Tag Archives for maldives.
In the fall the Maldives announced the world’s first frequency program for visiting a country. Given the importance of tourism to their economy, it makes sense to encourage repeat visitors.
They’ve now detailed earning and benefits for their elite tiers.
Thailand has a new outbreak of Covid-19, threatening tourist re-opening. In the Maldives cases are falling dramatically, over 90% of tourism workers have been vaccinated, and nearly all visitor life is outdoors. Yet the CDC categorizes Maldives as the highest possible risk ‘do not travel’ and Thailand the lowest risk.
The Maldives has lifted testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, and is preparing to offer ‘vaccine on arrival’ in a bid to boost tourism. Most of the world is far behind Israel, the U.S. and U.K. in vaccination, so this may become an attractive reason to visit from many parts of the world.
The principles of loyalty marketing can be applied across industries, and the basics are very much the same: recognition (elite benefits) and reward (redemption). While the most successful programs have been in travel – airlines have turned their marketing programs from a cost center into a profit engine – loyalty marketing is important to anywhere consumers make repeated choices.
The Maldives is trying something new with a destination rewards program with three elite levels. Here’s hoping they offer status matches!
The Park Hyatt Maldives is discounting to $2495 for a 5 night stay for two people ($499/night) including tax which equates to a rate of $402 per night. You can add additional nights for $499 each, again tax-included, and this covers double occupancy. And the deal – for a pool villa, not a base villa – includes breakfast and dinner.
I’ve stayed at the property five times. It’s one of my favorite places. There are just 50 rooms on the island, each one is a standalone villa and the villas themselves are largely the same but for location and whether there’s a pool. Service is generally good and friendly, and it’s a great place for social distancing. You can hang out at the main pool, or with this deal at your own pool.
I wouldn’t hesitate to spend time in the Maldives. And at present there’s very little confirmed spread of the virus in the country. My approach would be this: be prepared (and be prepared to fund) a longer stay if something went wrong. And if you’re in an especially vulnerable group, for instance over 60 with pre-existing conditions, consider staying home.
Hyatt’s Alila Villas brand is developing a new resort in the Maldives, expected to open this fall. That means a new place where we can burn Hyatt points – and of course Hyatt points are easy to get because Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer instantly.
Maldives President Abdulla Yameen was elected in 2013, and is a member of the Maldivian Democratic Party. His half brother Maumoon Gayoom ruled the country prior to the nation’s first democratic elections in 2008.
The country’s first elected President Mohamed Nasheed was forced to resign in what amounted to a coup in 2012. The new government, representing interests fro the old regime, had him tried and convicted on terrorism charges.
The nation’s Supreme Court threw out those charges last week. The court also ordered the release of other opposition lawmakers who were being held.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
