The Indian Hotel Company Ltd (IHCL’s) operated Taj Coral Reef Resort in Maldives will be relaunched under the ‘Vivanta by Taj’ banner by August 2009. The resort has undergone extensive refurbishment by architects Grounds Kent Architects and interior designers PWP Interiors. The property will be known as Vivanta By Taj Coral Reef Maldives.

The re-branded resort property will feature 62 villas, of which two are beach villa suites and will have private accommodation along with the in-house Jiva Spa. Other accommodation options include thatched beach villas with large beach side porticoes or the water villas, with private decks overlooking the lagoon.

Each villa is equipped with state-of-the-art LCD TV, home theater system with ipod connectivity, sound system, WiFi / high speed Internet and mini bars. The F&B options will include three restaurants Latitude, the all day dining restaurant, The Hembadhu Grill, which will offer an alfresco dining experience and the open air Reef Bar.

The Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives Ihuru is celebrating the summer season with a “Summer 3-2-1” promotion which allows guests to stay three nights on full-board and get the third night free. Rates start from US$800++ per night in a Deluxe Beachfront Villa (double occupancy).

The promotion is valid until 31 October 2009. For stays in July, full-board meals will also be included during the complimentary one-night stay, but not in the subsequent months.

Located on the North Malé Atoll just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and the Malé International Airport, Ihuru is one of the most picturesque islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives Ihuru features 25 Beachfront Villas and 20 Deluxe Beachfront Villas each complete with a private garden, a veranda with a Maldivian swing, and an outdoor shower. In addition, each Deluxe Beachfront Villa comes equipped with a private jet pool.

As one of the best dive sites in Maldives, the resort naturally provides a wide variety of sea sports facilities, including a diving school which was awarded the PADI ‘Gold Palm Resort’ certification. Snorkelling is just a step away, as the coral reefs are located a few metres from the beach.

Guests at the Angsana Spa can indulge in soothing treatments that focus on the healing sense of touch and the use of natural ingredients to pamper the body, mind and spirit. Duet, a specially created couple spa package and other tailored male and female spa packages are treats that complement a sunny vacation. The spa treatments are carried out at eight luxurious spa pavilions, two of which are equipped with outdoor jet pools and steam baths.

To tempt the discerning diner, the resort boasts an excellent restaurant, Riveli, offering a marriage of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of local flavour. Guests can also opt for a private in-villa barbecue or a romantic dinner for two on a remote sandbank. To end the evening, guests can relax at the Velaavani Bar as they enjoy the cool sea breeze and maybe spot a turtle swimming by in the lagoon.

Maldives Tourism Promotion Board participated for the first time at the 13th annual Unique Choice Road Show held in 6 cities of GCC countries namely Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Dammam/Al-Khober, Riyadh, Jeddah from 30th May till 3rd June 2009.

Unique Choice group is identified as one of the top wholesale tour operator in the Middle East region. These workshops are marked as one of the important events each year due to its success targeting tour operators/ travel agents in the GCC region. The main objectives of Maldives participation in the road show was to increase market share from the Middle East countries by providing the travel trade with the most updated tourism information on the Maldives and secure commitments for the future promotions of the Maldives among their clients. Furthermore, to ensure that as many travel agents and tour operators as possible have the tools they need to be able to effectively promote Maldives island resorts.

The workshops started in Abu Dhabi on the 30th May, with a networking session followed by a lunch at the Crowne Plaza in Abu Dhabi. More than 50 travel agents and tour operators were invited to the work shop, while majority of the visitor showed a keen interest in visiting the Maldives booth to collect information. Emphasis was placed on the warm welcome that GCC nationals and resident expatriates will receive when visiting the islands and the easy accessibility to the country in terms of flight connections and visa procedures.

The Maldives is currently the ultimate getaway for those who are attracted by private islands, stunning beaches and crystal clear waters. The Maldives provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing, rejuvenating holiday, which is a welcome contrast to the frantic pace of life in the Arabian Gulf.

The workshop session was concluded by a raffle draw held among the visitors by giving away several free vacation prizes from the participating hotels/resorts. Among other participants include destination such as Malaysia, Singapore, Oman and a collection of resorts/hotels from these destinations.

Similar format was adopted for the event in Dubai on the same day, where more than 75 travel agents and tour operators were invited to the JW Marriot Hotel in Dubai which was concluded by a dinner.

Last year Maldives welcomed a total of 683,012 visitors while a total of 9,141 tourists represented the Middle East region. By end of May 2009 Maldives received 3,082 tourists from the region showing a growth of 2.5 per cent compared to the same period of 2008.

President Mohamed Nasheed has, this afternoon, inaugurated Hilton Maldives Irufushi Resort and Spa in South Miladhunmadulu atoll.

Upon arrival at the resort, the President was greeted by Chairman of Sun Hotels, Mr Ahmed Siyam Mohamed and senior management of Hilton.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the President expressed hope that the resort would contribute for greater advancement of the tourism sector.

He also spoke on the importance of good management practices. Speaking in this regard, the President said good management practices were essential for sustainable tourism.

Stressing that the world was now undergoing an economic slowdown, the President called on all stakeholders in tourism industry to sacrifice their personal differences and to peacefully resolve any grievances that they may have.

President Nasheed also spoke on the importance of protecting the environment. He said that the resorts in the Maldives could play an important role in this endeavour. He further said democracy was an important adaptation measure to climate change.

Cocoa Island (Maldives) is the Indian Ocean outpost from COMO Hotels and Resorts, the company behind Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos.

To hole up here is to discover escapism, or sweet serenity under a reliable sun. It is a special place, at one remove from the noise of modern living, where we nurture every need, attend to every detail, and soothe away the stresses which belong to another life.

The Offer

From 1st May to 15th October 2009, stay

• 7 nights for the price of 5
• 14 nights for the price of 10
• 4 nights for the price of 3

Complimentary upgrades

If you book bed and breakfast, Cocoa Island offers a complimentary upgrade to half board. Half board bookings will be upgraded to full board and spa treatments upgraded from 60 minutes to 90 minutes with our compliments

Note: Both offers can be used in combination and complimentary meal upgrades apply to free nights also. Valid for new bookings from 1st May to 15th October 2009, subject to availability. A minimum stay of four nights applies for complimentary meal upgrades.

Fore reservations please email: res@cocoaisland.como.bz

Website: www.cocoaisland.como.bz