Jetsettersblog

Vivanta by Taj, the five-star brand from Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces, launched its 22nd property in Surya, Coimbatore, making it the third property in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on Race Course Road, Vivanta by Taj — Surya, Coimbatore is a cutting-edge hotel that caters to all guests, whether they arrive for business or for pleasure, with 180 rooms and suites.

From a high-energy bar to fine dining, the Vivanta by Taj — Surya, Coimbatore’s signature restaurants offer tapas and entrees for all gastronauts and gourmands. Vivanta by Taj — Surya, Coimbatore has five well-defined meeting spaces to offer business guests the convenience of conferencing with modern technology. The grand ballroom is sub-divisible into a variety of configurations and features the latest in lighting technology with multiple dimming presets for a variety of moods. With sophisticated sound and audio systems, the space can be custom-tailored for events ranging from elaborate weddings to large business gatherings. Recreational facilities include the Jiva Spa, a 24-hour fitness center, and swimming pool.

Guests may also choose to explore the local culture of Coimbatore by visiting renowned temples that date back to 1500 AD. Coimbatore is the second-largest city of Tamil Nadu and borders the state of Kerala. It is surrounded by the Western Ghats mountain range on the west and north, with reserve forests and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve on the northern side. Its proximity to the hill stations of Ooty, Coonoor and Valparai and the Noyyal River makes it an attractive tourist destination throughout the year.

Vivanta by Taj incorporates hotels in key metropolitan areas as well as popular holiday destinations like Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

While the Maldives is famous for its swaying palms, sunshine and sugar-white beaches, its underwater world is equally, if not more, spectacular. Nowhere within this strand of over 1,000 coral islands is more than six feet above sea level. Yet the archipelago’s rich and colourful reef systems descend to depths of over 50 metres, making it a scuba divers’ paradise. However, the Maldives’ underwater creatures are not restricted to divers as guests can witness turtle hatching at Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort or spot resident manta rays and a variety of dolphins at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, all of which can be seen from dry land, boat or jetty!

Located in South Nilandhe Atoll in the far south of the Maldives, Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort is a tiny, remote island with a thriving turtle population due to its narrow, gently shelving beach. Both green and hawksbill turtles return year after year in February and March to lay hundreds of eggs on the sand. The attentive staff ensure the nests are protected from predators before the waiting game begins. Incubation can take just over a month and any nature-loving guests who happen to visit at the right time are welcome to watch the hatchlings run to the sea in the moonlight.

A short speedboat ride away from the capital Malé, in the South Malé Atoll, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort is larger than Vilu Reef. With an impressive floodlit jetty, Olhuveli is home to several manta rays, which feed on the plankton attracted by the lights at night. The end of the jetty is a favourite spot for couples and also a lovely quiet place for stargazing, or even for a proposal! In addition, sting rays and eagle rays are spotted virtually all year at Olhuveli and can often be seen in the shallow lagoon around the water villas or while doing watersports such as canoeing and stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP).

In addition to manta rays, spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins can also be found in the channels near to Olhuveli. Lucky guests can occasionally catch a glimpse of a dolphin from the luxury of their water villa. But for a more reliable photo opportunity, the resort offers a regular dolphin cruise in which huge pods of dolphin can be seen flipping over and chasing the boat.

Destinology (www.destinology.co.uk / 0800 072 2227) is offering a seven-night twin-centre package to Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort and Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives from £1,899 per person. Valid for selected departures in March and April, the price includes return flights from Gatwick with British Airways, four nights’ accommodation at Vilu Reef in a garden villa and three nights’ accommodation at Olhuveli in a deluxe room, on a half-board basis, resort seaplane and speedboat transfers, taxes and surcharges.

For more information on Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort visit www.vilureefmaldives.com
For more information on Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort visit www.olhuvelimaldives.com

The Maldives, known as Flower of the Indian Ocean, will be the newest destination available for luxurious Crewed Yacht charters with The Moorings beginning in April 2012. The Moorings will offer all-Inclusive full yacht charters, as well as “By The Cabin” Crewed Yacht charters aboard the spacious Moorings 4600 catamaran.

All-Inclusive Island Cruising Adventure
With services of a professional Skipper and Chef aboard a private yacht, The Moorings Crewed Yacht charter experience blends the very best comforts of a luxury holiday with the freedom to sail an itinerary tailored to each guest’s preferences. This all-inclusive vacation includes all gourmet, chef-prepared meals, a premium full bar and water toys such as kayaks, snorkelling gear, fishing gear and more. With a professional skipper at the helm, guests will travel where cruise ships cannot venture along a customized itinerary to stop when they want, where they want.

Mark Windsor, Head of Distribution of The Moorings, commented, “In the Maldives, Crewed Yacht charters are available aboard the popular Moorings 4600 crewed catamaran, which provides three luxurious guest staterooms with private, en-suite bathroom and a roomy interior, making it an excellent choice for a party of six. Unique to this destination, guests may opt for a “By The Cabin” booking, or reserve the full yacht for a private getaway.”

The Maldives Cruising Ground

The 1,192 islands and 26 coral atolls collectively known as the Maldives have often been described as one of the wonders of the world. Only 200 of these islands are inhabited and North Male’ Atoll has emerged as a tourism hub of the Maldives.

A Maldives Crewed Yacht charter focuses on the beautiful North and South Atolls. These waters are home to a spectacular panorama of colourful fish, massive lagoons of infinite shades of turquoise blue and isolated white-sand beaches. The islands’ marine preserves are populated with diverse and rare species of birds, lizards, and turtles. The plant life is varied too, from the coco-de-mer palms with huge double coconuts to the pitcher plants, gardenias, and orchids that grow on the mountain slopes. All year, the climate is consistently tropical with an average temperature of 29C.

Itinerary Highlights
The Maldives has many wondrous places to explore and the excitement begins upon arriving to Male’ International Airport, where guests will be greeted by their hostess and escorted to their awaiting yacht.

An excellent itinerary stop includes the wide, pristine white beaches, lush vegetation and shady palm trees of Rannalhi on South Male’ Atoll. The lagoon is perfect for windsurfing, snorkelling or swimming. Guraidhoo, the largest village in the South Male’ Atoll, is a well-known overnight stop for tourists and great place to experience a traditional village with warm, welcoming locals.

Sailing to North Male’ Atoll, Male’, the capital of the Maldives, introduces a new characteristic of this destination – a bustling little metropolis with shopping, colourful skyscrapers and a traditional local market featuring colourful fish and fresh produce from the surrounding islands. Jumhooree Maidan is the public square and the island’s social hub.

North Male’ Atoll is also home to a number of unspoiled dive sites, and many are well-known in the diving community. Maldives Victory Wreck dive one of the most popular dive spots. Banana Reef on the Southeast end of the North Male’ Atoll is also a favourite, and The Steps to the atoll’s eastern-most tip is one of the Maldives well-kept dive secrets. Mantas, interesting reef formations, coral gardens and wrecks are all part of the diving experience in these atolls.

For information about The Moorings charter holidays, call 1-800-553-720 or visit www.moorings.com.au

MALDIVES, – Miles away from home in the picturesque islands of the Maldives, whether you are just soaking up the sun or exploring the depths of the ocean, you are bound for sure to work up an appetite for a feast by the end of the day. With a similar thought in mind, the main buffet restaurant of Feast at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has recently introduced special themed nights titled ‘A World of Flavors’ showcasing a range of cuisines from all over the world throughout the week.

Situated on its private island just a 15 minute boat ride from the airport, the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has always stood out for its varied dining options with a total of 4 restaurants and 3 bars ranging from casual al fresco snacks to the international array of restaurants to suit the mood of anyone. And with the introduction of the themed nights, guests get to experience a number of cuisines ranging from Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, Indian and BBQ among others on selective nights.

“The newly introduced themed nights have been quite popular with our guests. When we are travelling, we either seek either comfort foods from home or explore new cuisines and this gives our guests a chance to explore a whole world of flavors”, said Mr. Moon Kang, Executive Assistant Manager for Food & Beverage.

Sheraton Maldives also hosts a number of other themed nights such as the Seafood BBQ and Maldivian Night at the Coconut Grove Beach and Sand & Stars at the Anchorage Beach.

For more information about Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa, connect to www.sheraton.com/maldives

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $5 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1051 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,071 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com

Making evening arrivals more convenient for international travellers, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has partnered Maldivian domestic airline Flyme! to launch night-time transfers from Male International Airport to an airport on Maamigili Island, near the resort. Available from 1st January 2012, the new domestic flights are priced at US$466 for each adult and US$232 for each child. Guests will travel in comfort throughout the 17-minute flight and 20-minute speedboat ride to the luxurious resort.

“The new domestic flight transfers are designed to eliminate the need for guests arriving from international flights to spend a night in Male, allowing them to arrive at the resort on the same evening,” said Carsten Schieck, general manager, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

Guests are welcomed upon arrival at Male International Airport and ushered to the domestic terminal where they await their transfer in comfort in a private lounge while the resort’s representatives assist with check in and luggage weighing. Guests can relax and board the aircraft at their convenience before takeoff, while still be assured of the best seats in the carrier and receive VIP inflight service from the cabin crew.

Arrival at Maamigili domestic airport is equally streamlined where guests will be greeted and have their luggage taken care of by the resort’s representatives while they are whisked away under a starry sky in the warm night air to the resort to find their villa and personal island host waiting to welcome them.

For more information, please visit www.conradmaldives.com  or join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ConradMaldivesRangaliIsland

Fly fishing at Dhonakulhi resort in the Maldives is now exclusively available through the Island Hideaway Singapore sales office.

From the resort, clients can cast from the flats of their villas and catch bonefish to six pounds, giant trevally up to 45 pounds along with some of the best bluefin trevally fishing anywhere in the world.

The Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi Spa, Resort and Marina offers a range of accommodations including family villas and the exclusive Hideaway Palace (1,200 square meters). Each accommodation offers private sections of beach and a personalized butler service.

The culinary options feature Matheefaru restaurant offering a mix of seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes, while the Gaafushi restaurant offers an Asian mix of Indian, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian flavors.

The resort also features a kids club, spa and treatment rooms, and diving complex.

Lighter. Brighter.

Which is the best kind of tropical island holiday? One where you lie on the same

spot of the beach every day, read a couple of paperbacks, barely leave your lounger and pay exorbitant prices for imported water? Or one with benefits that last well after the tan has faded? Where you come back feeling re-energised, reinvigorated, re-inspired and re-ignited?

For those who tick the second box, LUX* Island Resorts launches this December at three hotels on Mauritius, one in the Maldives and one on Ile de La Réunion. The new brand, which replaces Naïade Resorts Ltd, represents the complete re-launch of the Company and the culmination of an intensive twelve months of painstaking preparation and rehearsal.

CEO Paul Jones, a passionate hotelier and travel industry expert, was previously a key member of the team responsible for launching the highly aspirational One&Only brand. When he took over the fading Naïade Resorts group in late 2010, he and his management team saw an opportunity to create something truly unique in its place. They recognised that luxury itself had undergone a sea change: no longer synonymous with excess and bling, true luxury has become simpler, fresher and more individual.

Inspired by this change, it was agreed that rather than offering the standard sun, sea and sand 5-star vacation, LUX* Island Resorts would be defined by an experience that had been entirely and radically re-conceptualised.

The manifestation of this change is Island Light, the signature concept that will run at all LUX* Island Resorts. Adopting a name which is Latin for light, the new brand is dedicated to staging a lighter, brighter and less complicated holiday experience. Jones compares the concept to a musical production, where each resort is a
theatre and its staff is the cast producing a show-stopping performance every day.

At its core is the commitment to doing the ordinary extraordinarily. Freshly-roasted organic coffee, retro-styled ice-cream parlours, on-the-beach film screenings, pop-up restaurants, integrated wellness & spa programmes, honesty bars and libraries of cool magazines are individually tempting, but it is the cumulative impact of these and a whole raft of other carefully choreographed Island Light experiences – underpinned by truly incredible service – which adds up to an exhilarating change of direction within the ‘sea of sameness’ that most resorts offer.

LUX* recognises that it is the audience – the guests – who count most and Jones is confident that this new brand of simpler, more relaxed and more individual luxury – underpinned with truly incredible service – will have wide appeal: “I have spent 35 years designing, building, operating and managing resorts in exotic destinations around the world”, says Jones, “this project has presented me with an opportunity to contribute all that knowledge and insight. We are doing more than simply changing the name of the Company or putting a new brand on our hotels. Island Light is the summation of many different ingredients, which when experienced as a whole are a very powerful alternative to the usual island resort holiday. LUX* has determined its purpose as ‘Helping People Celebrate Life’ and that is what every
member of our team is committed to and has pledged to deliver”.

MALDIVES, November 2011 – Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa has launched ‘Celebrate Good Times’ activities for the upcoming festive period. Activities ranging from gala dinners to musical performances and themed brunches have been planned among the activities.

The activities begin on Christmas Eve with the special Christmas Eve dinner where guests can either enjoy the buffet dinner at the relaxed atmosphere in Feast or the special 5 course set menu at the informal, al fresco dining atmosphere in Sand Coast. Afterwards the guests can relax under the stars amid the scenic beauty of the Maldives at Anchorage Bar while listening to cool, ambient background music of an acoustic duo.

Among the activities planned for the New Year, the guests get to enjoy a special New Year’s Eve dinner where they can enjoy nearly 101 of the finest delicacies from all over the world. After the dinner as everyone counts down the minutes to New Year, guests can either light up the floor to the grooves of the DJ along with the fire limbo dancers or unwind with great cocktails and snacks enjoying a panoramic view of the ocean.

Speaking regarding the activities, Director of Sales & Marketing Mr. Peter Foreman said that “The year-end festivities are a special time where friends and families come together to celebrate and relax after a bustling year. Sheraton Maldives in delighted to offer this special program to our guests.”

The ‘Celebrate Good Times’ activities will conclude on New Year’s Day after the detox brunch, where guests share their first moment of the New Year with special hangover remedies.

For more details about Sheraton Maldives, connect to www.sheraton.com/maldives

About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of a $5 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1051 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,071 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com

Mega Maldives Airlines celebrates a major milestone in its short history by launching a brand new service between China and the Maldives.

Still within our first year, Mega Maldives Airlines is proud to announce our fourth scheduled route between capital, Male’ and the Chinese commercial powerhouse of Chongqing, in the heart of south-western mainland China.

China has proven itself as being a prominent market for Maldives’ tourism. A recent survey has shown that the Maldives is now higher on the list than other famous beach destinations, such as Bali or Phuket. This popularity, combined with the growth of the Asian economies has led to the world’s most populous nation becoming one of the Maldives’ most vital sources of incoming tourist arrivals.

Chongqing is one of the fastest growing cities in China, having grown from a population of about 1 million in 1950, to almost 30 million today. This bustling metropolis is home to one-third of China’s automobile production, as well as a number of leading international retail and finance groups, including Ford, Mazda, HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, Deutsche Bank, ANZ Scotiabank, Wal Mart, Metro AG and Carrefour.

As the Maldives’ premier international airline, Mega Maldives Airlines viewed Chongqing as the next logical choice as a direct connection between one of the world’s most renowned and most sought after holiday destinations and the heart of China’s commerce and industry. Mega Maldives Airlines is proud to deliver on its objectives of initiating new direct services to routes that has previously not been serviced by any other airlines.

The new service, 5M162 departs Male’s International Airport (MLE) for Chongqing’s Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) every five days for the 7 hour flight. Following a short turnaround, the return flight – 5M163 – will carry a fresh planeload of holidaymakers in Mega Maldives Airlines comfort non-stop to Male’ Ibrahim Nasir International Airport, where travellers can make the easy connection with seaplane or ferry to one of the country’s many world-famous resorts.

“Following the success of previous routes other major Chinese cities, it was an easy and highly logical decision to include Chongqing as the next focus route for Mega Maldives Airlines. As the Chinese outbound market grows at breakneck [MN1] pace, an ever increasing number of travellers from ‘megacities’, such as Chongqing, want an easy and direct holiday connection with the Maldives – a name synonymous with the world’s best beaches, five-star island resorts and incredible natural settings” said Ali Faiz, Marketing Director for Mega Maldives Airlines.

In 2009, Maldives recorded 61,000 tourists from China. This figure almost doubled in 2010 to 119,000 in 2010. The trend continued, with a jump of 62% on the previous year, with 146,668 arrivals recorded between January and September this year.

Most of the arrivals comprised of newlyweds, seeking the paradise-like setting of gorgeous white-sand beaches and pristine waters that only the Maldives can offer for an intimate honeymoon experience.

This surge in Chinese tourism led to China opening up an embassy in the Maldives’ capital of Male, and the creation of the nation’s largest airline – Mega Maldives Airline.

http://news.yahoo.com/china-discovers-maldives-230000770.html

About Mega Maldives Airlines

Mega Maldives Airlines is the international carrier of the Maldives and currently has flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chongqing with new services scheduled to open in early 2012.

For more information and to explore trade opportunities please, visit http://www.megamaldivesair.com  or contact us at info@megamaldivesair.com

For 16 years UNICEF and Starwood Hotels and Resorts have been working together to raise funds for the world’s most vulnerable children – with over US$7 million raised since the program began.

The UNICEF Check Out for Children Challenge is a staff fundraising competition between the various Starwood Hotels which began in 2003 – and continues to gather strong support throughout Starwood Hotels and Resorts in the Asia Pacific region.

On 30 December 2011 – the Talent of W Retreat & Spa – Maldives (www.whotels.com/maldives) will be asking guests of the retreat to take the 1.4KM swim to Gaathafushi – the retreat’s private island where their US$50 participation fee will be donated to the charity. Following the swim, a light BBQ, drinks and energizing beats by the Resident DJ will celebrate not only the successful completion of the race, but a celebration in knowing that valuable funds are being donated to UNICEF.

In 2010 UNICEF Check out for Children Challenge raised over $US132,000 in the Asia Pacific region, whilst the Talents of W Maldives have arranged fund-raising activities to help the survivors of Haiti by raising US$5,300 and more recently raising US$2,300 for the Japan Tsunami relief fund.

Peter Foreman, Director of Sales & Marketing says; “Not only are we providing insider access to a fun event over the upcoming festive season, we are delighted to embrace this year’s theme of the Check Out For Children Challenge, Together We Can – by asking our Talents and guests to join forces and raise much needed money for our charity partner, UNICEF”.

To reserve your spot in the swim, contact Whatever/Whenever at WMaldives.Welcome@whotels.com