Kinglobjaw's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘maldives’

Just spoke to a PR contact overlooking the future Marriott property in the Maldives. Here’s what I found out:

• Will not be a Renaissance hotel, but a JW Marriott instead (will it still bear the name Gaakoshibee?)
• Scheduled opening is now third quarter of 2010 (but it’s safe to assume it will probably be pushed back, unless Marriott is truly up to speed to get it ready for the Winter 2010 season)
• No category mention yet (I’m going to guess 7 or 8 since it is the Maldives, people!)

I spoke to another rep who also mentioned that a Ritz-Carlton property is also being planned in the Maldives. No dates mentioned.

All sounds very enticing!

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

Beginning this week, US Airways and Qatar Airways will begin codesharing on certain flights. The respective “Airways’ will only codeshare on international services between Europe and their local gateways.

For details, please visit http://airlineroute.blogspot.com/2009/05/us-airwaysqatar-codeshare-begins-this.html.

It’s a shame they are not codesharing beyond Philly and Doha. I would like to see a US code on a Doha-Maldives flight and a QR code on a Chicago-Philly flight!

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark

Three Marriott resorts are set to open in 2009, and all three are in unique, one of a kind places that are certainly worth the wait. Well… I’ve been patient so hurry up already!  I have almost half a million Marriott points and I’m thinking it’s time to redeem some of them.

The first one is a destination that I’ve already been to, but I really want to return to- Maldives. I absolutely love the Maldives, there’s no place like it! Marriott is supposed to open a Renaissance property at the end of 2009. When I went to the Maldives, I stayed at the Conrad Rangali Resort, so I’m curious as to how the Marriott property will fare in comparison. The fact that the press releases states that all villas will have a private pool sounds very enticing. I don’t think anyone should do Maldives without a private plunge pool! This a photo I took at the Conrad. I stayed at the Deluxe Beach Villa with a private pool.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island- Deluxe Beach Villa

The next property, is the JW Marriott Fiji Resort & Spa at Momi Bay. It hasn’t opened yet, and given it’s history, the current scheduled December 2009 opening date will likely be pushed back once again. I’m annoyed by the fact that this property was supposed to open in 2006, then in December 2007 which was changed to July 2008 and now December 2009. Marriott isn’t offering any updates, and there were some rumors of this project going completely bust due to lack of funds and problems with the Fijian government. It would be such a shame if the project was abandoned- Marriott’s coverage of the South Pacific region is dismal. Aside from a few Marriott properties in Australia, there is nothing in New Zealand, The Cook Islands or French Polynesia.  Fiji has to work or they won’t have a chance to compete against the other major brands like Sofitel, Hilton or Starwood.

Last but definitely not least, is the Ritz Carlton Molasses Reef located in Turks & Caicos. Something closer to home. This was personally reccomended to me by a friend who used to work at the US Airways Headquarters in Tempe, AZ. He was an “eastie” so he managed to (non-rev, I guess) to the Caribbean quite a lot while he worked at US Airways’ Crystal City Headquarters prior to the merger. He said Provo was a great city and that island was so beautiful, mostly because it was quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of tourists, casinos and mega resorts. Sounds lovely. Sort of reminds me of St. Kitts which was like that too. Besides, looking at pictures the island seems very clean and peaceful, while the water in the sea has a Maldives-like turquoise blue quality.

Have a nice clicK life,

-Mark