A Blue Panorama flight made history as it became the first international flight to land at Gan Airport in Addu - the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Gan Airport has long been a busy regional airport in the country, but this is the first time it has played host to an international flight.

Seventy one tourists travelling from Milan to Addu’s newly opened resort island of Herathera received a heart-warming welcome from the locals at Gan International Airport. The landing of this Blue Panorama flight in Addu marks the inauguration of Gan airport as the country’s second international airport. Thus far Malé International Airport at Hulhule Island has been the only international airport in the country.

The Maldives has been nominated in five categories in the 14th Annual World Travel Awards to be held in the Turks and Caicos Islands on the 12th December 2007. The five categories that Maldives got nominated are World’s Leading Destination, World’s Leading Dive Destination, World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination, World’s Leading Romantic Destination and World’s Leading Travel Television Commercial. In addition Maldives Tourism Promotion Board has been nominated in the World’s Leading Tourist and Convention Bureau category.

Furthermore, some of the Maldives tourism industry players have been nominated in important categories. In this regard Inner Maldives has been nominated in the World’s Leading Travel Agency category, Baros Maldives got nominated in World’s Leading Villa and World’s Leading Beach Resort category, Hilton Maldives has been nominated in World’s Leading Resort category and Huvafenfushi has been nominated in World’s Leading Spa Resort category.

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the “Travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscars”, the World Travel Awards are the most comprehensive and most prestigious awards program in the global travel industry. The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry. With thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies in over 160 countries across the globe, winning a World Travel Award has become one of the highest accolades a travel product can achieve.

The 2007 World Travel Awards world winners will be announced and presented at the gala ceremony which will take place in the islands of Turks & Caicos on the 12th December 2007. Candidates nomination for world winners categories are based on the results from the four regional ceremonies which took place in Abu Dhabi, New York, NewcastleGateshead and Bangalore in 2007.

MTPB won the Indian Oceans Leading Tourist and Visitor Bureau Award in Bangalore ceremony. Maldives also won the Indian Ocean’s Leading Destinations Award and Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination Award in the same ceremony. During this ceremony Maldives Tourism industry won awards in many categories.

With the unveiling of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts new Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru property, the resort has decided to offer great savings as a promotion for the event.

The promotion is valid from 1st July to October 31st 2007 and the resort offers:

1. 50% savings on accommodation
2. 25% savings on seaplane transfers
3. in-villa couple spa treatment
4. complimentary meals and selected beverages
5. scheduled marine excursions on the Banyan Madi.

Located in southwest North Ari Atoll, the property offers the first Tented Pool Villa concept in the Maldives. The castaway island is easily accessible by 30-minute seaplane journey or exclusive overnight sail on the Banyan Velaa. The resort features six Tented Pool Villas priced from US$ 3900++ per night.

Each Tented Pool Villa comprises of three individual tents, distinctively equipped to function as living, sleeping, and bath areas. The spacious bath tent features a pair of spa beds for enjoying in-villa treatments that include signature Banyan Tree Spa massages and facials. Interior furnishings exude a warm and tropical ambience, replete with timber flooring, rattan and teak furniture, handcrafted wooden and canvas accents, and luxurious ceiling canopies.

Special bookings are also possible for guests who wish to have the island all to themselves, including hosting exclusive functions for two to 18 persons.

Banyan Tree offers an intimate retreat experience featuring its own signature blend of romance and Asian sensuality. The philosophy behind the hotels, resorts, spas and galleries is based on providing a place for rejuvenation of the body, mind and soul – a Sanctuary for the Senses.

Banyan Tree resorts are found in Phuket, Thailand (1994), Maldives Vabbinfaru (1995), Bintan, Indonesia (1995), Bangkok, Thailand (2002), Seychelles (2002), Ringha, China (2005), Lijiang, China (2006) and Bahrain (2007). Flagship Banyan Tree Phuket was the first to introduce a tropical garden spa concept.

Regent Hotels & Resorts announces plans to open a new luxury resort on Maalefushi Island, Republic of Maldives in 2008. The Regent Maldives will be a 50-villa luxury resort on the secluded coral island, just 50 minutes by seaplane from the capital city of Male. Regent Hotels & Resorts is part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. The Regent Maldives will occupy the entire Maalefushi Island, an unspoiled 8-hectare (hectare=107,639 square feet) island paradise with lush tropical vegetation fringed with flawless white sand beaches. This magnificent villa development will redefine the concept of luxury resort hospitality, with its superb facilities, exclusive ambiance and world-renowned Regent service.

Paul Kirwin, president and managing director of Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific comments, “Everything about this resort – from the breathtaking location and distinctive architecture to the spectacular beautiful spa – will be the embodiment of The Regent Experience.”

Maalefushi Island sits at the heart of the Thaa Atoll, a natural wonderland of crystal clear waters, coral reefs, brilliant white beaches and spectacular sunsets. The Regent Maldives will feature 23 beach villas and 27 over-water villas, including two presidential villas, which will allow guests to observe the abundant marine life directly beneath their rooms. All villas are designed with private plunge pools and expansive timber decks offering breathtaking views across the turquoise lagoon.

The individual villas are designed to maximize privacy and comfort, and combine traditional Maldivian architecture with internationally-sourced materials and contemporary fabrics and furnishings selected by renowned interior designers Hirsch Bedner Associates. The bathroom of each villa opens to either a lush private garden area or ocean vistas and features indoor and outdoor showers. The two exclusive Presidential villas set over the coral lagoon include extra indulgences such as a luxurious dining pavilion with a viewing and relaxation platform, spacious bedroom suites with walk in wardrobe and private sun decks.

Integral to the theme of indulgence is the 850 square-metre Spa which resides over the lagoon, with the eight private treatment pavilions open to the ocean breezes. Specializing in innovative spa treatments, each pavilion will feature a plunge bath, outdoor shower and relaxation deck.

Dining options at The Regent Maldives will include the Maldivian Chic over-water signature grill restaurant/bar, showcasing local seafood prepared using variations of grill cuisine from nations surrounding the Maldives. Complemented with spectacular views over the water and to the sunset, The Café will offer continental style buffet for breakfast and a wide range of a la carte dishes while a more casual dining experience by the pool is available at the Ocean Terrace and Lounge. For private dining each guest villa features both indoor and outdoor dining facilities.

For recreation, a myriad of water sports and activities are available such as scuba diving, with a fully equipped dive school and qualified dive masters, snorkelling on the reef, wind surfing, parasailing, deep sea fishing or romantic picnics on nearby uninhabited islands. There will also be a fitness centre with state-of-the-art exercise equipment.

On the beachfront is a 38 metre infinity pool, while the lush sculpted gardens include a tennis court, volleyball court and yoga pavilion. Those with a taste for adventure can explore the remote and seldom-visited atolls of the Maldives in the comfort of the resort’s luxury motor launch. A library and lounge will also provide a full range of business services.

The Regent Maldives joins the growing portfolio of new Regent hotels and resorts under development around the world. Regent Hotels & Resorts currently has eight hotels and resorts worldwide.

SUMME^rise your Holiday Experiences at Taj Leisure Hotels

This summer discover… that hugging your daughter helps her grow stronger, that gifting your wife doesn’t only mean paying her bills, that a candlelight dinner is more that just eating in dim light, that every time your son falls at an adventure sport, he rises a better man, that every moment you spend imbibing other cultures, it’s invested something more in your own, that a Chef doesn’t only blend ingredients but also his experience and warmth… Presenting Taj Holidays Summer Offers, there’s always something new to know. What will you discover this summer?

Charge your camera, put that straw hat on and slip into the holiday t-shirt as the golden suntan wraps you amidst all the excitement and enthusiasm to commence your Summer Holidays!! It’s this time of the year when work takes a backseat and your wife takes the front, when you begin substituting the laptop with your kids and when you book tickets with your family name and not your company’s. Taj Leisure Hotels present the unmatched Taj Holidays Summer offers, valid from 15 April 2007 - 15 June 2007 at Taj Leisure Hotels in India as well as at International destinations. What will you discover this summer?

The Taj Summer Holiday Offers for Maldives:

Taj Coral Reef Resort, Maldives (For a stay of 3 nights, with Breakfast)

(USD) $660

What’s more, make us a part of your experience…and win an exclusive Taj Holiday this summer. In an innovative scrapbook contest, create an e-scrap book narrating your most memorable holiday at a Taj Hotel, Resort & Palaces. We will select the most creative and out-of-the-box design and send the winner for an enchanting Taj Holiday. (Conditions apply). All you need to do is create a scrapbook on a word or pdf document and mail your entry to holidays@tajhotels.com. Winners would be selected on the basis of creativity displayed in the scrapbook.

With the ‘Taj Holidays’ setting a benchmark for diverse holiday experiences at exotic locales, few can resist the allures of all that these destinations have to offer. So here’s your chance to unearth the secrets of this tourist paradise, the magnificent Kerala! The ‘Taj Holidays’ leisure experiences can be found across various exotic destinations, which include idyllic beach resorts, genuine palaces, turn-of-the-century garden retreats, hotels located close to historic monuments, pilgrim centers and some of India’s best wildlife sanctuaries.

About Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces

Established in 1903, Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia’s largest and finest groups of hotels, comprising 59 hotels in 41 locations across India with an additional 17 international hotels in the Maldives, Mauritius, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Rajput palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, has recently completed the centenary of its landmark hotel, The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India’s premier business house.