AAA Hotels & Resorts are pleased to announce that the reconstruction and renovation of the luxury Maldivian resort Medhufushi will be completed by 15th January 2007.

As before, Medhufushi will be a five-star retreat, 130 km from the capital Male (40 min by seaplane). Before closing, the resort was renowned for the luxurious yet soothing water villas, outstanding opportunities for relaxation, coupled with warm hospitality and fresh, contemporary Fusion cuisine. The revamped Medhufushi will offer the same ambience and so hopes to regain its share of the UK market.

Recreating Medhufushi as an idyllic barefoot-luxury island resort will include a re- design of the 44 Water Villas and two Honeymoon Water Villas. The 58 Beach Villas and seven two-bedroom Beach Villa Suites will also receive a new look in terms of soft furnishings. Features are to include four-poster beds, semi-open bathrooms for alfresco showers and wooden sundecks with direct beach access.

Resort facilities will include two restaurants and a bar, all with lagoon views, a luxury Maldivian-styled over-water spa as well as a watersports centre offering both motorised and non-motorised water sports. Werner Lau operates the dive centres on all AAA Hotels & Resorts and will reopen services on Medhufushi. These centres offer beginners to advanced PADI dive courses as well as CMAS advanced and other speciality courses.

Vice President of AAA Hotels & Resorts, Mr. Ali Shiyam says “The ‘new’ Medhufushi will maintain the ‘old’ charm and relaxed atmosphere and will be a tribute to tranquillity which is what our guests enjoyed in the past. We would like to thank our guests for their support over the years and the patience they have shown during the reconstruction. We look forward to welcoming them back to the Resort.”

AAA Hotels & Resorts also own and manage the four-star deluxe Filitheyo Island Resort, the only resort on Faafu Atoll. Further developments are underway with two new five star deluxe resorts of approximately 100 Villas each, located on the northern atolls of the Maldives.

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MAL’E, (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.