Centara Grand Island Maldives named Leading Family Resort in Travel Agent Awards

Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives has been named Leading Family Resort in the GMR Maldives Travel Awards organized by the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO) recently.

MATATO represents more than 50 travel agents and tour operators in the Maldives and presents its awards annually in a number of different categories in recognition of resorts that provide outstanding service and facilities.

The criteria for the award nominations in the Family Resort category include special services, programs and facilities for families such as family bungalows, interconnecting rooms, baby sitters, child care centers, food for children, and entertainment for families traveling with children.

“We are delighted and honored to be presented with the Leading Family Resort Award,” said Chris Bailey, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels & Resorts.

“Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa has been designed as a family resort with an environment that kids will really enjoy and that will keep them totally occupied, but at the same time their parents, and other couples with no children, will also find much to enjoy.

“So while the kids are having fun with their own activities and excursions, their parents can be relaxing with some of the island’s other activities, such as a complimentary spa session at the award winning Spa Cenvaree, or just swimming and sunbathing in peace,” he added.

In addition to fulfilling all the criteria required for the award, Centara has its own Kids’ Club with supervised Camp Safari activities for the very young and an E-Zone for the teenagers.

“The secret, as all parents know, is in keeping the kids fully occupied,” said Voytek Klasicki, Area General Manager, Maldives, “Busy kids are happy kids. When they get bored they become noticeable to other guests.

“Here on the island there is so much for everyone, children included, that the youngsters need never be bored. Parents can relax because everything is safe and trained supervisors take care of their kids. Other guests won’t be annoyed by kids running wild or getting under their feet.

“So families can relax together and enjoy whatever they please.”

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, with 38 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom. A further 18 resorts in the Maldives, Vietnam, Bali Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Mauritius Indian Ocean, brings the present total to 56 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs.

Centara operates 24 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, together with its newly-launched value brand Cense by Spa Cenvaree, which provides core spa services for busy travelers. The company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens are taken care of. Centara Hotels & Resorts also operates two state-of-the-art convention centrrs in Bangkok, and two in northeastern Thailand, one being located in Udon Thani and the other in Khon Kaen.

PHOTO: Mariyam Mizna Shareef (left), Minister of State for Tourism, Arts and Culture Maldives, presents the Leading Family Resort Award to Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives during the GMR Maldives Travel Awards 2012, organized by MATATO, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators. The award is being received by Voytek Klasicki (right), General Manager of Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives. The award ceremony was held at Paradise Island Resort Maldives.