The Maldives is nominated as an Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination in the Word Travel Awards 2009 announced on Friday, July 31, 2009. Maldives is also a favorite nominee form a number of other categories. 16 Maldivian Resorts/Hotels are nominated from 9 different Indian Ocean Categories, including 7 in the Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort category. In total, The Maldives has 35 nominations in Indian Ocean’s category.

Categories in which Maldives is nominated are:

Only a few weeks remain before voting for these categories close on August 14, 2009. The whole tourism industry awaits the 16th Annual World Gala Ceremony, scheduled to be held at the Grosvenor House, London on November 08, 2009. Voting for this monumental event will commence on August 17, 2009.

Find more about the Maldives.

The promotion is valid until 31 October 2009. For stays in July, full-board meals will also be included during the complimentary one-night stay, but not in the subsequent months.

Located on the North Malé Atoll just 20 minutes by speedboat from Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and the Malé International Airport, Ihuru is one of the most picturesque islands in the Indian Ocean.

The Angsana Resort & Spa Maldives Ihuru features 25 Beachfront Villas and 20 Deluxe Beachfront Villas each complete with a private garden, a veranda with a Maldivian swing, and an outdoor shower. In addition, each Deluxe Beachfront Villa comes equipped with a private jet pool.

As one of the best dive sites in Maldives, the resort naturally provides a wide variety of sea sports facilities, including a diving school which was awarded the PADI ‘Gold Palm Resort’ certification. Snorkelling is just a step away, as the coral reefs are located a few metres from the beach.

Guests at the Angsana Spa can indulge in soothing treatments that focus on the healing sense of touch and the use of natural ingredients to pamper the body, mind and spirit. Duet, a specially created couple spa package and other tailored male and female spa packages are treats that complement a sunny vacation. The spa treatments are carried out at eight luxurious spa pavilions, two of which are equipped with outdoor jet pools and steam baths.

To tempt the discerning diner, the resort boasts an excellent restaurant, Riveli, offering a marriage of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with a touch of local flavour. Guests can also opt for a private in-villa barbecue or a romantic dinner for two on a remote sandbank. To end the evening, guests can relax at the Velaavani Bar as they enjoy the cool sea breeze and maybe spot a turtle swimming by in the lagoon.

Unique Choice group is identified as one of the top wholesale tour operator in the Middle East region. These workshops are marked as one of the important events each year due to its success targeting tour operators/ travel agents in the GCC region. The main objectives of Maldives participation in the road show was to increase market share from the Middle East countries by providing the travel trade with the most updated tourism information on the Maldives and secure commitments for the future promotions of the Maldives among their clients. Furthermore, to ensure that as many travel agents and tour operators as possible have the tools they need to be able to effectively promote Maldives island resorts.

The workshops started in Abu Dhabi on the 30th May, with a networking session followed by a lunch at the Crowne Plaza in Abu Dhabi. More than 50 travel agents and tour operators were invited to the work shop, while majority of the visitor showed a keen interest in visiting the Maldives booth to collect information. Emphasis was placed on the warm welcome that GCC nationals and resident expatriates will receive when visiting the islands and the easy accessibility to the country in terms of flight connections and visa procedures.

The Maldives is currently the ultimate getaway for those who are attracted by private islands, stunning beaches and crystal clear waters. The Maldives provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing, rejuvenating holiday, which is a welcome contrast to the frantic pace of life in the Arabian Gulf.

The workshop session was concluded by a raffle draw held among the visitors by giving away several free vacation prizes from the participating hotels/resorts. Among other participants include destination such as Malaysia, Singapore, Oman and a collection of resorts/hotels from these destinations.

Similar format was adopted for the event in Dubai on the same day, where more than 75 travel agents and tour operators were invited to the JW Marriot Hotel in Dubai which was concluded by a dinner.

Last year Maldives welcomed a total of 683,012 visitors while a total of 9,141 tourists represented the Middle East region. By end of May 2009 Maldives received 3,082 tourists from the region showing a growth of 2.5 per cent compared to the same period of 2008.

The members of the cabinet noted that hosting this event would be an opportunity for the Maldives to promote its tourism as well as to promote sports tourism in the Maldives.

A committee was also appointed to organize the tournament. The committee would include State Ministers at the Ministry of Human Resources, Youth and Sports; Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; Ministry of Defence and National Security; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Finance and Treasury; and, Ministry of Economic Development.

First-time visitors and Maldives aficionados will be rewarded with a distinctive new experience of the archipelago. The natural dense vegetation sets it apart from many other resorts in the Maldives. The three-kilometre- long island features 12 hectares of lush vegetation, 17,000 coconut trees and 45 species of plants. The island has over six kilometres of coastline and three natural freshwater lagoons, naturally tinged red, green or blue. Guests will be able to enjoy walking trails, prodigious wildlife, and a plethora of underwater discoveries.

The unique Shangri-La hospitality envelops guests as they disembark from their international flight at Male airport. Guests are then escorted by the Shangri-La host into the relaxing domestic airport lounge before taking the connecting flight to Addu Atoll. As air-conditioned domestic flights from Male to Gan International Airport operate round the clock, guests no longer need to waste their vacation time due to the limited operation of seaplanes, which are required to access other resorts. The resort is just an eight-minute boat ride away from Gan, and is also accessible by private jet which can land at the newest Gan International Airport.

The resort will comprise 142 spacious stand-alone villas, from private ocean retreats to tropical luxury tree house villas with panoramic views. All villas will feature both an indoor and outdoor shower, a private terrace leading to the beach and either a waterfront or lush garden. Each villa will be equipped with two iPods and docking stations, a DVD player and an espresso machine. The villas will be a minimum of 133 square metres in size, while the two presidential villas will measure up to 957 square metres each.

The resort will feature 16 luxury tree house villas, a first for the Maldives, perched on stilts offering a special three-metre high perspective of the island through tropical foliage. The tree house villas, with separate bedroom and living room, will measure 218 square metres, each with its own private infinity pool.

Other distinct villa options available to guests will be the water villas with terraces and outdoor showers extending over the clear ocean water; beach villas with separate bedroom and living room, connected by a wooden deck to a private infinity pool; twin beach villas, comprising two bedrooms and an infinity pool; and water pool villas. Two presidential villas will also be available for guests who prefer to indulge in ultimate luxury and exclusivity, one of which is constructed over water and featuring a 96 square metre private pool.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La — Shangri-La’s signature spa brand inspired by the legend of Shangri-La in the Lost Horizon novel - will offer treatments, therapies and well-being programmes based on Chinese, Himalayan and Asian healing rituals and traditions from across the region as well as “Kandu Boli” experience, unique indigenous treatments inspired by the cowrie shell and other natural treasures found in the Maldives. CHI will be located in its own spa village in the resort, with spacious individual treatment villas, offering “spa within a spa” privacy and luxury. Ocean views and enchanting gardens will make this secluded sanctuary a haven of healing power and deep calm for guests.

In addition to long stretches of fine white sand beach, the natural lush vegetation of the island features a nature trail for guests who are keen to explore. To discover the fascinating lifestyle and culture of untouched Maldivian villages, guests can simply take a short boat ride to neighbouring islands. International diving enthusiasts are already familiar with the island’s colourful coral reef and the dramatic 140-metre shipwreck of the British ship Loyalty, which is located within a half-hour boat ride from Villingili Island.

To preserve the vegetation, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives has been constructed around large trees, including some towering old banyan trees. Underwater work and detailed marine surveys have been carried out to ensure the preservation of coral.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives will provide a selection of bars and restaurants. The Khazaanaage Restaurant, meaning House of Treasure in Dhivehi, is inspired by Ibn Battuda, will serve cuisine from the regions he travelled to, including the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Dishes with enchanting flavours will be created using spices and herbs from the chef’s organic garden. International culinary experiences at the Javvu Restaurant will provide guests with further variety.

In the heart of the natural island is a 30,000-square-metre Village Centre. The centre will encompass an eco-centre and a water sports centre featuring surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling and a variety of non-motorised water activities. The Village Centre will also include a free-form pool, two tennis courts, a dedicated indoor and outdoor area for children, boutiques and an entertainment centre. A medical clinic with international doctors and decompression chamber, fully-equipped to deal with diving-related disorders will provide medical services for guests. The resort’s salon will also offer wedding gowns and wedding ceremonies for couples who are swept off their feet by the natural beauty and mesmerizing experience at the Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives.