Best of the Maldives: Room Stories – Oaga

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Oaga - tales

A trip to the Maldives can literally seem like a visit to a deserted tropical island, but the archipelago is rich with history and culture. Many times this local backdrop is quite removed from the contrived resort experience. Many guests are interested in it and get a taste with local island excurisions. But Oaga has infused every single one of its rooms with their own stories taken from Maldivian lore (which you can read here). And the XXX villas have their stories written in the pool which connects them all (as a good story should).

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World Travel Market 2024

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World Travel Market 2024

World Travel Market 2024 gave me my annual flesh-and-blood dose of Maldives meeting with so many of the movers and shakers of the Maldives travel sector. I meet new people who have never heard of Maldives Complete (especially the new appointments in the corporate properties) and well as longstanding comrades (like Aminath Hudha, the first Maldivian in the industry to support me – see photo above).

I also caught up with folks from properties I’ve visited, eg. Emerald, Emerald Faarufushi, Sun Siyam, Nika, Centara Ras Fushi. But I also get to meet new people from properties I haven’t visited, eg. NOOE, JW Marriott, Furaveri, Barcelo, Westin, Alila Kothaifaru, Fushifaru, Le Meridien, Drift Thelu Veliga, Plumeria. And especially helpful is meeting people from the brand new resorts coming soon – eg. NH Collection, Avani+, Centara Lagoon, Ananea Madivaru.

I met industry players like Maldives.com, Paula from Magic of Maldives agency, and even Igrahim Shiuree the new CEO of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relationship Corporation. And I uncovered about a dozen new “Best of the Maldives” pieces featuring either new distinctions or ones I hadn’t yet heard about (stay tuned)

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Best of the Maldives: Cocoon Body Steam – Soneva Fushi

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Soneva Soul - Cocoon Body Steam

The costume awards for “Innovation” and “Wellness” goes to Soneva Fushi’s Cocoon Body Steam:

  • ·This innovative treatment balances 02 and C02 and was developed by Anders Olsson, the founder of Conscious Breathing. It improves vagal tone, increases oxygenation of all tissues, and is applicable for chronic pain recovery, energy and treating inflammation.”
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Sun Siyam Spooktacular Soiree

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Sun Siyam - London halloween 2

The dress code was “black, dark, spooky or full Halloween ghouls”. So Lori and I went as the spookiest, ghoulish creatures we could think of in the Maldives…Shark Fin Poachers.

In advance of next week’s World Travel Market in London and on the occasion of the scariest night of the year, Sun Siyam hosted a coterie of writers, operators and agents for some Halloween treats with no tricks. Sun Siyam’s largest market is the UK so it invests in keeping it informed and supported. The hotel group (Olhuveli, Vilu Reef, Irufushi, Siyam World) is focusing on adding as many distinctive experiences to their properties in the Maldives so that your trip of s lifetime it not just about the great place where you are, but also great things you do there.

Sun Siyam - London halloween 1

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