives every year and is regarded as a way of giving back to the industry and aiding in developing the bakery and pastry sector of the culinary industry of Maldives.

“

Speaking to Chef Ravindran Deivasigamani, the executive chef at Hulhule Island Hotel who was one of the participants of this workshop, it was clear how excited they were with this massive opportunity and were described as a chance of a lifetime and were grateful to Lily International that they could be the ones to gain this valuable knowledge.

“

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Cocoon Maldives:

REVIEW

A Mesmerizing Page Of Maldives

L

ocated in the pristine Lhaviyani Atoll of Maldives, Cocoon Maldives is the perfect mixture of luxury, design, hospitality and aesthetics, with a unique design concept that has turned the ultimate dream paradise into a reality.

The blissful heaven of joy that is called Cocoon Maldives, is located just 30 minutes away from the Velana International Airport, paving the way for an amazing scenic journey of the striking geography of Maldives, before arriving at the most fashionable and beautiful ‘’designer’’ resort, that the country can offer. On arrival, you are greeted with an array of smiling faces determined to provide you with the time of your life and help you rediscover your true self.

The ultimate choice for luxury travelers, Cocoon Maldives is designed by the world renowned maestros of interior design, LAGO. Their efforts in creating the perfect balance between contemporary and conventional designs have given birth to the remarkable resort of Cocoon Maldives. The resort and its inspirational management also have an unshakeable ambition of keeping their patrons in touch with the picture perfect natural flora of the tropical slice of heaven that is the Maldives.

Pleasant and extremely responsive, every member of the team at Cocoon Maldives is constantly

at your service, ensuring that everything is prepared and ready for your satisfaction. Dining at the three restaurants of Cocoon Maldives is guaranteed to leave you craving for the next meal, with a professional team of chefs, who can only be described as experts in satisfying the culinary desires of their patrons, creating multi cuisine delicacies that are served in a lovely environment with live music and entertainment.

hewn from 200-year-old Wildwood. The floating furniture concept is puts the cherry on top of the sundae, creating a truly seamless sensation.

The resort also features an expansive reception pavilion, a dive centre, a spa, a lounge, library, gym and a kid’s club, all exhibiting the resorts main objectives of creating the perfect balance between contemporary and conventional whilst keeping in line with nature.

Every single room is blessed with the amazing designs of LAGO, with amusing little surprises here and there. Rooms are designed with the intention of giving guests the ultimate experience and privacy that are so often overlooked at other resorts. Every detail is tailored with the single purpose of fulfilling the untold desires of their guests. Every room at Cocoon Maldives, in every category comes equipped with large window entrancing vistas of beach, lagoon and ocean, with some rooms complemented by furniture

Having recently opened, Cocoon Maldives has impressed everyone in the industry with its extraordinary concept, distinguishing itself from the countless other resorts in the country. Every notion and thought in building this nirvana of wonder can certainly be traced back to its dedicated chiefs. Words cannot do justice, to this timeless cocoon of luxurious hospitality and the incredible experience it offers. It is truly a unique and mesmerizing page of Maldives.

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EVENTS

TOP EVENTS IN MALDIVES

2016 was a year of many firsts in the Maldives, with several new events that popped up and made headlines throughout the country. With more exciting events announced for 2017, here’s a list of the top events in Maldives this year that you definitely shouldn’t miss.

APRIL

Maldives Consumer Fair When: April 13th to 15th Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Blak

Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) When: TBA Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Dhivehi Expo

SEPTEMBER

South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) When: September 2017 Where: TBA Organized by: Highrise

MAY

JULY

Maldives Finance Forum 2017 Since : 2012 When: May 2017 Where: TBA Organized by: MPAO

Vacations Expo 2017 Since : 2016 When : 6th, 7th 8th July 2017 Where : Main Hall, National Art Gallery, Male’ Organized by : Highrise

Maldives Food & Beverage Show 2017 Since : 2016 When : 18th , 19th, 20th May 2017 Where : Main Hall, National Art Gallery, Male’ Organized by : Highrise

Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) Since : 2017 When: July 12th and 13th 2017 Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Maldives Getaways

OCTOBER

CONNECT 2017 When : October 2017 Where : Main Hall, National Art Gallery Organized by : Asaree Services

NOVEMBER

Maldives Travel Conference When: November 2017 Where: TBA Organized by: MATATO

AWARDS

Guesthouses Maldives Conference When: September 2017 Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Maldives Getaways

Maldives Travel Awards Since : 2012 When: July, September, November (3 editions) 2017 Where: TBA Organized by: MATATO PRINT & ADVERTISING SERVICE SHOW When: October 2017 Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Highrise

SEPTEMBER

Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge (Hotel Asia) Since : 2005 When: 17th to 20th September 2017 Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Maldives Exhibition and Conference Services

Maldives Marine Expo When: September 2017 Where: Dharubaaruge Organized by: Blak

DECEMBER

Maldives Boating Awards Since : 2015 When: December 2017 Where: TBA Organized by: UNICA

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“FSM to Procurement, We’re Here.”

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Our dedicated onboard operations team navigates through channels of long stretched lagoons, to deliver fuel straight to your docks.

It is our trademark to provide a fuel supplying service that is focused on customer convenience with tailored solutions for your requirements.

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ENTERTAINMENT

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DJ ALI DJ Ali is without a doubt one of the brightest local talents in the musical industry. He has performed all across the country and even on international platforms such as Colombo, Dubai and Singapore, where his talent and skills have earned him a reputation as one of the best DJ’s in the country.

We were lucky enough to catch one of his amazing performances, and before getting blown away by the force, power and melody that 1) DJ Ali, thank you very much for granting us this interview. We would first like to know a bit about your beginnings.

How did you get into this industry?

Yes, of course I am glad to. Ever since I could remember I have always been into music. I was born from a remarkable musical family and my dad was the first one who helped me to really get into this field.

At the beginning I used to carry a huge bag of CD’s. One day, I ran to DJ Ivan and DJ Ashoo who were already working in the field and the CD’s that I had really grabbed their interest. And they offered me a chance to start Deejaying. My father bought me my first ever console, I still have it with me as a sentimental memory.

2) Who are the best in the field for you today, in the Maldives? And also internationally?

Personally for me, locally there are a lot of talented DJ’s. DJ Umar, DJ Vifak, DJ Ivan, and DJ Ashoo are all super talented for me and are some of the best in the industry.

Internationally, I would pick Tiesto - He has always been an inspiration to me and I think that he is extremely talented. I also look up to others such as David Guetta and Hardwell, because you can only be the best if you watch and learn from the best.

3) What kind of songs do you include in your mixes? Do you have any particular preferences?

No. I do not have any particular preferences, and even if I did I would not include them. For me, hosting shows and performances are all about the dancers and customers. I try to choose songs that I think they would prefer.

he demonstrated, we shared a few laughs and a meal with the smiling performer and asked him some questions.

DJ Ali explained how he got interested in the field and what inspired him, as well as the people that he wants to express his gratitude for bringing to where he is today. DJ Ali expressed his thoughts on the musical industry and what can be done to improve it within this interview.

The first and foremost when I arrive at a venue, I scan the crowd. I try to get a feel of their music and their ages. Though the younger generations prefer the music of today’s artists, there are generations who prefer dancing to 80’s and 90’s music.

the adverse and disruptive rumors the society have on DJ’s. I would also like to see a remarkable day where the industry professionals are more cooperative with all the members in the field to develop our profession further.

4) What are the best things about being a DJ?

8) What are some of your hobbies when you are not Deejaying?

I get to travel a lot, all over the country. I get the honor to meet different expertise, ethnic group people and build a very casual and good rapport with them. I get to do what I love the most in the world in different places.

Whenever I get time, I like to spend more time with my family. Even though I like to give amazing shows and make an exciting crowd, I reflect myself as a private and intimate person. I would love to spend every second of my day with my family, but it is not possible since I am almost always busy travelling.

5) The most difficult things about being a DJ? Not having enough time to spend with my family. This is an industry that can be developed a lot. There isn’t enough support and appreciation for DJ’s in the country. Adverse and disruptive rumors are to most of them. Since I have to travel a lot, I don’t get much time to relax, and at the end of the day, it is very exhausting and energy draining.

9) What are your dreams and developments for the future?

The future is hopefully very bright. I have some exciting and new developments on the horizon. I am working on new solo songs in addition to developing new mixes. I am glad that I am going to have my own studio soon and hopefully be able to work on my own solo album.

6) Is it very difficult to find the equipment for your work?

10) What would you like to say to budding new artists? Any words of wisdom?

Well yes, but sometimes. As I bring most of my equipments from Singapore and while we face some hitches on these equipments, we do have the option of pre ordering things through some local companies, as it is not available in Maldives.

I would like to counsel them to maintain a certain standard in their work and behavior. Because in the end, this is a job or profession. I would like all of them to continuously explore new methods and keep entertaining the target audience. Be professional & enjoy the work you do.

7) Could you tell us how and what needs to be done to develop this industry even further?

Well for internes, I believe an association with fixed prices for our services is an important step. We all need to join our hands and get rid of corruption,

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