Waldorf Astoria Maldives Introduces Over-the-Top Valentine’s Day Package

Waldorf Astoria’s uber-luxe property on the Maldivian archipelago is second-to-none in pampering. And there is no better way to take advantage of its wonders than the indulgent package the hotel has introduced in honor of Valentine’s Day. Lasting through the end of February, the five-night program begins with a private transfer in the resort’s branded seaplane, replete with canapés, fresh juices and, in case the unending Indian Ocean views become redundant, iPads for in-flight use.

Guests check into their choice of a King Beach Suite or King Ocean Villa, both of which come with plunge pools, i-Spa bathtubs and rain showers, and sumptuously appointed areas for lounging, dining and sleeping. Upon arrival in the accommodation, guests are greeted with a blanket of 100 pink roses, the national flower of the Maldives. Today, guests can begin to indulge in the 12 allotted hours of spa treatments, which are set in the Grand Pavilion. Dinner tonight is under the stars on a private beach.

Spend the days lounging in the soft, white sandy beach while sipping on the sommelier’s choice of complimentary champagne, served daily. Further pampering is still to be had at the spa, which offers traditional Ayurvedic and Maldivian treatments to detoxify, rejuvenate and restore. A private sunset champagne cruise awaits, followed by a five-course dinner with wine pairings in the underground Wine Cellar.

On the last night, take a short boat ride to dinner on a private island. Dessert is a heart-shaped cake to commemorate your romance-filled time at the resort. Guests leave with an Aromatherapy Associates gift set and memories of unsurpassed luxury ($24,999 per couple).

www.waldorfastoriamaldives.com

BEACH HOUSE MALDIVES RESTORING THE CORAL REEFS OF THE MALDIVES

HAA ALIFU ATOLL, Maldives – (28 April 2011) – In keeping with the old adage ‘leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos’ Beach House Maldives, a Waldorf Astoria Resort offers its guests a perfect memento of their stay: a patch of coral reef to call their very own.

For US$150, the luxury resort’s coral reef regeneration project allows guests to select and ‘plant’ a small area of coral reef in the Indian Ocean where it will grow and thrive. Particularly popular with newlyweds honeymooning at the resort, the creation of a patch of reef takes only about an hour, while the benefits last a lifetime.

“Coral reefs are one of the most spectacular and fragile environments on this planet,” says General Manager Frederic Lebegue. “Coral that takes decades to grow can be destroyed so easily which is why we support this project to transplant and re-grow the coral at Beach House Maldives, a Waldorf Astoria Resort”.

The coral reef regeneration project is spearheaded by Seamarc, a Maldives-based marine consultancy who have developed a successful coral propagation technique that shows remarkable growth. The resort’s resident marine biologist harvests living but damaged or threatened corals from the surrounding waters. These are then attached by guests to a lightweight pyramidal frame structure and transplanted in the resort’s lagoon thereby replenishing old habitats and creating new areas of reef. Guests can follow the progress of their reef by logging into a dedicated website where they watch it as it grows throughout the years.

As well as being one of the world’s best holiday souvenirs, planting a coral reef makes a significant social and environmental impact on the country says Lebegue: “The Maldives depends on tourism and fishing, which are the two largest contributors to the economy. Both of these industries rely on the continued existence of healthy, vibrant reefs that are as appealing to tourists as they are to the fish that live in them. It’s also important to remember that a coral reef surrounding an island protects it from wave action and erosion.”


For reservations call +960 650 0408, visit www.beachhousemaldives.com, email reservations@beachhousemaldives.com or become a fan on Facebook.

'$100 of Luxury Every Day' at Beach House Maldives

To celebrate its first anniversary this March, Beach House Maldives, a Waldorf Astoria Resort introduces a year-long promotion entitling its guests to enjoy US $100 every day to spend wherever and however they like at the luxury resort.

Called '$100 Of Luxury Every Day', the offer is valid from now until 23 December 2011 and can be booked directly through the resort's website or through most tour operators.

"Beach House Maldives celebrates its first anniversary on 1 March 2011," says General Manager Frederic Lebegue. "We'd like to invite the world to celebrate with us by sharing $100 every day for our guests to spend on whatever they consider their most precious luxury; whether that's an indulgent spa treatment, a memorable meal or an unforgettable excursion to explore the beauty of the Maldives."

About the offer:

The '$100 Of Luxury Every Day' promotion entitles guests to spend $100 per room every day wherever they choose in the resort. With so many different possibilities, the resort anticipates that the most difficult part of the promotion will be deciding where to spend the credit every day: guests can choose to make an in-depth investigation of the resort's extensive wine cellar collection or perhaps explore the many ways of finding perfect relaxation in the outstanding spa. All ten destination dining options on the island are included in the offer whle those who prefer keeping active can choose to take a Maldivian dhoni (traditional boat) or speed boat and enjoy cultural visits to local inhabited islands, try their hand at the centuries-old Maldivian method of fishing, or just simply snorkel over any reef that takes their fancy.


Room rates for this offer start at US$535 per room per night for a Water Villa.

www.easier.com

Beach House Maldives launches seaplane transfers

Beach House Maldives, The Waldorf Astoria Collection has launched seaplane transfers for this autumn.

From 1 October, guests travelling to the resort will be welcomed at Male International Airport and taken to a private lounge before their one-hour flight to the retreat.

“With the launch of daily seaplane transfers to the resort, we’re putting the glamour back into travel, ensuring that our guests can begin their Maldivian holiday from the moment they reach the airport,” said Beach House Maldives General Manager Frederic Lebegue.

www.traveldaily.co.uk

Beach House Maldives coral project breathes new life into Haa Alifu Atoll

Beach House Maldives, the Waldorf Astoria Collection has launched a new environmental initiative to preserve the coral of Manafaru Island’s Haa Alifu atoll and educate guests about marine life at the resort. Working in conjunction with Seamarc, a Malé based marine consultancy, and headed up by newly appointed marine biologist Melanie Bon, the resort is dedicated to enhancing the precious Maldives sea life.

The Coral Project is aimed at developing the large coral population around the resort; particularly under the glass floors of the villas. Referred to as the ‘rainforests of the sea’, these fragile and extremely endangered coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world; acting as key feeding and breeding grounds for a plethora of marine life, providing shore line protection and offering a viable barrier against the predicted sea level rises.

Seamarc’s unique propagation techniques; whereby broken or threatened corals are harvested, attached to portable Coral Trays and put back into the warm Maldivian waters, mean that branching corals grow faster, rapidly creating new and replenishing old habitats. The project also provides alternative employment to residents of nearby B. Fulhadhoo Island who build the structures.

Marine biologist Melanie Bon, joining Beach House Maldives from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, has been appointed to monitor the project. With a wealth of research experience, including a Masters in International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology from Bremen University, Germany, Melanie will provide valuable data for the Maldivian Marine Research Centre about the relatively untouched Haa Alifu atoll, as well as setting up fun and educational presentations for guests about the coral propagation and marine life at the resort; which includes manta rays, dolphins and whale sharks.

Guests at Beach House Maldives are also able to get involved by sponsoring a reef, with $100 (£67.50) covering the cost of construction and implementation of a coral tray. In return they will receive regular newsletters charting their reef’s progress with links to up-to-date photographs on the Beach House Maldives’ website.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

The Beach House Maldives Joins Waldorf Astoria

The Beach House Maldives has joined Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. The resort was renamed, ‘The Beach House Maldives, The Waldorf Astoria Collection’ on Monday.
Located on the pristine, lagoon-ringed Haa Alifu Atoll which is fringed by powder-white beaches and has unspoilt leafy jungle at its centre, the 35-acre resort comprises 83 Maldivian-style villas, three restaurants, four bars and a luxurious spa. Each villa comes complete with a private pool and butler.

“An independently branded hotel since 2007, The Beach House Maldives has built a solid reputation for world-class luxury and quality that epitomises the Waldorf Astoria name,” said Martin Rinck, President Hilton Worldwide – Asia Pacific. “The Maldives remains one of the most sought-after luxury leisure destinations in the world, and we are delighted to be able to offer our guests the unique experience of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts on the beautifully private and breathtaking island of Manafaru.”

Hilton Worldwide’s management team has been in situ at the resort since 1st July 2009 and has overseen a number of key developments as part of the US$58 million renovation project, which has led to resort becoming the first Waldorf Astoria property in Asia Pacific. The resort’s four restaurants and three bars have been redesigned to incorporate local heritage and ingredients with global influences. Including over-water fine-dining restaurant Saffron, a Tapas and Sangria bar with a Maldivian edge at the Mediterranean-themed Salt Water and martinis and cocktails inspired by Waldorf Astoria properties around the world at Infiniti; each dining experience offers a local twist.

The new Art Gallery showcasing local art together with a café serving traditional Maldivian High Tea has also just been introduced. And 30 Degrees offers private dining in a glass-floored over-water pavilion. New wine experiences created by renowned Master of Wine, Ron Georgiou, include the introduction of a wine-tasting journey at the underground Cellar restaurant. And for those looking to truly experience a desert island getaway, neighbouring private island Medafushi offers a wealth of experiences including a four-poster bed on the beach complete with lanterns, chill-out tunes and food.

Upgraded villa and restaurant interiors and new spa programmes from UK based Aromatherapy Associates, Ayurvedic philosophies and traditional Maldivian treatments are also in place, with developments to the Kids Club, and new designer retail boutiques. The opportunity to sample an insight into the history of the Maldives will be on offer with excursions to the nearby island of Utheem, home to a Sultan’s Palace. Transfers to the resort have also been improved with a direct 75-minute seaplane transfer offered as an alternative to a domestic flight and boat transfer.

www.asiatraveltips.com

New-Look Ocean Villas Opening in Beach House Maldives

As part of preparations for the opening of the first Waldorf Astoria Collection property in Asia Pacific on 1 March, Beach House Maldives has unveiled its new look Ocean Villas available for stays from early March.

The 17 Ocean Villas have been fully renovated to provide stunning over-water accommodation which retains the charm and tradition indigenous to the islands whilst offering modern, chic design features.

Stretching out onto the lagoon, the 110 square metre Villas have been enhanced to offer stylish and contemporary indoor-outdoor living. New wooden furniture on the private sundeck as well as a hammock and traditional Maldivian swing from which to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean make the outdoor living space a key feature of the Villa, with steps directly into the ocean for a secluded swim.

A new bed, inspired by local furniture styles has been especially designed for the resort with an entirely new luxury bedscape. Light colours, drapery, automatic Roman blinds, including a state of the art touch screen remote control, 42 inch LCD TV and Blu Ray Players are part of the room experience, while the partially open air bathroom with i–spa bathtub, has been enhanced with specially designed lighting and fittings.

Completely private, each stand-alone Villa provides an exclusive escape for guests and glass panelled floors allow quiet observation of the marine life throughout the day or in the evening moonlight.
The private island resort features 83 beautifully designed contemporary thatched villas including Beach Villas, Suites, Water Villas, Ocean Villas, one Grand Water Pavilion and a Grand Beach Pavilion. Each comes complete with a private pool and a butler to attend to every need.

The Villa upgrades are part of the ongoing re-branding project in line with the Waldorf Astoria Collection philosophy to bring luxurious, authentic experiences to its guests. Other highlights will include new F&B concepts across all restaurants including a new Maldivian Art Gallery and Café launched this month; an enhanced excursion and activity programme and a new Spa programme featuring Aromatherapy Associates, Ayurvedic and traditional Maldivian treatments, as well as the addition of direct seaplane transfers to the resort from Male International Airport.

www.breakingtravelnews.com