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Tiny Island Volunteers Introducing the Ocean Ambassadors

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Maldives Promotion House – The famous island NGO, Tiny Island Volunteers has taken another major step in helping the local island communities in Maldives. They have launched their Ocean Ambassador program, a program aimed at helping the youth from these tiny scattered islands of Maldives to become professional divers.

Tiny Island Volunteers aim to sponsor community members to become dive instructors while also enabling them to learn a greater knowledge of the ocean and the Maldivian reefs. According to the team they hope the participants, or the Ocean Ambassadors will be able to in turn help promote conservation within their own communities.

“The island communities are in a way isolated and they don’t usually have the opportunities that everyone else living in the capital city Malé has. So we’re trying to give them something that they can use both to develop their careers as well as to create awareness among their own communities about conservation,” CEO of Tiny Island Volunteers, Hana Thompson said.

According to TIV, the funds from their volunteer program will be used to train the Ocean Ambassadors. The program is currently focusing on participants who are native to the islands apart from the city, due to the lack of opportunities and dive schools in those islands. The trainees will also get the opportunity to work alongside the volunteers and will be trained by Lazy Gecko, a dive school based in Noonu Atoll Velidhoo.

“For every three volunteers that we bring in we will be able to train one Ocean Ambassador. So this program has a lot of potential to expand. As we are working with Lazy Gecko, our capacity is a little bit limited. But since the open water course isn’t such a long course we will be able to continuously take in participants. We already have two Ocean Ambassador students, Ahmed Ibrahim and Abdulla Jalaal, both residents of Velidhoo,” Hana added.

During this year’s World Travel Market, Tiny Island Volunteers also won the first ever Responsible Tourism Award, the Highly Commended award as the Best Volunteering Organisation in Maldives, for organising volunteers to help island communities in need across Maldives.

Initially geared towards bringing in foreign volunteers for the islands, Tiny Island Volunteers is also involved in marine conservation in Maldives, especially the conservation of sea turtles. They also run Tiny Island Conservation which is their Maldivian NGO. The conservation works in collaboration with other island NGOs like Naifaru Juvenile and Velidhoo Future Foundation.

“The judges were impressed by the range of activities which a relatively small organisation like Tiny Islands is able to support in the Maldives and the way in which a different form of tourism is being used to bring opportunities and development to the less developed islands,” The Managing Director of Responsible Tourism, Justin Francis said.

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Constance Hotels & Resorts Honors Manjoola Dowlutrao’s 20-Year Career Journey

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Constance Hotels & Resorts celebrates the dedication and excellence of Manjoola Dowlutrao, recognizing her remarkable 20-year journey within the group.

Dowlutrao’s story began in 2001 as part of the inaugural class of the Constance Academy’s Management Training Program. This experience launched an exceptional career within the prestigious hotel group.

Starting at Constance Lemuria Seychelles as a Reservations Supervisor, Dowlutrao has consistently demonstrated exceptional growth and leadership. Her path led her to Constance Prince Maurice in Mauritius, where she spent two decades honing her skills. She rose from Sales/Guest Relations Manager to Executive Assistant Manager, embodying a true commitment to providing exceptional hospitality experiences.

Dowlutrao’s recent appointment as Executive Assistant Manager in the Maldives signifies both her valuable contributions and the confidence Constance Hotels & Resorts holds in her abilities. Her career trajectory exemplifies the supportive and empowering environment the group fosters, encouraging individuals to excel and assume leadership roles within the luxury hospitality industry.

Manjoola’s remarkable journey across Constance’s esteemed properties in Seychelles, Mauritius, and now the Maldives, stands as a testament to her vast knowledge and her dedication to enhancing the guest experience over the years.

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Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas Welcomes Award-Winning Joachim Textor as New Executive Chef

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Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas has announced the appointment of Joachim Textor as the luxury resort’s new executive chef. With over 40 years of experience in delivering premium culinary services around the world, Chef Joachim is now ready to bring his exciting new variety of innovative dining experiences to the resort’s discerning guests.

A native of Germany, Chef Joachim Textor began his illustrious career as a cook at various world-class hotels in Switzerland. After honing his skills at the Hilton in Basel, the Park Hotel in Vitznau and the Hyatt Hotel in Montreux, he decided to expand his culinary repertoire by exploring the tastes and cuisines of the world. Across 42 years of travelling, his amazing culinary journey has taken him to 93 countries and countless five-star kitchens across the planet.

Chef Joachim’s incredible journey of gastronomic discovery has led him to gain invaluable experience as an executive chef in some of the world’s most prestigious hotel chains, including The Peninsula Hotels, InterContinental, Hilton, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, and Hyatt. He has received critically acclaimed awards and was also the Opening Executive Chef of Anantara Dubai Palm where he spearheaded the opening of the resort’s signature restaurants and dining experiences back in 2013.

Regarded as one of the most pioneering chefs in the industry, Chef Joachim has also opened multiple award-winning hotels and dozens of restaurants in both the Middle East and the Far East, while he has also cooked for a number of famous politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and royalty all over the world. His past assignments include the G12 Asian Summit Conference in Busan, where he cooked for such prestigious world leaders as George W. Bush, Angela Merkel and Li Peng.

A positive and cheerful personality with an energetic passion for innovation in his creations, Chef Joachim is now set for the next adventure in his culinary journey. Still as hungry to learn and explore as ever, Chef Joachim will bring phenomenal dining experiences for gastronomes at Anantara Kihavah with a number of new innovations already planned. Sharing the knowledge he has accumulated through his travels across six continents, Chef Joachim will also act as a mentor for budding young cooks, introducing his repertoire of world cuisines to the next generation of aspiring gastronomic innovators. In Chef Joachim’s own words, “The best is yet to come. Life is a journey and not a destination; travel it safe and well.”

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JOALI Appoints Özgür Cengiz as Global Wellness Development Director

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JOALI, the luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand, has announced the appointment of Özgür Cengiz as its Tourism Group Global Wellness Development Director, effective February 15th, 2024.

Cengiz brings over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and wellness industry. His career began with the opening team of Turkey’s first wellness resort, Richmond Nua Wellness, followed by leadership roles at Jumeirah in Azerbaijan and One&Only Reethi Rah in the Maldives.

In 2016, Cengiz joined JOALI as the Resort Manager for JOALI Maldives, the brand’s first art-immersive resort. He then played a pivotal role in establishing JOALI BEING, the Maldives’ first wellbeing island, as its General Manager.

Under Cengiz’s leadership, JOALI BEING garnered global recognition as a leading wellness destination. He is credited with creating the unique concept, curating a team of specialists, and introducing a diverse range of treatments – solidifying JOALI’s position as a wellness powerhouse.

Cengiz’s dedication extends beyond JOALI. He served as the Maldivian ambassador for Global Wellness Day for seven years, is a respected speaker in international wellness forums, and judges the Global Spa & Wellness Awards. His innovative approach and solution-oriented mindset have earned him widespread respect within the industry.

Hakan Öztürk, Tourism Group Managing Director of Gürok Group (JOALI’s parent company), commented on the appointment, stating that Cengiz’s “extensive knowledge and passion will truly redefine the wellness offerings for the brand from a broader perspective” as JOALI expands its portfolio.

In his new role, Cengiz will oversee the wellness strategy for the entire Gürok Tourism Group, encompassing innovative activations, expansion plans, and strategic development for both JOALI BEING and JOALI BEING Cure.

Cengiz’s appointment strengthens JOALI’s commitment to providing exceptional wellness experiences and signifies their continued dedication to pushing boundaries within the industry.

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