LATEST NEWS

THE MALDIVES SPONSORS GALA DINNER AT CELTIC MANOR RESORT'S 2019 CELEBRITY CUP GOLF EVENT
The Maldives sponsored a gala dinner and drinks reception at Celtic Manor Resort's Celebrity Cup in South Wales from 13th – 14th July 2019. The event culminated in a charity raffle that showcased the destination and a five-night Maldives holiday at two of Coco Collection's resorts. Worth around £4,300, the prize included three nights of accommodation at the four-star Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu in Baa Atoll and two nights of accommodation at the five-star Coco Bodu Hithi in North Malé Atoll. Celtic Manor Resorts' annual Celebrity Cup sees some of the biggest names in sport and show business swap paparazzi for putters and battle it out in a thrilling clash between teams representing Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland. Stars teeing up at this year's competition included singer Brian McFadden, actor James Nesbitt, TV presenter Gethin Jones, rugby player Mike Tindall and entrepreneur and TV star Peter Jones.

THE MALDIVES HOSTS FIVE-CITY ROADSHOW IN INDIA
From 24th – 28th June 2019, the Maldives hosted a trade roadshow in India, visiting Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi and Chandigarh. The roadshow events served as a platform for Maldives tourism industry partners to showcase products and network with the top travel trade industry partners in India. The Maldives delegation was led by Deputy Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Ms. Aishath Neesha Mohamed Shahid.

THE MALDIVES HOSTS MEDIA FROM CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA DURING PRESS FAMILIARISATION TRIP
Visit Maldives hosted media groups from South Korea and China in July 2019 as part of a series of media familiarisation trips organised this year. Journalists from South Korea stayed at Kandima Maldives, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa and Summer Island Maldives. Following the South Korean trip, journalists from China stayed at Grand Park Koddhipparu, Shangri-La Villingilli Resort & Spa and Velassaru Maldives. During the trips, journalists experienced the underwater beauty of Maldives by taking part in activities such as snorkelling and diving. The writers also had the chance to trial some of the many spa and wellness options offered in Maldives.

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND VISIT MALDIVES TRAVEL EXPO (VMTE) TAKES PLACE IN MALAYSIA
The first Visit Maldives Travel Expo (VMTE) took place in Malaysia from 5th – 7th July 2019. The expo, which was organised by MMPRC in association with AirAsia, is the first of its kind and saw 17 participants across the Maldives tourism industry representing top tour operators, travel agents, resorts and guesthouses. Targeting Malaysian travel trade and consumers, VMTE allowed travel industry contacts to meet with partners from the Maldives to network and negotiate holiday package offers.

For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.

ECO-WARRIORS WELCOME: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM NEWS FROM THE MALDIVES 

TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF RESORTS IN THE MALDIVES JOIN THE #PROTECTMALDIVESSEAGRASS CAMPAIGN
The Equator Village in Gan, Addu Atoll, is the latest property in the Maldives to join the nationwide campaign to #ProtectMaldivesSeagrass. The #ProtectMaldivesSeagrass campaign was initially launched on World Seagrass Day, 1st March 2019, by the Maldives Underwater Initiative (MUI), the marine team at Six Senses Laamu and Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE). Since then, more than 30 resorts, or 25% of the Maldives' high-end resorts, and 22 partner organisations, including Greenpeace International have joined the cause. Seagrass is essential to the Maldivian marine ecosystem as it provides habitats, minerals and resources for marine life. It also helps to maintain healthy reefs, sustainable fisheries and protect beaches from erosion. However, seagrass is often deliberately removed because it is perceived as unpleasant and an inconvenience. The #ProtectTheSeagrass campaign seeks to bring togetherness to recognise the value of seagrass. So far, the campaign has been successful in protecting a total of 655,000m2 of seagrass resorts across the Maldives.
For more information and to register your support, visit www.maldivesresilientreefs.com/campaigns/seagrass/.

JOALI: LEADING THE WAY FOR LUXURY ECO-TRAVEL IN THE MALDIVES
The luxury resort of Joali aims to showcase how luxury travel and sustainability can go hand-in-hand. Sustainable initiatives run by the resort include working with local communities to re-plant trees, the banning of single-use plastic, the use of vegan and chemical-free products to protect corals and sea life, and the recycling of food waste. Guest are also encouraged to participate in local CSR projects, from distributing food packs for World Food Day on 16th October, to planting corals. Lastly, Joali has created its own pioneering Reef Restoration Project and is working closely with local Maldivian fishermen from the Raa Atoll to supply all of their locally-sourced fish.
For more information, visit www.joali.com.

REGIS MALDIVES VOMMULI LAUNCHES 'ADOPT A CORAL 'INITIATIVE
To assist in the regeneration of the Maldives' coral reefs, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort has launched its 'Adopt a Coral' initiative. Guests will now have the opportunity work with onsite marine biologists and get involved with the resort's sustainability efforts in regenerating coral fragments. Guests can select and name the coral and then attach this to an underwater rope frame. Following their stay at the resort, guests will then receive quarterly updates on its progress.
For more information, visit  www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mlexr-the-st-regis-maldives-vommuli-resort/.

LOCAL TOUR COMPANY SECRET PARADISE ATTENDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FORUM AT INTERNATIONAL MALDIVES TRAVEL MARKET (IMTM)
Local Tour company Secret Paradise proudly attended the Sustainable Tourism Forum held during the International Maldives Travel Market in the Maldives on 26th June 2019. The forum provided a platform for dialogue within the Maldivian tourism industry on issues relating to sustainability of the Maldivian tourism sector and Secret Paradise Maldives' founder, Ruth Franklin, presented on the topic of 'How To Build A Sustainable Business', sharing experience and knowledge of building a unique tour company that maintains sustainable and responsible tourism values at the heart of the business.
For more information on Secret Paradise Maldives, visit secretparadise.mv/.

KEEPING THE MALDIVES SPECIAL: THE OLIVE RIDLEY PROJECT
The Olive Ridley Project is working towards cleaning up the oceans and helps rescue and rehabilitate turtles. The Inspiring Travel Company – specialists in luxury holidays to the Maldives – has recently published an interview with Dr Claire Lomas, a vet who worked with the project to discuss sustainable travel, ways travellers can help the environment, and the incredible sea life in the Maldives.
To read the inspirational interview with Dr Lomas, visit www.inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk/blog/responsible-traveller.

MALDIVES DISCOVERY CENTRE AND MARINE DISCOVERY CENTRE
TO OPEN AT CROSSROADS MALDIVES
CROSSROADS Maldives, the new integrated resort development, will be home to a Maldives Discovery Centre and a Marine Discovery Centre. The Maldives Discovery Centre will be a unique natural and cultural attraction where interactive displays combine a coral reef walk-through with an immersive marine conservation experience, bringing the heritage of the Maldives to life. As well as this, the on-site Marine Discovery Centre will be home to a marine biologist laboratory with activities including clownfish releasing programs, coral propagation, snorkelling, scuba diving and coral nursery walking and watching for children.
For more information, visit www.crossroadsmaldives.com.

GIVING BACK TO MOTHER NATURE: NIYAMA'S 'GIVE A HAND' CORAL REGENERATION INITIATIVE
Building on the success of its existing coral adoption programme, Niyama Private Islands Maldives is proud to announce the launch of an innovative new coral regeneration project, 'Give a Hand'. Led by resident marine biologist Emeline Bouchet, guests will use a silicone mould to create a concrete version of their hand, which will then be used as a base for corals to grow on.  Each guest then attaches a fragment of coral to their concrete hand, placing it on the reef. Money collected from adopt a coral is used to maintain the coral nursery and cultivate the artificial reef to support the reef's recovery.
For more information, visit www.niyama.com.

SIX SENSES LAAMU HELPS TO CREATE WORLD'S FIRST NON-INVASIVE UNDERWATER ULTRASOUND SCANNER
Six Senses Laamu has helped to create the world's first non-invasive underwater ultrasound scanner. The Duo-Scan: Go Oceanic is the first piece of technology to allow contactless scanning of wild marine animals, up to a depth of 30 metres. Laamu is home to 125 reef manta rays which breed twice a year and through the use of the Duo-Scan: Go Oceanic, the team has successfully managed to develop approach methods and obtained ultrasound scans of wild pregnant and non-pregnant reef manta rays. 
For more information, visit https://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/laamu/destination.

CORAL REGENERATION PROGRESS AT ANANTARA MALDIVES
Coral Reef CPR's pioneering Holistic Approach to Reef Protection (HARP) programme, funded by the generosity of Anantara guests, has been fundamental in creating significant improvements to coral health and size in the past three years, with some corals growing over 15cm in the past 12 months. Coral reefs protect the pristine beaches at Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort and Naladhu Private Island Maldives and guard the islands' lagoon.
For more information, visit www.anantara.com/en/dhigu-maldives.

GREEN INITIATIVES AT HERITANCE AARAH
Heritance Aarah, the latest addition to the island resorts under the Aitken Spence Hotels arm and the first 'Heritance' property in the Maldives, has undertaken a green philosophy from the inception of its operations. The all-inclusive premier resort has announced that they will be plastic-free by bottling safe, reliable drinking water in re-usable glass carafes. This move to provide guests with freshly purified water in glass bottles is forecasted to save 12 tons of plastic and reduce the use of over 300,000 plastic water bottles annually. Due to the throwaway nature that has led to drastic negative environmental impacts, the resort provides guests with paper straws and wooden stirring sticks, one of the measures taken to enforce sustainability in day-to-day operations.
For more information, visit www.heritancehotels.com/aarah.

PARTNER NEWS

EMERALD MALDIVES RESORT & SPA TO OPEN ON AUGUST 1ST 2019
The new five-star Emerald Maldives Resort & SPA will open its doors on 1st August 2019. Located in the Raa Atoll, the resort is surrounded by 1.5 km of soft white sand and boasts 120 luxurious Villas with both contemporary and tropical design, divided into 60 beach villas and 60 overwater villas. The resort will offer guests a choice of four restaurants, plus a Sunset Pool Café and Sunrise Café. The Emerald SPA offers Balinese and Thai treatments in 10 airconditioned bungalows, and a relax area with jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish baths. The resort will also feature a Kids Club, Technogym, two tennis courts, two paddle courts, plus a Water Sports Center and Diving Center.
For more information, visit www.emerald-maldives.com.

INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES MAAMUNAGAU RESORT TO OPEN ON 1ST SEPTEMBER 2019
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will officially open on 1st September 2019. The resort is located in the Raa Atoll, close to a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Each of the resort's 81 villas and residences have uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean and come complete with a terrace overlooking the ocean or lagoon with a private pool and butler. The resort has six restaurants and bars, plus a Marine Discovery Centre, which will have a team of experienced Marine Biologists who will carry out a series of research projects. The team will also work closely with the Manta Trust Foundation to support their conservation efforts to protect the species and guests will have the chance to get involved. The resort will also be home to an on-site Traditional Chinese Medical Doctor, who will be able to tailor-make wellness experiences for guests.
For more information, visit maldives.intercontinental.com. 

FITNESS EXPERT YASMIN KARACHIWALA BRINGS 'HACK YOUR 21ST CENTURY DIGITISED BODY' RETREAT TO VAKKARU MALDIVES
Active holidaymakers can join a five-day retreat nestled in the heart of the Indian Ocean at the secluded tropical island resort of Vakkaru Maldives. The world-renowned fitness expert, Yasmin Karachiwala has devised a bespoke programme that will rev up daily routines and inspire the culinary imagination. The “Hack Your 21st Century Digitised Body” retreat with VOGUE's 'best fitness instructor' will be available from the 9th – 13th August.
For more information, visit www.vakkarumaldives.com.

TRAVEL PACKAGES

Save Up To £5,000 On A Seven-Night Stay at Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa
Tropical Sky is offering savings of up to £5,000 per person on seven-night stays at Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa between now and 31st March 2020 if booked by 31st August 2019. The offer means that this holiday now costs from £3,639 per person, based on two sharing a Presidential Villa on bed & breakfast basis, including return flights from London Heathrow and transfers. For more information or to book, visit www.tropicalsky.co.uk or call 01342 886941.

Seven-Night Half-Board Stay At Six Senses Laamu, From £2,949 per person
Cleveland Collection is offering a seven-night stay at Six Senses Laamu from £2,949 per person. The offer includes flights, transfers and half-board accommodation in a Luxury Water Villa. The offer is valid for bookings completed by 30th September 2019 and bookings must be made at least 45 days prior to arrival. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit bit.ly/30Ozk9e.

For further information on the Maldives, visit www.visitmaldives.com.