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One&Only Reethi Rah crowned Best Hotel in Asia and Africa at The ULTRAS awards

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One&Only Reethi Rah has been crowned the Best Hotel in Asia and Africa at The ULTRAS 2017 awards.

Readers of Ultratravel, The Telegraph’s luxury travel magazine, are invited to reveal their favourite hotels, airlines, destinations and more each year. Results for The ULTRAS 2017 awards were revealed at a reception and ceremony at London’s Savoy hotel on May 22.

One&Only Reethi Rah won the award for the Best Hotel in Asia and Africa, beating Banyan Tree Seychelles, Belmond Mount Nelson and Cape Grace in South Africa’s Cape Town, and Royal Mansour in Morocco’s Marrakech.

Aerial view of One&Only Reethi Rah resort. PHOTO/ ONE&ONLY

Other winners include:

  • Best Hotel in Europe: Ritz Carlton, London
  • Best Hotel in the Americas: Four Seasons Hotel New York
  • Best Hotel in Asia/Australia: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
  • Best Hotel in the Middle East: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai
  • Best Hotel in the World: Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai
  • Best Luxury Tour Operator: Kuoni
  • Best Large Luxury Cruise Line: Cunard
  • Best Small Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea
  • Best River Cruise Line: Viking Cruises
  • Best Golf Resort in the World: The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland
  • Best Ski Resort in the World: Whistler, Canada
  • Favourite Country for a Holiday: United States
  • Best North American Airline: American Airlines
  • Best European Airline: British Airways
  • Best Asian Airline: Singapore Airlines
  • Best Middle Eastern Airlines: Emirates
  • Best Airline in the World: Emirates
  • Best Airport in the World: Changi, Singapore
  • Editor’s Award – Best New Hotel: Six Senses Zil Pasyon, Seychelles
  • Editor’s Award – Hotel Group of the Year: Alila Hotels and Resorts
  • Editor’s Award – Best Airline Innovation: Qatar Airways’ QSuite

An overwater restaurant at One&Only Reethi Rah. PHOTO/ ONE&ONLY

The ceremony was attended by senior members of the luxury travel industry all keen to know if they were among those commended by the well-travelled voters in some of the most prestigious and well-regarded awards in the industry. Accompanying them were personalities including television/radio presenter Vernon Kay, Irish singer Ronan Keating and his wife Storm, former English rugby player Mike Tindall and special guest Sarah, the Duchess of York, accompanied by her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The awards were preceded by the Ultratravel Forum, which saw industry stalwarts deliberate over issues affecting the luxury travel industry.

Located in North Male Atoll, One&Only Reethi Rah is a luxurious tropical getaway overlooking the Indian Ocean that offers an infinity pool, free Wi-Fi and a peaceful private beach. The elegant villas at One&Only Reethi Rah are situated either over the lagoon or by the beach and enjoy beautiful ocean views. Built over the water, Tapasake Restaurant serves modern Japanese cuisine, while the beachside Fanditha Restaurant offers Middle Eastern food and champagne.

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Maldives celebrates arrival of 2024’s 1 millionth tourist

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Maldives on Thursday welcomed the one millionth tourist to visit this year.

The one millionth tourist is a Thai named Sutapa Amonwivat, who arrived from Singapore with her husband and two children. This is her second visit to Maldives.

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Ministry of Tourism gave a warm welcome to Sutapa at the Velana International Airport (VIA) Thursday afternoon. She was welcomed at the VIA by tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal, MMPRC Managing Director Ibrahim Shiury and senior officials of various relevant agencies.

After welcoming her with traditional offerings, she was presented with various gifts by the ministry, MMPRC, customs, immigration, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).

Maldives reached one million tourists in June, three weeks earlier than last year. The number of tourists reached one million on July 16, 2023.

Maldives expects to reach 2 million tourists this year.

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New air route connects Chongqing to Maldives

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Chongqing Airlines on Monday began its inaugural flights to Maldives.

The Chongqing-Male route, scheduled three times a week, is expected to strengthen the bonds between China and the Maldives, opening up exciting new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.

The inaugural flight was welcomed upon its arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) in Maldives, where local officials and tourism representatives expressed their enthusiasm for this new development.

“We warmly welcome our friends from China to our beautiful islands. This new connection strengthens our bonds and opens up new opportunities for tourism,” the tourism ministry said on X.

Maldives currently welcomes four airlines from China, including China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.

In January, Maldives government urged tourism stakeholders in both Maldives and China to ramp up efforts to restore China’s position as the primary source market for Maldives tourism, a status held before the onset of Covid-19.

China, being the largest source market for Maldives tourism before the pandemic, saw a resumption of tourist arrivals from January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In 2023, the Maldives welcomed 187,118 Chinese tourists, marking a significant recovery in numbers. This year, the Maldives has welcomed the most number of tourists from China, with over 107,940 or 11.5 percent of total arrivals by June 12. 

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CROSSROADS Maldives Introduces Weixin Pay at resorts for seamless guest experience

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CROSSROADS Maldives has introduced WeChat Pay, widely known as Weixin Pay in China, across its world-class resorts, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. This payment option is made available to enhance the convenience and overall experience for guests from China, making their stay in the Maldives more enjoyable and hassle-free.

Understanding the needs of the diverse guests, CROSSROADS Maldives has integrated WeChat Pay into operations, allowing guests from China to easily and securely conduct transactions using a payment method familiar to them. The introduction of WeChat Pay is a testament to CROSSROADS Maldives’ dedication to enhancing guest satisfaction by offering exceptional experiences at every turn. What is also expected through this initiative is that the guests could benefit from better foreign exchange rates, translating to better savings on their expenditures during their stay.

The option is available for guests in-house conveniently at both resorts as well as across the Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives where a wider variety of unparalleled dining and retail experiences are available for all guests. The day visitors from China will also therefore equally benefit from this new introduction at the Maldives’ premier multi-island integrated leisure destination.

SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a vibrant tropical escape that offers unique and locally inspired experiences. The resort features spacious rooms and villas, a variety of dining options, and an array of recreational activities designed to cater to the desires of modern travellers. Guests can escape to the island’s SAiisational natural beauty, enjoy water sports, and indulge in spa treatments, all while relishing the personalised service that defines Hilton’s Curio Collection.

Hard Rock Hotel Maldives brings the iconic Hard Rock spirit to the tranquil shores of the Maldives. This family-friendly resort offers a perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment, featuring music-inspired experiences, live performances, and the brand’s signature amenities. With luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and a plethora of activities for all ages, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives ensures an unforgettable holiday experience for every guest.

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