5th resort in Maldives acquired by John Keells

John Keells acquires 5th resort in Maldives

20 August 2006

MALE, Aug 20 (HNS) – Sri Lanka's largest hotel operator, John Keells Holdings have said they have picked up their fifth Maldivian resort for 12.5 million dollars.

The acquisition was carried out through their fully owned subsidiary, Travel Club (Pte) Ltd.

Manager of John Keells Maldivian resorts Channa Jayasundara told Haveeru Daily that the latest resort acquisition followed discussions between John Keells and Ellaidhoo.

“For sometime the resort was available in the market. So we talked to the resort owner and a deal was fixed,” Channa said.

He added that if any other resort owners come along with interesting proposals than more resorts could be added to the John Keells chain of resorts.

A statement from John Keells said: "This investment will further increase our exposure to the lucrative Maldivian leisure industry and is the second investment to be made in Maldives during the financial year 2006/07,".

Located in Alifu Alifu Atoll, Ellaidhoo Tourist Resort is around 40 kilometers away from Male.

The island which is 300 meters long and 280 meters wide, presently houses 78 standard and 16 garden rooms; a restaurant, bar and a health club.

The resort also has additional capacity to house 17 water bungalows, the construction of which would be undertaken next year.

Some of the best diving sites in the Maldives are found in the vicinity of Ellaidhoo such as Fish Head, Maya Thila, Halaveli Wreck and Fesdhoo Wreck.

Besides Ellaidhoo and Validhu, JKHs Maldivian properties include Hakuraa Club, which has a mix of water and beach bungalows, Alidhoo Coral Garden Resort & Spa, 100 room facility now under construction and schedule to open for guests from January 2007 and Dhonveli Beach & Spa, which has 150 bungalows, recently taken on a 15-year sub-lease for 21.8 million dollars.

JKH is presently Sri Lanka's largest hotel operator commanding over 1,400 rooms spread over 13 hotels, including the Maldives.
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14 new routes announced by Air Sahara

Air Sahara announces 14 new routes: "Air Sahara announces 14 new routes
REUTERS
Posted online: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2009 hours IST
Updated: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2017 hours IST


NEW DELHI, AUGUST 17: Air Sahara, whose ranking took a hit after a failed takeover deal, announced operations to 14 new destinations including two international routes by December as part of plans to have the largest network and a market share of 12-13 per cent by next year.

'The expansion plan begins from tomorrow and will continue till December 16.

During this time, we would be introducing flights to Guanghou (China) and Maldives on the international sector and would connect Delhi with Port Blair,' Air Sahara President Alok Sharma said.

Admitting that the market share had dipped in the recent times, Sharma said with the addition of new destinations, the airlines was aiming to regain its earlier share of 12-13 per cent by next year.

He said the airlines would be operating a daily flight to Maldives through Colombo, besides connecting Dhaka as well on the international sector and strengthening its metro network by increasing flights to Kolkata and Hyderabad.

With this expansion plan, Air Sahara would be connecting Delhi to six international destinations in addition to its code-share flights with American Airlines, Sharma said.

Asked whether the permission had been granted by the authorities concerned, Sharma said it had applied for approvals three weeks back and there was no restriction from the government.

While the tentative schedule to fly to the Chinese city was November seven, it was October 31 for Maldives, he said and added that Air Sahara would be the first one to apply once Pakistan allowed operations of private airliners.

Referring to resumption of its London service, Sharma said: 'we have lost the slot and we will be again approaching the Heathrow Airport for a fresh one.'

Air Sahara had stopped its flight and surrendered the slot after reaching a deal to merge the airline with Jet Airways in January. However, the agreement was called off in June this year.

Asked whether the airline had sufficient funds to connect so many destinations, Sharma said: 'these investments were made in 2005 and now they are only being executed. Its time to reap dividends.'

'We also plan to consolidate on flying more to mini metros like Chandigarh, Indore, Bhopal, Vadodra, Raipur and Nagpur and tourist destinations like Jodhpur, Khajuraho, Port Blair, Trivandrum and Udaipur,' the Air Sahara President said, adding this would give the airline the rare distinction of flying to 27 domestic sectors from Delhi.

On whether the airline had sufficient number of pilots and aircraft to engage itself in such a huge network, Sharma said: 'we have 27 aircraft including 18 new generation Boeing and two more Boeing 737-800 are coming by September 21.

'As far as pilots are concerned, 50 per cent of those who had resigned in the aftermath of the merger with Jet Airways, have resumed their duties with us and more were expected to come back,' he said.

He said the load factor of the airline had also increased from 60 per cent to 78 per cent subsequent to the deal with Jet Airways falling through."
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Qatar studies airline plan for Maldives

Gulf Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Qatar: "Qatar studies airline plan for Maldives
Published: Monday, 7 August, 2006, 11:29 AM Doha Time

MALE: President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has said that Qatari officials are ready to begin deliberations on establishing a national airline in the Maldives.President Gayoom visited Qatar last week.

In an interview with Television Maldives after his return home, the president said discussions with HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani had centred on fostering closer bilateral ties.

He said HH the Emir had assured him that senior Qatari officials would conduct a preliminary visit to Maldives soon, with the aim of identifying areas for enhanced co-operation and assistance.

He also said that he had briefed the Emir on key areas of the post-tsunami recovery efforts in which immediate additional funding was needed, as well as details of the budget deficit that was incurred as a result of the tsunami.

The president said that he was informed of the interest among the Qatari business community to invest in the Maldives’ tourism industry.

The president said that Qatari officials had completed a feasibility study on establishing a national airline for Maldives. He added that the Emir had assured him that they were now ready to start deliberations on the project.

During his visit to Qatar, President Gayoom met with a delegation of leading businessmen in Qatar.

Stressing on the fact that foreign investments were vital for Maldives, the president said that Maldives had an open-door policy for investments by foreigners. He stated that increasing investments was one of his foremost priorities.

He highlighted opportunities for investing in the tourism sector of the country and assured that tourism investments by foreigners could be further enhanced with the recently established Maldives Tourism Development Corporation.

The president also met with the Maldivians employed at the Qatari national airline, the Qatar Airways."
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Maldives Aid Opens Desalinisation Plant in Haa Alif, Filladhoo

Maldives Aid Desalinisation Plant Opens in Haa Alif, Filladhoo: "Maldives Aid Desalinisation Plant Opens in Haa Alif, Filladhoo
By Minivan News
August 4, 2006

For the small fishing community of Haa Alif, Filladhoo, like many of its neighbouring islands, the tsunami left in its wake a trail of destruction.

But in Filladhoo, the tidal wave not only destroyed people’s homes and boats; it also robbed the island of one of its most precious resources: water.

However, on Friday - for the first time since December 26, 2004 - islanders awoke to a plentiful supply of safe, clean drinking water thanks to a new desalinization plant, donated by the UK-based charity Maldives Aid.

During a ceremony on Thursday, Maldives Aid coordinator Mariyam Seena formally donated the plant to the people of Fillandhoo.

In a moving speech, Atoll Chief Mohamed Rasheed said: “Maldives Aid should be considered close friends who are eager to help people in need. And we all should maintain a close friendship with them.”

After the speech, Adam Mohamed from the Island Committee switched on the desalinisation plant on behalf of the community. Shortly after, people raced to the fresh water taps to drink the water and many commented on its fine taste.

According to Minivan Radio editor Fathimath Shaheeda, who traveled to Fillandhoo to witness the ceremony: “The opening was very emotional because after a long time the people finally have access to fresh water.”

Maldives Aid said it took “months of fundraising and hard work with the island community of Filladhoo and Static, the company providing the desalinisation plant, to give the people their long awaited fresh water.”

But Seena said in the end, the project was worth all the hard work: “It went really well. The plant house area is nicely done with trees planted around the boundary and white sand. Over 200 people showed up to the opening ceremony and the atmosphere was great. People were really touched.”"
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Honeymoon on an exclusive dream island in the Maldives.

SundayMirror.co.uk - News - EXCLUSIVE: ANT'S ONE & ONLY:
"30 July 2006

EXCLUSIVE: ANT'S ONE & ONLY

EXCLUSIVE 800 pound-a-night villa on honeymoon

By Grant Hodgson

NEWLYWED TV star Ant McPartlin is spending his honeymoon on an exclusive dream island in the Maldives.

Ant, 30, and bride Lisa, 29, arrived at the six-star One & Only resort at Reethi Rah in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday.

The couple are spending 800 pound a night on the luxurious beach villa where they even have their own butler.

The resort has four miles of coastline, 40 swimming pools, four yachts, five restaurants and a spa. An insider at the Reethi Rah told the Sunday Mirror: 'It only opened a few months ago and it has been designed to be one of the most beautiful and romantic places on the planet."
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