Kanuhura opens first restaurant in the Maldives set on a private islet
January 2010
Kanuhura has opened a new restaurant, ‘Kandu’, on Jehunuhura, its own private Robinson Crusoe like-island. Kandu means “blue sea” in Divehi. This exciting new outlet, the first resident restaurant set on a private islet in the Maldives, will enable guests to discover a totally new concept of Grill restaurant on a tiny getaway island a few minutes away by boat transfer from Kanuhura
“Take a seat at Kandu and contemplate the turquoise calm lagoon while getting pampered… It is in the line of the true spirit of Kanuhura with absolute calm and top-class service in a chic castaway setting,” says Alessandro Schenone, General Manager of Kanuhura. Kandu offers an upscale Grill concept which offers also well-balanced variety of starters, main courses and desserts on a romantic secluded island.
Located in a cosy and relaxed beach setting, Kandu is serving finest fresh grilled cuisine. Every effort is made to find ingredients of the highest quality and have them delivered to the island and handed out as pure and fresh as they might have been served at their origin. With this philosophy in mind, the menus at Kandu benefit for example from the abundance of fresh fish in the Maldives.
“It is Kanuhura’s aim to give its guests the opportunity to experience the very best in Food and Beverage available in the Maldives. Together with our Executive Assistant for F&B & Executive Chef, the entire Food and Beverage team has the same objectives of meeting and exceeding expectations of our guests,” adds Alessandro Schenone
Kandu
Enjoy Maldives only resident Restaurant set on a private islet.
Opening hours: Daily for Lunch from 12.00 pm to 03:00 pm. |
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Kanuhura, Maldives’ benchmark for laid back & barefoot luxury, to celebrate 10th Anniversary in March
22 Jan 2010
Kanuhura, the benchmark for top-end resorts in the Maldives is gearing up to celebrate its tenth anniversary from 8th to 14th of March 2010. A series of events and surprises will greet guests for this period of celebration.
Renowned for laid back luxury in one of the Maldives most beautiful locations, the anniversary events for Kanuhura’s tenth anniversary will include picnic excursions to deserted island hosted by the Executive Chef; exclusive cocktails and parties to celebrate the launch of the Moodhu Sunset Bar at Kanuhura; Epicurean dinner at Olive Tree Beach; sunrise Dhingi Breakfast; champagne & wine dinner and a Dance under the Stars night.
‘Kanuhura Decade Night’ on March 13th will be held at Kanuhura Beach beneath the stars. A Gala dinner will be the feature of the evening, supported by a little reminiscing of the past ten years, and followed by a Beach Party with Toni Moreno, world famous DJ who usually entertains people in Ibiza and across the world
Toni Moreno is one of the most important DJs in Ibiza. He has sessions in Space Ibiza and is resident DJ at Pacha, Ibiza Global Radio and many other top new venues on the island. His sound is pure which matches perfectly with his passion for music. Moreno has a show on Ibiza Global Radio Called ‘Sequencias’ dedicated exclusively to the newest electro and minimal beats available on the market.
Kanuhura Spa will join this special period with its fantastic therapists with an anniversary discount of 10% on all treatments, from 8th to 14th of March 2010. For all reservations done through the hotel’s reservation department, Kanuhura will be happy to offer a 10 % anniversary discount on the Villa rates during this period as well. The same discount will apply to Villa rates through Tour Operators also, applicable for all bookings within 1st to 27th of March 2010, combinable with all offers.
Kanuhura was launched in 1999 by Sun Resorts Ltd. Kanuhura quickly became synonymous with luxurious living and cutting edge laid back holiday experience. The concept behind the positioning of a revamped Kanuhura in 2008 was created by British award winning design firm Pentagram which was formerly involved in the very successful re-branding of Le Touessrok, one of the best luxury hotels in the world in its category and flagship of Sun Resorts. The way forward was to clearly position Kanuhura as being an exclusive island deluxe destination with a distinct positioning identity and this has been attained.
Bought back by Sun Resorts early 2008, Kanuhura was ranked, end of 2008, fourth Best Overseas Leisure Hotel in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean at the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards. The hotel was also honoured in the 2009 Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List, a selection of the best hotels in the world. Kanuhura won recognition as one of the 15 hotels in the world with the ‘Best Leisure Facilities’.
Surrounded by glorious white sand beaches that shelve gently into an azure blue sea, “laid back luxury” and “cast away chic” are the best phrases used to describe Kanuhura. This unique hotel, set on an island within the Lhaviyani atoll, 150km from the capital Male is reachable only after a thrilling 35-minute seaplane ride from Male International Airport. During the flight, guests are thrilled by the amazing views of turquoise crystal waters and coral reefs which the Maldives have in abundance.
“From above, Kanuhura looks like a crumb of coral, a Robinson Crusoe idyll. However, one is never far from the finest comforts. It is this balance of simplicity and luxury that has made Kanuhura a legendary resort,” explains Alessandro Schenone, General Manager of Kanuhura.
Kanuhura’s remoteness is central to its charm, offering the ultimate in barefoot sophistication. The island boasts almost one and a half kilometres in length and 200 metres in width with a great beauty of the natural vegetation. Unlike most five star resorts it does not present an ostentatiously luxurious experience, but rather an understated and more sophisticated style of luxury, which allows guests to relax and be pampered without losing the natural reality of the destination. Offering just 100 luxury accommodation set privately on the Beach and over Water, Kanuhura captures the very essence of laid back, barefoot hideaway whilst still retaining the modern day amenities and luxuries one can expect from a Resort of this high standard. |
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Kanuhura among the best hotels in the world according to Condé Nast Traveller’s 2009 Gold List
Monday 05 October 2009
Kanuhura, 5 star hideaway island in the Maldives, Indian Ocean and a Sun Resorts property, was recently honoured in the 2009 Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List, a selection of the best hotels in the world. Kanuhura won recognition as one of the 15 hotels in the world with the ‘Best Leisure Facilities’.
“The range of activities on offer is remarkable, including a comprehensive spa with an aerobics studio, fitness centre, sauna, cold plunge pools and an outdoor pavilion, a dive centre, tennis courts and a swimming pool” states the Condé Nast Traveller review on Kanuhura. The ‘Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List’ is in fact an annual list made up of a selection of the hotels around the world that have the best rooms, service, food, location, ambience and design, and leisure facilities. “To compile this ultimate guide to the world’s greatest hotels, we have combined our editors’ choices with the highest ranking hotels in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2008,” explains Condé Nast Traveller.
“This is indeed more good news for Kanuhura and Sun Resorts. I am always pleased to see how such an acknowledgment comes in as a token of recognition for the excellent quality of our facilities and services and this has to be credited to all team members at the hotel,” says Alessandro Schenone, General Manager of Kanuhura.
Condé Nast Traveller is a major travel magazine which favours the ‘Truth In Travel’ concept and accepts no travel press trips. This policy has enabled the magazine to become one of the most authoritative and influential travel magazines in the sector. For information, the Readers’ Travel Awards is the choice of the best the travel world has to offer. Kanuhura was ranked fourth Best Overseas Leisure Hotel in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean for the 2008 edition. The top 100 overall winners, irrespective of category, rank Kanuhura at the 11th position.
“Formerly under the One&Only umbrella, Kanuhura is now part of Sun Resorts and thankfully it hasn’t lost any of its appeal”, affirms the Condé Nast Traveller review. This is a good appreciation of the whole new positioning of Kanuhura since its take over by Sun Resorts in June 2008. Today, Kanuhura clearly stands out among other hotels of the Maldives – one of the most preferred destinations for upmarket international travellers – as an indigenous and elegant hideaway with a contemporary feel and stylish service. The island boasts unrivalled natural beauty and offers natural aesthetic features with uncompromising five star luxury facilities and services. A ‘Made in Kanuhura’ concept came up to celebrate the locale and to promote survival ethos and dial it up to five star castaway chic. Even the new logo of Kanuhura resumes this concept: made of braided palm leaves. |
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Kanuhura first resort in the Maldives to obtain FSA Commendation
Monday 31st August 2009
Kanuhura, 5 star hideaway island in the Maldives, Indian Ocean, has been awarded ‘Full FSA Commendation’ by Food Safety Asia Ltd. It is a great achievement as Kanuhura is the first resort in the Maldives, among the eighteen five star resorts audited by Food Safety Asia Ltd., to obtain this award.
“We are really honoured of this new recognition of achievement and quality, which reflects the deep commitment of the entire hotel’s team. This commendation will definitely increase the awareness and prestige of Kanuhura on a global basis, especially to the TO and travel agent community, and our efforts in maintaining the highest standards of excellence,” says Alessandro Schenone, General Manager of Kanuhura.
Always working towards excellence, Kanuhura was already placed top of the list according to a 2009 review issued by ‘Leading Small Hotels of the World’ in terms of group competitor analysis. A few months before, Kanuhura was also highly noted by ‘Leading Small Hotels of the World’ following the report of the Mystery Guest inspection. Condé Nast Traveller, major travel magazine, also placed Kanuhura fourth Best Overseas Leisure Hotel in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean in its annual Readers’ Travel Awards for 2008.
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Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards
• Kanuhura ranked fourth best hotel in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean
Friday 17 October 2008
Condé Nast Traveller, major travel magazine, recently published the list of its annual Readers’ Travel Awards for 2008. This list is the choice of the best the travel world has to offer. Kanuhura, 5 star hideaway island in the Maldives and Sun Resorts’ latest acquisition, was ranked fourth Best Overseas Leisure Hotel in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean.
The survey carried out by Condé Nast Traveller enabled the magazine to establish average levels of satisfaction with facilities or services chosen throughout the world. It should be noted that Kanuhura scored an impressive 100 out of 100 for the ‘Location’ criteria. Kanuhura is a 5 star 100-room hotel located on Lhaviyani atoll to the north-east of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. With two beautiful neighbouring islets, Kanuhura is a unique and very private hideaway. Close by are some of the world’s best diving sites.
The top 100 overall winners, irrespective of category, rank Kanuhura at the 11th position. For information, Maldives occupies the 4th rank and Mauritius occupies the 19th position.
“To be considered as the 11th Best choice destination by the Condé Nast Traveller is recognition of the good work we have been doing at Kanuhura since Sun Resorts took over the hotel. Very recently, Kanuhura scored excellent marks with Leading Small Hotels of the World after their latest Mystery Guest inspection and ensuing reports,” comments Alessandro Schenone, General Manager.
The new positioning and identity of Kanuhura was recently launched and helped to position the hotel as being an exclusive island deluxe destination. Kanuhura clearly stands out among other hotels of the Maldives – one of the most preferred destinations for upmarket international travellers – as an indigenous and elegant hideaway with a contemporary feel and stylish service. The island boasts unrivalled natural beauty and offers natural aesthetic features with uncompromising five star luxury facilities and services. A ‘Made in Kanuhura’ concept came up to celebrate the locale and to promote survival ethos and dial it up to five star castaway chic. Even the new logo of Kanuhura resumes this concept: made of braided palm leaves.
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• Orchids made in Kanuhura
Kanuhura, 16 October 2008
Would you expect to see the most delicate of flowers on a small island one kilometre long and 200 metres wide, right in the middle of the bright atolls of the Maldives, set in the turquoise sea of the Indian Ocean? At Kanuhura, this unique hotel which stands out as an indigenous and elegant hideaway with a contemporary feel and stylish service, orchids open up the way. The island boasts unrivalled natural beauty and offers natural aesthetic features with uncompromising five star luxury facilities and services. Amidst all this, hundreds of delicate orchids…
Usually, at Kanuhura, guests marvel at the sight and scent of frangipani or Maldivian roses. However, orchids are the most common flowers on this island. Everything started a few years ago with some 2,500 orchids brought mainly from Sri Lanka and Thailand. Very rapidly, care for these flowers turned into love and with two nurses and one gardener specialised in the care and growing of these beautiful flowers, Kanuhura has reached the extraordinary count of more than 15,000 orchid plants using its own production of seedlings.
“At Kanuhura, we want our guests to experience successful laid-back island living with a contemporary and stylish feel. The orchids that we nurture here are a symbol of that caring attitude that we develop for the locale,” explains Alessandro Schenone, General Manager of Kanuhura. At the hotel, villas are made in stone, timber and thatch, and furnished with fine fabrics of silk and cotton made by Indian Ocean finest artisans. Even the driftwoods washed and bleached by the sea are turned to use by local island workshops. Palm leaves are also crafted into protecting sun shades and gazebos.
Orchids need a lot of humidity and the sandy floor favours the humidity concentration. It is very sensitive to extreme weather and to climate change. As normal water with a high concentration in salt is not good for orchids, rain water is collected in four tanks of 7,000 litres capacity each and is used for irrigation purposes. Orchids are irrigated twice a day and sprayed with special vitamins twice a week. To prevent diseases in the plants due the strong heat, the gardener sprays fungicide once a week. “At Kanuhura, one can indulge in the gentle vision of the “orchid” gardener who delicately ties seedlings in between pieces of coconut husk, which provides the plant a lot of minerals for its growth. It is only after 3 to 4 months of care that the plants will give their first flowers,” explains Alessandro Schenone.
Orchids grow everywhere at Kanuhura for the sheer delight of the guests. A major display of fully blooming orchids is made at the hotel for the decoration of common areas and rooms. For weddings celebrated at Kanuhura, bridal orchid bouquets are available. And what better than a special request when guests ask for beautiful bouquets to be delivered in room or during special events and occasions celebrated at the hotel. The Spa at Kanuhura vibrates with the bouquets of the island-grown orchids and very soon, the hotel will have its own bespoke orchid fragrance.
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• Kanuhura, the ultimate timeless
castaway island chic experience
Sept 08
Kanuhura, precious island languidly set on the warm Indian Ocean, in the middle of the bright atolls of the Maldives, can now be described as a unique “timeless castaway chic experience” for travellers seeking laid-back island living at its best with a contemporary and stylish feel. Indian Ocean based hotel group Sun Resorts has just launched the brand new positioning and identity of Kanuhura, its latest acquisition.
The new concept behind the positioning of Kanuhura has been prepared by British award winning design firm Pentagram which was formerly involved in the very successful rebranding of Le Touessrok, one of the best luxury hotels in the world in its category and flagship of Sun Resorts. The way forward is to clearly position Kanuhura as being an exclusive island deluxe destination with a distinct positioning identity.
The preliminary work has been done in such a way to integrate the existing assets of Kanuhura and the input of the new management team of the hotel. Kanuhura is one of the first luxury resorts in the Maldives and has won numerous awards in the past, just winning recognition from Condé Nast Travellers 2008 Award which voted Maldives as Best Island in the world.
“Kanuhura offers the most unique experience to its visitors. Time is all yours on this small island. Every moment is a point of pleasure, a celebration of nature, on this hideaway. Kanuhura is a place of beautiful and natural enchantment which has been created by Indian Ocean civilisations. We want our guests to experience successful laid-back island living with a contemporary and stylish feel,” comments Fabio Piccirillo, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Resorts.
Kanuhura will clearly stand out among other hotels of the Maldives –one of the most preferred destinations for upmarket international travellers – as an indigenous and elegant hideaway with a contemporary feel and stylish service. The island boasts unrivalled natural beauty and offers natural aesthetic features with uncompromising five star luxury facilities and services.
“At Kanuhura, we celebrate the locale. Our villas are made in stone, timber and thatch, and furnished with fine fabrics of silk and cotton made by Indian Ocean finest artisans. Even the driftwoods washed and bleached by the sea are turned to use by our own island workshops. Palm leaves are crafted into protecting sun shades and gazebos,” explains Alessandro Schenone, General Manager of Kanuhura. Even the new logo of Kanuhura resumes this concept: made of braided palm leaves and so close to the unique locale of Kanuhura.
This concept of ‘Made in Kanuhura’ is distinctive and will enable Kanuhura to make the most of the talent of craftspeople and expand it to an elegant environment. “By focusing on things made from materials found at Kanuhura, not only humble but luxurious things, not only made on the island but made by brands elsewhere, we wish to promote that survival ethos and dial it up to five star castaway chic,” explains Alessandro Schenone.
Kanuhura was acquired by Sun Resorts to reinforce the group’s position as a leading resort hotel company in the Indian Ocean. The strong commitment of the group in Kanuhura since it was taken over a few months ago has enabled outstanding performance and service.
Leading Small Hotels of the World, in their latest report, gave credit to the input of the new management team of Kanuhura by crediting the hotel with a very high satisfaction rate. The new positioning and identity, which will be shared to all markets through selected advertising and PR campaigns, will definitely reinforce the rank of Kanuhura among travellers looking for such a unique experience.
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