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Onyx Hospitality Group announces second Maldivian resort, OZO Maldives opening in 2020

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Onyx Hospitality Group has announced plans to open a second resort in the Maldives, OZO Maldives.

Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2020 under a management agreement with a joint venture company led by Panchshil Realty, the 200-villa private island resort will occupy a secluded island in the Raa atoll, located northwest of the Maldivian capital of Male. ‏

Positioned as a family-oriented resort, OZO Maldives will bear all the signatures which define an OZO, including an enhanced sleep experience, smart connectivity of personal devices in both private spaces and public areas, and curated destination and activity tips by enthusiastic and informed team members.

‏”We are excited to be taking OZO to the Maldives, a destination once reserved exclusively for the ultra-luxury segment. With the opening of OZO, we look forward to redefining the family-oriented resort experience in the Maldives with a property which combines the best of the three key OZO brand signatures — sleep, connect and explore. OZO Maldives will be a great showcase of locally-sourced craftsmanship and environmental education,” Douglas Martell, President and CEO of Onyx Hospitality Group, was quoted in a statement, as saying.

“Serving as a strong complement to Amari Havodda Maldives located in the south, this new opening will give Onyx Hospitality Group the opportunity of offering two compelling luxury and mid-scale options in this popular paradise destination.”

‏Featuring design elements and experience touch points inspired by a fictitious castaway explorer named Sebastian King III, an artist and amateur sailor who was shipwrecked and lived alone on the island for eight years before allowing himself to be discovered, OZO Maldives will immerse travellers in a reinterpretation of the legacy he left behind through a series of structures, shelters and landmarks Sebastian creatively constructed from island-sourced raw materials and flotsam washed ashore over the years.‏

Highlights include an upturned Dhoni shipwreck hidden within a jungle which doubles as an activity centre, a crow’s nest-style observation tower, an abandoned lighthouse, Sebastian’s rustic home located within the kids’ club, educational sundial and weather station, and a mangrove discovery walkway.‏

‏The social centre of the island will be the ‘Village’, a collection of rustic driftwood styled retail and dining outlets offering art and craft workshops, bespoke ice cream and refreshments, as well as island-inspired fashions. The island’s large size and natural untouched terrain also offer family-oriented activities including adventure and biking trails, a kids’ campsite, a pitch and putt golf course and various natural and environmental features to appeal to travellers of all ages. ‏

‏Other facilities include OZO’s signature Eat all-day-dining restaurant best known for energising breakfasts, a specialty ‘sunset experience’ restaurant, a rustic and informal ‘Victory Bar’ and floating lagoon pavilions and jungle tree-decks for private dinners. There will also be an island farm run by Maldivian islanders, offering guests natural and fresh organic produce in a unique market garden dining experience.

The resort will also feature Maai Spa, a signature Thai wellness concept, a gym and yoga facility, dive centre and a large landscaped lagoon swimming pool.‏

Of the 200 villas at OZO Maldives, 60 villas will be located overwater while 140 villas will be located on the beach, with 50 beach villas offering larger family-friendly layouts and private plunge pools. Many of the villas will also be either interconnecting or configured with dual key access, to offer flexibility for families and groups of friends travelling together.‏

“OZO Maldives will be a great family-oriented resort with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental education, capped off by all the elements which have made OZO a compelling and high-quality midscale offering. We look forward to adding Onyx to the growing list of international hotel partners we have relationships with, and to working with them on the opening of this property,” Ranjit Batra, President for Hospitality Management at Panchshil Realty, a majority shareholder of the project ownership consortium, said.

‏OZO is a smart, simple and savvy midscale hotel brand offering an enhanced sleep experience and seamless connectivity for travellers who are keen to embark on a deeper exploration of the destination. Since the opening of the first OZO in Hong Kong, the brand has generated consistently positive feedback and continues to exceed midscale accommodation expectations. OZO is currently available in Hong Kong, Koh Samui, Colombo and Kandy, with new hotels being developed in Pattaya, Phuket, Johor Bahru, Penang and the Maldives.‏

‏Within the Indian Ocean region, Onyx Hospitality Group operates four hotels in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with two hotels in the development pipeline.

In the Maldives, Onyx runs the Amari Havodda Maldives resort, which is located in the southern Gaafu Dhaalu atoll, and accessible by a 55-minute domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo domestic airport from the main Velana International Airport, followed by a 10-minute speedboat transfer to the island.

Based in Thai capital Bangkok, Onyx Hospitality Group has a growing regional portfolio of 50 operating properties across three core brands in eight countries. The group has a robust development pipeline of close to 30 new properties in markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, and has set a target of having 99 hotels open by 2024 as part of its journey towards being the best medium-sized hospitality player in the region.‏

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Maldives China Tourism Association announces first roadshow in China to boost tourism

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The Maldives China Tourism Association (MVCTA), a non-governmental and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism in the Maldives to the Chinese market, has announced its upcoming roadshow in China. Founded in 2023 and registered in the Maldives, the MVCTA aims to provide information about the Maldives as a destination to the Chinese public and strengthen ties between the travel industries of China and the Maldives.

The MVCTA’s efforts include participating in regional travel exhibitions and roadshows, advertising and promotions, organizing familiarization trips for the travel trade and media, and maintaining contacts with government tourism bodies, travel agencies, and associations in China. By working together with various stakeholders, the association strives to advance the Maldives’ travel and tourism industry and enhance the country’s tourism image in the Chinese market.

To further their promotional activities, the MVCTA is pleased to announce its first roadshow in China, scheduled to take place in September 2023. The roadshow will span four cities, namely Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Beijing, from the 15th to the 21st of September. This significant event aims to showcase the unique attractions and experiences the Maldives has to offer to Chinese travelers.

The MVCTA’s roadshow in China presents an excellent opportunity for Chinese travelers to discover the allure of this tropical paradise. As the association embarks on its inaugural roadshow, it anticipates a successful event that will contribute to the growth and development of tourism between China and the Maldives.

Following the resumption of outbound travel from China in January 2023, the Maldives has seen a significant resurgence in Chinese tourist arrivals. Prior to the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, China held the top position as the leading inbound market for the Maldives. Although currently ranked as the sixth largest source market, Chinese arrivals have already accounted for 5.8% of the total tourist influx to the Maldives, with an impressive 48,668 Chinese tourists visiting by June 6th, 2023. These figures are expected to surge further in the coming years, as China’s appetite for international travel continues to grow, cementing its crucial role in the Maldives’ thriving tourism industry.

For further information, email to pr@mvcta.com

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TTM Travel Summit 2023 unveils exciting new concept with interactive, engaging workshops

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Travel Trade Maldives (TTM) has introduce an elevated concept for the highly anticipated TTM Travel Summit 2023. Building upon 6 years of success, this year’s summit promises an immersive and engaging experience, focusing on interactive brainstorming sessions and workshops that will shape the industry’s future.

TTM Travel Summit 2023 boasts a dynamic lineup of sessions and workshops designed to encourage active participation from industry stakeholders. With keynote presentations by industry experts and collaborative brainstorming sessions, the summit will explore crucial topics essential for advancing the tourism sector in the Maldives.

Attendees can anticipate thought-provoking discussions on the future of aviation in the Maldives, exploring emerging trends and challenges that will significantly impact the travel industry. The evolving role of travel agents in the digital era will also take centre stage, emphasising the importance of adapting to changing landscapes and embracing new strategies.

Another significant focus of the summit will be marketing the Maldives to new markets, with experts sharing insights on diversifying tourism products. Furthermore, participants will gain valuable knowledge on media and content strategies for effective tourism promotion, unravelling the secrets behind captivating travel stories and engaging content.

TTM Travel Summit is an exclusive invitation-only event that brings together thought leaders, industry shapers, and senior decision-makers professionally engaged with Maldives tourism. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the summit aims to propel the industry forward and pave the way for a thriving future in travel.

Registration for the TTM Travel Summit will be open from 1st July onwards, and industry professionals are encouraged to secure their spot early to be part of this groundbreaking experience.

Taking place from August 22nd to 24th, 2023, TTM Maldives 2023 will feature TTM Connect Meetings during the first two days at Meeruma Conference Facility, followed by the TTM Travel Summit and the prestigious TTM Awards & Gala Night on the final day at CROSSROADS Maldives.

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Visit Maldives collaborates with SQ to showcase Maldives with familiarisation trip for Chinese market

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Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) concludes a familiarisation trip in collaboration with Singapore Airlines (SQ). The trip was held from 29th May to 4th June 2023. This familiarisation trip provided participants from the Chinese market with an immersive experience of the world-class Maldivian hospitality, focusing on affordable luxury and sustainability in the Sunny Side of Life.

The familiarisation trip commenced 31st May 2023, following the Visit Maldives Storytellers’ Conference 2023. It featured representatives from various publications and social media platforms, with a specific focus on the mass market. This trip generated extensive coverage that highlighted the unique geographical features of the Maldives and its one-island-one-resort concept, along with the exceptional experiences that have made the Maldives one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations.

With a estimated combined reach of 1,270,000, leading publications and platforms such as Travel+Leisure, City Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller 悦游, Voyage 新旅行, and 公众号:飞客 Flyer Tea provided coverage that reached a wide audience. During the trip, participants had the opportunity to engage with consumers on social media, share first-hand experiences of Maldivian hospitality through local life experiences, and promote the destination’s sustainability efforts. The trip showcased the range of unique experiences available in the Maldives, highlighting its position as a top destination and environmentally-friendly getaway. Through this trip, MMPRC aimed to not only reach a vast audience but also create a strong presence on various platforms and entice travellers to experience the unparalleled beauty and hospitality of the Maldives.

MMPRC aims to promote the Maldives as a safe and attractive destination for Chinese travellers through this activity. China has consistently been in the top 10 source markets for the Maldives in terms of arrivals pre-pandemic, and despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the market is showing promising signs of recovery. In the first quarter of 2023, 17,691 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives, and the Maldives aims to leverage its presence on various platforms to gain a competitive advantage over other destinations.

This familiarisation trip with Singapore Airlines is part of a broader marketing strategy that includes ongoing PR activities, social media promotions, joint campaigns with leading travel agencies, and more. MMPRC is dedicated to enhancing destination presence in the Chinese market and capitalising on the growing interest in travel opportunities post-pandemic.

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