VOL 001 | August 2016 | www.islandchief.com
In Brief Cruising
INNER MALDIVES TO INTRODUCE CRUISE LINERS FOR MALDIVIANS
Inner Maldives is set to introduce the first cruise line vacation designed especially for Maldivians. Set to sail on December 16, 2016 the 7-day trip, vacationers will be able to spend a week on Costa Neoclassica, a cruise liner of the world famous Costa Cruise line. Events
IRU FUSHI HOSTS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FILM FESTIVAL IN MALDIVES
The three-day festival saw the most breath-taking sceneries of nature and tourism from around the world. New Opening
COCOON MALDIVES SET TO OPEN IN DECEMBER 2016
Cocoon Investment Pvt. Ltd is getting ready to introduce a new concept of Maldivian hospitality with opening its first resort in Maldives. Cocoon Maldives located in Ookolhufinolhu Island in Lhaviyani Atoll is set to open in December. Technlogy
BANK OF MALDIVES LAUNCHES “BML MOBILEPAY” - A NEW AND FASTER WAY OF MAKING PAYMENTS
Bank of Maldives has introduced a revolutionary product to make cash transfer faster and easier for its customers.
The first travel Tabloid of Maldives released as “The IslandChief”
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he Island Chief” the first travel tabloid of Maldives has been released today on August 4, 2016 at the vacation expo event held at National Art Gallery. The monthly printed paper will feature travel and hospitality industry news from Maldives and around the world. Managed by Maldives Publication pvt ltd, the Island Chief is the outcome of the company’s desire to reach out to travel management companies and travellers in choosing the best business and travel opportunities. “We are proud to launch the first ever Monthly travel tabloid to the travel and
hospitality community, our strategy is to reach out to travel management decision makers, bring the latest updates in travel and hospitality industry in Maldives and abroad. Island Chief would be a platform for connecting and engaging business travelers with more opportunities”. Said Mr.Mashhood Abdulla ,CEO of Maldives Publication Pvt Ltd, the publisher of the Tabloid. The idea of an industry tabloid by the name Island Chief was raised between a group of people with years of industry experience. The managing editor has over
14 years of experience in the industry having worked with international high-end brands established in Maldives. As Mr. Mash-hood puts it, The Island Chief would be a true reflection of the industry for those who are interested in understanding the Maldivian travel market. Island Chief will be made available at local and international exhibitions, hotels, resorts, guest houses, liveaboards, luxury ferries, airline offices, travel agencies, cafes and restaurants, government offices and offices of the diplomats.
Scarif, one of the new environments that will appear in Rogue One
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nother new planet featured for the first time in Rogue One is Scarif, a tropical world which was shot in the Maldives. “Sometimes you’ve got to take one for the team,” joked Edwards. “We tried to use real-world locations and it just so happened that Rogue One was partly set in this paradise world, so we had to go to paradise to film it.” Continuation page 07
Ozen is Born
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he first tourist resort to be developed in capital Male atoll in over thirty years has been opened July 15, 2016. Maadhoo Finolhu, previously used as a picnic island, has been developed as a fivestar resort after thirty years since their first resort, the then Kandooma Resort (now Holiday Inn Kandooma) opened in 1985. Named “OZEN by Atmosphere at Maadhoo”, the resort is a 35-minute boat ride away from Male. It features 90 villas, 41 of which
are beach villas and the other 49 water villas. One of the key features of the resort is its underwater restaurant, the first of its kind in Kaafu atoll. OZEN is the third property to be managed by local brand Atmosphere Hotels and Resorts. Other resorts by Atmosphere are; Atmosphere Kanifushi in Lhaviyani atoll and OBLU by Atmosphere at Helengeli island in Kaafu atoll. MMPRC announced that Atmosphere plans to unveil two more resorts within this year.