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Alitalia begins scheduled direct flights to Maldives

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Italy’s flagship carrier Alitalia on Wednesday began its first ever scheduled direct operations to the Maldives.

A special ceremony was held at the Maldives main Velana International Airport Wednesday afternoon to inaugurate the scheduled service. Officials from state-owned airport operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and Alitalia’s local agent Voyages Maldives attended the ceremony.

Voyages Maldives Managing Director Solah Shihab told the attendees that the scheduled service by Alitalia would give a much needed boost to tourist arrivals from Europe.

“Italian market is recovering well. Alitalia’s operations will help increase arrivals from Italy as well as from the whole of Europe,” he said.

Italy ranks fourth amongst the source markets for Maldives tourism, after China, Germany and the UK, and ahead of much more populated countries such as India, Russia and the US. The average stay for Italians, who were the first to spot the potential of tourism in the pristine atolls over four decades ago, in the Maldives is between four and 11 nights.

Since 1985, Alitalia has operated chartered flights to the Maldives. However, the latest flight was in 2014.

The new three weekly Rome-Male service will operate for the whole winter season until March 24, 2018.

The Rome-Male flight will depart from Rome every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 9.45pm (local time) and will land in Male at 11.05am (local time) on the following day. The return flight from the Maldives will depart every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 1.10pm (local time) and will land in Rome at 7.30pm (local time).

The route will be served using a 250-seater Airbus A330 jet, configured in three classes of service: business, premium economy and economy.

Alitalia is the latest European airline to begin direct flight operations to the Maldives.

Air France is set to begin operating direct flights to the Maldives on Thursday, with two weekly flights to the Velana International Airport on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

Alitalia and Air France are amongst the few airlines operating direct flights between Europe and the Maldives. Majority of travellers from Europe are now required to take transit routes on airlines such as Emirates and SriLankan Airlines.

Scheduled operations by Italy’s flagship airline come amidst announcements by several international airlines to increase flight frequency to the island nation ahead of the upcoming peak tourist season.

Qatar Airways has become the first airline to deploy an A350 jet to a South Asian country, as the advanced jetliner’s maiden flight to the Maldives, piloted by a veteran Maldivian captain, landed in the island nation’s main airport on Tuesday.

Hainan Airlines, which flies to the Maldives from the Chinese Shenzhen city, will from December 27 begin operating two flights a week, while Beijing Capital Airlines will from October 29 shift to a daily service from four times a week service.

From October 29, Emirates has also increased its fight frequency from four to five a day.

Dubai-based Emirates began its service to the Maldives in May 1987 using a single Boeing 727 aircraft. It now operates four times daily service to the Maldives from Dubai, with transit routes, including neighbouring Sri Lanka, and uses Boeing 777-300s for its Male operations.

Emirates has become a major airline operating to the Maldives and has been serving for years as a preferred airline of tourists visiting the island nation from far corners of the world, especially Europe.

From October 30, Malaysia-based low-cost airline AirAsia has also added four flights per week to its existing daily service. It will be followed by an increase in January 2018 to nine flights per week from a four times weekly service by SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines.

Meanwhile, Chinese low-cost carrier Lucky Air is set to begin flight operations to the Maldives in January 2018.

December to April is considered the peak tourist season, as these months constitute summers in Maldives. Between December and April, the islands boast of dry weather, making it ideal for tourists to travel and enjoy the tropical environment.

Resorts across the archipelago organise special activities for the festive season, which falls during the peak tourist season. Popular resorts such as Baros MaldivesAmilla Fushi and Finolhu MaldivesSoneva FushiThe St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort and Mirihi Island Resort have already announced their festive programmes for this year.

After years of double-digit growth in tourism, the Maldives has over the recent years observed a slowdown in growth. Tourist arrivals have crossed the one million milestone and is on course to reach 1.5 million by the end of this year, but the country has been struggling to create demand amidst a significant increase in bed capacity.

Photo: Ahmed Shurau/Avas Online

Business

Atmosphere Core appoints Maurice Van Den Bosch as GM of RAAYA by Atmosphere, Milan Mookerjee as VP of Human Resources

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International hospitality company Atmosphere Core has announced the appointment of Milan Mookerjee as Vice President of Human Resources.

This appointment reflects Atmosphere Core’s ongoing commitment to enhancing guest experiences and fostering a people-centric culture across its portfolio of three brands and nine resorts.

Veteran Human Resources leader, Milan Mookerjee will oversee talent management and employee growth initiatives across the Atmosphere Core’s resorts in the Maldives. With over 15 years of industry experience, Milan is a seasoned professional known for aligning HR initiatives with business goals and fostering a human-centric culture.

Reflecting on his approach to human resources, Milan said, “Leadership is a privilege that we owe to our team. Intentionality with direction and purpose drives results, and I am committed to fostering a culture that empowers our people to grow and succeed. In hospitality, success begins with a motivated, engaged workforce, and I believe in creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to deliver exceptional guest experiences. This includes investing in continuous learning, nurturing talent, and promoting a strong sense of belonging within the team.”

Before joining Atmosphere Core, Milan served as Head of Human Resources and Training at Encalm Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., where he led HR and training functions to drive business growth. He has also held several HR leadership roles at prominent companies in India, with a proven ability to develop talent and design learning programmes tailored to business needs.

Meanwhile, Maurice Lucien Van Den Bosch recently returned to the Atmosphere Core family as General Manager of RAAYA by Atmosphere.

Born in Australia, Maurice Lucien Van Den Bosch draws from the country’s renowned laid-back yet dynamic culture in his leadership style, fostering a spirit of inclusivity, adventure, and warm hospitality. He brings over 24 years of expertise in resort management, with a demonstrated ability to exceed profit targets, cost-effectively develop new projects, and lead culturally diverse teams with motivation and efficiency.

Maurice’s extensive experience includes leadership roles at some of the world’s top hospitality brands in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. A familiar face within the Atmosphere Core family, Maurice has served as General Manager at both OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and Atmosphere Kanifushi.

As the General Manager of RAAYA by Atmosphere, Maurice will leverage his deep understanding of the brand to lead the resort with a focus on anticipating, crafting, and elevating guest experiences. “The culture and hospitality inspired by the Joy of Giving resonate deeply with me, and this shared value brings me back to the Atmosphere family”, Maurice said. “At RAAYA by Atmosphere, we are creating a castaway island experience of choice, a guest experience like no other, with a fine balance of escapism and energy. And I look forward to foster a collaborative working environment so that we create unforgettable moments for our guests.”

Ashwin Handa, Senior Vice President of Operations at Atmosphere Core, emphasised the importance of a strong leadership team. “At Atmosphere Core, we foster a people-first culture built on trust, collaboration, and mutual respect, ensuring that every employee takes pride in their work. This dedication extends to curating experiences that guests cherish and return for. Maurice’s deep industry expertise and understanding of our brand, combined with Milan’s people-centric approach, will significantly enhance our operations and guest satisfaction across our resorts”.

Atmosphere Core is a dynamic international hospitality company with three distinctive lifestyle brands, THE OZEN COLLECTION, COLOURS OF OBLU, and Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts. The company operates nine resorts in the Maldives and has a strong pipeline of one resort in the Maldives, one resort in Sri Lanka, and fourteen hotels and resorts across India – all set to open within the next three years. Distinctive design, an authentic sense of place, inspiring service styles, and the freshest and finest cuisine lend a unique flavour to every Atmosphere Core property.

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Business

Maldives makes export of baled PET waste for recycling with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation

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The Coca-Cola Foundation and partners have announced that a container of baled post-consumer Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic was exported from Male as a part of Sustainable Island Waste Management and Plastic Recycling Initiative.

Completed on World Cleanup Day 2024, the event also marked the handover of The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF)-funded infrastructure, which includes pickups and balers, to the government-owned Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO).

The TCCF-funded initiative is a collaboration between the Maldives Ocean Plastics Alliance (MOPA), and WAMCO, and represents an important development to strengthen the PET collection process and address the issue of plastic waste in the Maldives.

This initiative will export baled PET to Malaysia and China for recycling. While PET bottles have been exported in the past, baling the waste significantly improves the efficiency of storage and transport, marking an advancement in the process.

The overall objective of the TCCF-funded Island PET Collection Project is to help provide a countrywide solution for plastic waste recycling in Maldives by establishing both the infrastructure and systems required.

Currently, much of the waste in Maldives is disposed of or incinerated in K. Thilafushi industrial island, and this project represents a shift toward better waste management practices.

The project focuses on expanding PET collection systems beyond Greater Male’, improving collection efficiency across the nation until local recycling capacity is developed.

“This project is a turning point for the Maldives in our fight against plastic waste,” said MOPA President Ahmed Maumoon. “By educating communities and aligning with national partners like WAMCO, we are not only improving how waste is managed today but also setting the stage for long-term sustainability and environmental health.”

By collaborating with WAMCO, MOPA has supported the roll-out of community education programs and has worked to ensure the infrastructure deployed with funding from TCCF, such as compactors and pickups are used effectively across Greater Male’ and across other islands.

“This initiative represents a crucial step toward improving plastic waste management and enhancing recycling efforts in the Maldives,” said WAMCO Managing Director Mujthaba Jaleel. “By equipping islands with the tools and infrastructure needed to collect and process PET waste, we are not only helping address the immediate challenge of plastic pollution but also building a foundation for a more sustainable future.”

WAMCO’s role is pivotal in overseeing the operational aspects of PET waste collection, ensuring that baling and export processes run efficiently.

“Our commitment to this project extends beyond waste collection,” said Carlos Pagoaga, President, The Coca-Cola Foundation. “By funding work of MOPA and WAMCO, we aim to foster a culture of sustainability in the Maldives and help support a circular economy.”

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Italian and Spanish media experience Maldivian paradise on exclusive journey with Atmosphere Core

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From September 28th to October 4th, 2024, Atmosphere Core hosted an exclusive media trip to the Maldives for ten prominent journalists and PR professionals from Spain and Italy. The group experienced the serene and captivating lifestyle of two stunning private islands—OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and RAAYA by Atmosphere—both renowned for their distinctive hospitality, thoughtfully curated holiday plans, and the unique “Joy of Giving” philosophy.

“At Atmosphere Core, we believe in a more creative approach to media trips,” said Euan Blake, Assistant Vice President of Communications. “The Italian and Spanish markets have been expanding for the Maldives, with a notable increase in room nights and revenue compared to last year. Over the past two years, we’ve been building strong relationships in these regions, and this journey through our islands aims to leave journalists with not only cherished memories but also lifelong friendships.”

The trip began at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, a lively four-star resort just 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport. Journalists were welcomed with breathtaking lagoon views and vibrant social gatherings at the X360 Bar. A standout experience was the customised Martín Códax Wine Masterclass at the Element X restaurant, led by Ms. Celina, a representative of Bodegas Martín Códax, and Nicolas Laguette, Director of Wines at Atmosphere Core. Representing 600 winemaking families from northern Spain, Ms. Celina guided the group through an exquisite multi-course wine tasting, featuring a selection of wines perfectly suited for the tropical climate and fresh seafood.

This was followed by an unforgettable underwater dining experience at the Only BLU restaurant and a visit to the neighbouring “island of love,” OBLU SELECT Lobigili, where they enjoyed a chic lunch at Ylang Ylang. The island’s lively, party atmosphere provided the journalists with a full immersion into the vibrant and relaxing resort lifestyle.

Next, a scenic seaplane journey transported the group to RAAYA by Atmosphere—a picturesque escape offering a blend of fairytale island charm and authentic Maldivian experiences. The 45-minute flight over the stunning atolls’ turquoise waters set the stage for their arrival in paradise, presenting the perfect introduction to the Maldives’ breathtaking beauty.

At RAAYA, the journalists experienced an ideal mix of energy and tranquility. A private dinner atop a secluded watchtower, inspired by the legendary sailor Seb, captured the essence of the resort’s castaway theme. The group explored the island’s natural wonders, took part in customised activities, and dined at RAAYA’s signature restaurants, including Seb’s Shack, Ampers&nd, and the Italian-inspired The Village.

Throughout their stay at both islands, the media guests were treated to rejuvenating spa therapies and wellness sessions at ELE|NA Ayur, Atmosphere Core’s signature spa and wellness brand. This immersive journey offered the journalists a true taste of tropical luxury, intertwining indulgence and adventure into every experience. Their stories are sure to inspire countless Spanish and Italian travellers to discover the hidden treasures of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and RAAYA by Atmosphere firsthand.

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