MALDIVES:IHG Welcomes InterContinental Maamunagau Resort

InterContinental Hotels Group has welcomed the opening of the Maamunagau Resort.

The property, also known as InterContinental Maldives, is the latest in a series of new luxury resort openings which includes ANA InterContinental Beppu in Japan and InterContinental Hayman Island in Australia.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ first property in the region is situated on the southernmost tip of the Raa Atoll near Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and one of the most secluded locations in the Maldives.

The resort boasts 81 beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences and is the first to offer all guests access to the world-class service and amenities of Club InterContinental throughout the entire island.

These generous offerings, coupled with extensive wellness facilities, bespoke experiences and six restaurants and bars, combine to take this Maldivian gem to the next level.

Stefan Huemer, general manager of InterContinental Maldives, commented: “The opening of the InterContinental Maldives signals a new era for the brand; and further raises the bar in terms of luxury and immersive experiences here in the Raa Atoll.

We are truly privileged to open this resort, which flanks the Baa Atoll UNESCO biosphere and creates an offering that enriches guests’ stay through education, exploration and relaxation, whilst ensuring the preservation of this ocean idyll for generations to come.

A 35-minute scenic seaplane transfer from Malé’s Velana International Airport enthrals guests with an awe-inspiring view of Maamunagau Island surrounded by emerald blue waters and pristine white sands.

Stepping onto the island, guests will be mesmerised by the property’s 81 luxuriously appointed Beach, Lagoon and Overwater Villas and Residences, tantalising gastronomic experiences, thoughtfully curated personalised service, immaculate attention to detail, and an ever-present element of surprise and delight.

Enclaved within the archipelago’s largest natural lagoon, InterContinental Maldives is also located in proximity to Baa Atoll, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

The resort is committed to creating a sustainable marine ecosystem and has partnered with Manta Trust in support of the Maldivian Manta Ray Project, to nurture a safe habitat for the manta rays as well as providing guests with the opportunity to swim alongside these graceful creatures and snorkel in underwater coral gardens.

Located in the southern Raa Atoll, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is blessed with a large inner lagoon located to its west, calm waters, amazing sunset views and a pristine white beach.

The resort is now accepting bookings for stays with opening privileges from September 1, 2019, until January 31, 2020, via www.intercontinental.com/maldives.

Guests staying during this period will enjoy daily complimentary breakfast and dinner at Cafè Umi for any length of stay; and, complimentary seaplane transfers for stays of five nights or longer.

The InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand makes travel alluring, with insights from more than 70 years of experience. Each of our properties provides a gateway to the glamour of the InterContinental Life.

Tourism Observer

MALDIVES: Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort Set To Open 2019

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has been officially brought to the market.

Located on a beautiful coral island in the Baa Atoll which is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve site; the Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort features 70 villas and suites, 41 on island and 29 over water.

With the opening of the Miriandhoo Resort, the number of resort in Baa Atoll has risen to 16.

Developed by award-winning Milan-based architects PEIA Associati, the resort's design took inspiration from the ocean with a visionary approach towards environmental sustainability.

Marriott International is set to launch its Westin brand in Maldives with the opening of The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort in 2019.

Scheduled to open in February 2019, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is being developed on the uninhabited island of Miriandhoo in the central Baa atoll.

The island is accessible by a scenic 40-minute seaplane flight from the main Velana International Airport or a domestic flight to the airport on the nearby Dharavandhoo island followed by a further 20-minute speedboat ride.

Designed by Italian studio Peia Associati, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort will boast innovative architecture and sophisticated interiors that feature precious local materials.

Timber from neighbouring countries will complete the external finishing and frames, including the light structure part of a double skin system building.

These natural shelters will have an innovative organic shape, and provide natural ventilation as well as lighter natural skins and comfortable shading.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, located in the Maldives first and only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, will have 70 luxurious villas and suites fitted with the signature Westin Heavenly Bed that allows guests to refuel their body and mind with truly restorative sleep.

The resort will also come with the fully-equipped Westin Workout that maintain and maximise the guest workout routine, with the brand’s world-class fitness studio, Gear Lending with New Balance and local running maps.

The Heavenly by Westin Spa at The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort will be designed to awaken the senses, with services and amenities that are relaxing and rejuvenating in order to leave guests feeling fresh, energised and focused.

The resort is jointly owned by Sri Lanka’s largest investment bank Asia Capital Plc and Japanese mail order company Belluna Co., Ltd. The project is expected to cost USD 45 million.

Westin, a brand that was acquired by Marriott through its merger with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, runs hotels and resorts that are designed to enhance guests’ well-being through revitalising amenities and innovative programmes that help them be at their best while on the road.

Marriott runs several resorts in the Maldives, including The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa, and W Maldives.

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort joins a number of new resorts set to open in 2019, including AVANI Fares Maldives Resort by Thailand-based Minor Hotels and Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi Resort.



Tourism Observer

MALDIVES: Tourists Cancel Bookings Fearing State Of Emergency Chaos

Maldives' ongoing political strife seems to have stemmed into its tourism industry, as several resorts and guesthouses have reported booking cancellations in the past week over the state of emergency in place.

Several resorts and guesthouses told Haveeru that tourists planning to visit had raised questions and expressed concern over the Maldives’ month-long state of emergency.

Paradise Island Resort and Spa reported that their occupancy rate has dropped by a staggering 70 percent since the emergency announcement, whereas normally the resort would be fully booked at this time of year which is the beginning of tourist high season.

The resort revealed they receive two to three cancellations daily, which is approximately six tourists. They are also receiving calls from India, where the majority of its guests hail from, with inquiries regarding the resort’s security.

Villa Group’s head office also reported a significant drop in tourists to their other resorts this month in comparison to last November. Tourists from China and Europe, which make up the bulk of the nation’s tourism market, have raised concerns over the Maldives’ situtation, added Villa.

“We’re monitoring the amount of tourists arriving. As it’s only been a week since emergency was announced, we haven’t yet noticed much of a decrease. But things are very slow this month compared to last year,” said a senior official of Villa.

Ayada Maldives resort in Gaafu Dhaal atoll said they have not received any cancellations yet, but tourists are worried over the current state of affairs.

“They ask about airport security, whether it’s safe to come to the Maldives. We guaranteed their safety, so none of them have cancelled bookings yet,” said an Ayada official.

While the number of tourists to the Maldives increased slightly last month, the occupancy of guesthouses is on the rise while resorts’ have declined.

Meanwhile, Maldives Association of Tourist Industry (MATI) had assured in a press release on Wednesday that the tourism sector and domestic transportation will remain unaffected by the emergency and proceed normally.

Government, meanwhile, had said it was already working to minimise the impact on tourism and the archipelago's economy.

Maldives declared a month-long state of emergency Wednesday in what has been extraordinary security measures following an explosion on a speedboat carrying the president and subsequent discovery of an arms haul.

In the declaration of emergency, which was read out to journalists at the President’s Office by Attorney General Mohamed Anil, President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom said he had reached the decision after consultations with his national security council. Several explosive devices have been discovered in two separate operations carried out by the army and there is credible intelligence of an imminent attack using explosives and weapons, he added.

Such an attack would endanger the lives of the public, the president said.

Newly appointed tourism minister Moosa Zameer had earlier said information is being disseminated to tourists with pre-booked tickets and resorts.

"We are working hard to minimise the shadow cast on our economy by all this," he had said.

The declaration of emergency came a day after security forces discovered an explosive device near the presidential palace.

Maldives military had confirmed that the suspected device found in a vehicle parked near the presidential residence of Muliaage in capital Male was an improvised explosive device which had been subsequently been diffused.

The discovery of the IED came just over a month after an explosion aboard the presidential speedboat carrying President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom now confirmed as an attempt to kill the president.

President Yameen was unhurt but his spouse and two others were hurt in the explosion.

The primary suspect in the blast appears to be Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor who was arrested on October 24 as soon as he arrived from an official trip to China.

He is accused of high treason, a charge he denies.

The government has continued its crackdown on the vice president and his associates.

Before and since the vice president’s arrest, police jointly with armed soldiers have been carrying out raids across capital Male. Most of the houses and offices searched so far had direct links to the vice president.

The army had confirmed that two assault rifles found in the biggest weapons bust in Maldives' recent history belonged to the state armoury.

The items showcased during a press conference earlier Saturday included several hand guns, a T56 assault rifle and a MP5 sub-machine gun. In addition, a large quantity of bomb making material were also displayed at the press briefing.

The weapons had been seized from Hibilhadhoo island in Baa Atoll being developed as a resort.

Parliament, meanwhile, has sacked Adheeb from the VP's post after unanimously passing a no confidence motion against him.

MALDIVES: Maldives, No More Tourist Heaven

The Maldives, the tropical nation located in the Indian Ocean, is no longer a safe destination for tourists.An ongoing constitutional crisis caused by an endless spiral of impeachments, constitutional amendments, change of vice presidents, President Yameen’s various acts of omissions and commissions have stripped this archipelago of 26 coral atolls made up of hundreds of islands of any semblance of rule of law.

Maldivians and foreign tourists were recently shocked when the nation’s security forces displayed a large cache of weapons they had seized from the tourist resort of Baa Atoll, which had been leased to an associate of detained Vice President Ahmed Adeeb

The cache of weapons included firearms that had gone missing from the state armory, indicating the military’s involvement in destabilizing the country.Religious extremism also seems to have established a base in The Maldives with many of the country resorts being targeted by terrorist outfits, thus making it insecure for tourists.

The country’s Home Minister, Umar Naseer, conceded on November 3 that religious extremism was indeed a threat to the Maldives.The deteriorating security situation, coupled with rising religious extremism in the country, is bound to prompt many nations to issue travel advisories, warning its citizens against travelling to the once cherished tourist destination.

It is ironical that while The Maldives is being promoted, at the recent World Tourism Fair in London, with slogans, such as, “Maldives – The Sunny Side of Life” and “Visit Maldives Year 2016″, its tranquil beaches and pristine waters are now being counted among the more dangerous places for holidayers, since President Yameen assumed office after securing a dubious victory in last year’s presidential elections.

Since the last week of September, The Maldives has experienced a dramatic turn of events, President Yameen’s one-time blue-eyed boy Vice President Adeeb, has accused of high treason and arrested for attempting to kill the president when the latter was on board a yacht with his wife and bodyguards. Adeep has also been dismissed from the ruling People’s Party of Maldivesand was impeached on November 5.

Adeeb’s impeachment was preceded by the countrywide arrests of his associates and raids which resulted in the recovery of arms, including AK-T56 rifles, several rounds of ammunitions, MP-5 sub-machineguns, sniper rifles, hand-grenades, 9 mm pistols and IEDs etc.

This surcharged political atmosphere has led to a declaration of a state of emergency by the Maldivian government, citing threats to national security and public safety.

It has once again demonstrated that the country and its much acclaimed tourist resorts are presently unsafe destinations for international tourists, posing real threats to their lives and safety.The atmosphere is such that the residents of capital Male are experiencing feelings of disbelief, scepticism and an unprecedented loss of confidence in their government.