South Pacific resorts Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island, Fiji were recognised for their environmental credentials. They became the first South Pacific resorts to be awarded Green Seal certification. Issued by NGO Green Seal, the certification ensures a product or service meets a set of rigorous environmental criteria. Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort was the first South Pacific resort to gain it. It has implemented practices that reduce waste, harmful chemicals, and pollution. It also hired an environmental officer. Castaway Island, Fiji was also awarded. The resort adopted Outrigger's OZONE initiatives and raises awareness of the island's reef and marine ecosystem. The resort sources local products and ensures all employees receive environmentally focused education and training.

  UK MasterChef 2022 champion Mr Eddie Scott will create special dishes on two evenings at Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort in in the second half of April 2023.   The UK MasterChef winner will also hold a special cooking demonstration at the resort for guests who want to learn culinary skills.   Specific dates will be confirmed shortly.   Eddie, 31, from Yorkshire in northeast England, won the coveted TV accolade in May with MasterChef judge John Torode calling him a “culinary powerhouse”.   Fellow judge Gregg Wallace said: “I think we’ve just seen the birth of a future great chef.”   Eddie is currently working in the 3-star Michelin restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London.   Eddie spent eight years as a navigation officer in the Merchant Navy travelling the world before becoming a marine pilot in the River Humber in northeast England in 2017.   Only since storming his way to the top of MasterChef UK in May has he switched to cooking full time.   Chef Eddie draws on his love of classic French food and often surprises diners by adding Indian culinary flavours, a skill he learned from his Punjabi grandparents. His father also made exciting dishes such as Mexican chimichangas and original Indian curries. His mother shared her love of baking with him. Eddie is passionate about Royal Mughlai culinary dishes from northern India.   He learned his French culinary skills from travelling around France with his family, eating in local workers’ canteens, exploring fresh markets, then emulating the dishes back home in England.   “The way food was ingrained in French culture was a total revelation. I wanted to recreate the food I’d tasted and that’s how I really got into cooking,” he said.   He was making classic French dishes like Tarte Tatin, Ile Flottante, Crème Brulée and Gratin Dauphinois by the age of 12.   Eddie will create special menus on two occasions in the latter half of April at Outrigger Maldives. He will also give a culinary demonstration and hands-on cooking class for guests.   It will be Eddie’s first trip to the Maldives. “I can’t wait to go and cook there. I’ve heard so much about the place,” he said. “The water there will be a bit different from the Humber. I look forward to trying the island’s fresh seafood.”   The resort’s executive chef, Christopher Long, also from Yorkshire, met Eddie while he was visiting the Michelin-starred Pipe and Glass near Beverley, Yorkshire, run by James Mackenzie, who was also a guest chef at Outrigger Maldives in 2019.   “The three of us got talking,” said Chris, “and the idea was hatched for Eddie to do a guest chef stint in the Maldives with Outrigger.”   Details of the menu and the cooking class that Eddie will organise at Outrigger Maldives will be revealed in January.   Further information will be announced on Outrigger.com.   Offering small island charm with contemporary architecture and bespoke finishing touches, Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort – winner of Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ "Best Luxury Hideaway Resort” in the Maldives 2022 – is a 25-minute seaplane journey from Male. The resort offers guests an idyllic island experience, epitomising all that one thinks of when dreaming of the Maldives.   Take advantage of the latest best offers to stay at Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort at www.Outrigger.com.

  Celebrating 75 years of warm island hospitality, Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has announced a comprehensive brand revitalisation in alignment with its bold mission to be The Premier Beach Resort Company in the World. Sun-kissed and sandy, the elevated yet playful aesthetic permeates all aspects of Outrigger’s barefoot luxury brand as it further modernises its current assets and expands its portfolio with additional destinations. The new strategic direction incorporates a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art technology stack – most notably, the all-new Outrigger.com website, which brings to life Outrigger’s premier beach resort product in a digital format. Developed in partnership with Rightpoint, the data-driven and dynamic website uses the Optimizely platform to deliver a personalised, best-in-class user experience with rich, compelling content updated daily. The launch of Outrigger.com comes on the heels of a very successful Cyber Sale, connecting guests to exceptional rates and re-introducing the Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty programme. Outrigger’s brand evolution was a project two years in the making, said Sean Dee, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer for Outrigger Hospitality Group. “Using qualitative and quantitative data, we leaned into our beach positioning and are now focused on delivering a cohesive brand experience across all platforms,” he said. “We’re now proud to share with our guests five iconic elements at every Outrigger resort: a renowned beach location, the must-see beach bar, authentic live music, signature experiences, and our commitment to conservation,” said Dee. In the last 18 months, five premier beach resorts have been added to the Outrigger portfolio: three in Thailand, one in the Maldives and one in Hawaii. The company has earmarked US$250 million to reinvest in its Hawaii assets, including the flagship Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, Waikiki Malia by Outrigger and Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel – which has more exciting enhancements on the horizon. As part of the brand revitalisation, the name of Hawaii’s first and only craft hotel – Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger – has been changed to Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. “Moving the Outrigger brand to the front of our hotel’s name epitomises the confidence of our ownership and the maturing of our product – fulfilling the Outrigger standards of unforgettable happenings and unparalleled hospitality on the world’s most iconic beaches,” said Edwin Torres, General Manager at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. With its central location, steps to Waikiki Beach, Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel draws inspiration from local artisans who are integral to the interior design and modern Waikiki vibe of the craft property. The alliance of extraordinary collaborators named “The Beachcomber Originals,” contribute to the hotel’s look, sound and taste to create a one-of-a-kind journey of the senses for its visitors. Guests will also start to see the new Outrigger icon throughout its properties, collateral and logo wear. Because watching the sunrise and sunset over the sea is an integral part of a beach vacation – the Outrigger “O” is akin to the warm island sun, resting on an ocean wave. Drawing hues from the sea, sand and sky, the brand’s new colour palette is fresh, bright and natural. Elevated, authentic, iconic, lively, caring and playful, Outrigger invites guests to ‘Come Be Here’ at Outrigger Resorts & Hotels.

Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has announced a comprehensive hotel rebrand. The new strategic direction incorporates a multi-million dollar technology stack, an all-new Outrigger.com website. Developed in partnership with Rightpoint, the data-driven website uses the Optimizely platform to deliver a personalised user experience. Outrigger's brand evolution was two years in the making, said Sean Dee, EVP for Outrigger Hospitality Group.  Hotel rebrand "We leaned into our beach positioning and are now focused on delivering a cohesive brand experience across all platforms.” In the last 18 months, five beach resorts have been added to the Outrigger portfolio: three in Thailand, one in the Maldives and one in Hawaii. As well as the hotel rebrand, Outrigger earmarked US$250 million to reinvest in its Hawaii portfolio. It includes the flagship Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, Waikiki Malia by Outrigger and Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. As part of the brand revitalisation, Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger has been changed to Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. The rebrand invites guests to 'Come Be Here' at Outrigger Resorts & Hotels.

  Outrigger CCO, Sean Dee, provides a background and an update on their Hawaii, Thailand, Maldives, Mauritius and Fiji properties to TravelMole Publisher, Charlie Kao.  

Thailand resort Outrigger Koh Samui recently completed its full opening. It unveiled the final complement of 102 rooms. The finishing phase comprised colonial-style rooms with balconies, including 32 inter-connecting pairs of rooms. With the full opening Outrigger Thailand now has three resorts open in Koh Samui, Khao Lak and Phuket. Outrigger Koh Samui's ali-day dining restaurant, Mala Kitchen, and an additional courtyard swimming pool were also unveiled in the final phase. The Thailand resort now has two restaurants, a Kids club, a Club lounge, fitness centre, and four swimming pools. "We have created a superlative beach holiday setting for families and couples to experience," said Leah Matters, General Manager. "Our resort's leisure facilities, and activities programmes are ideal for families with children of all ages." Guests so far come primarily from the UK, Germany, Australia and Israel. Outrigger has opened four properties in Asia in the last 11 months.

  On 26 November, Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort completed its opening by unveiling its final complement of 102 rooms. The finishing phase comprised elegant colonial-style rooms with balconies, including 32 inter-connecting pairs of rooms designed for families and small groups of friends.   With the full opening of the resort in Koh Samui, Outrigger Thailand now has a total of three resorts operational in the region: at Koh Samui, Khao Lak and Phuket.   Outrigger Koh Samui’s ali-day dining restaurant, Mala Kitchen, and an additional courtyard swimming pool were also unveiled in the final phase. The 146 room and suite property now has two restaurants, a Coral Kids club, a games room, the Voyager 47 Club lounge, a fitness centre, three massage salas and four swimming pools, one with a children’s waterslide adjacent to the beach.   “We have created a superlative beach holiday setting for families and couples to experience,” said Leah Matters, the resort’s General Manager. “Our resort’s leisure facilities, extensive adult and children activities programmes and dining options are ideal for families with children of all ages. Our Edgewater beach club, which is already proving popular in the destination, will soon welcome an international DJ five nights a week along with Koh Samui’s famous beach fire show.”   Based on its first seven reviews on TripAdvisor, Outrigger Koh Samui already has a 5.0 “excellent” rating.   The 146-key property on Lamai beach in the southeast of the island, 30 minutes from Samui International Airport, has an elegant colonial feel.   Like all Outrigger properties, live music – from either a DJ or a band – will be a key feature at the resort, as well as private romantic dining and vow renewal options for couples.   Guests so far have hailed primarily from the UK, Germany, Australia and Israel.   Apart from day trips to the spectacular Angthong marine national park and assorted waterfalls around the island, visits to Haven Elephant sanctuary for rescued elephants are also proving popular.   Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort is putting its new facilities to good use this Christmas and New Year. The resort has arranged festive dining, drinks, entertainment and fun for families and couples on 24, 25 and 31 December. The full festive programme details are here.   Outrigger has opened four properties in Asia in the last 11 months: the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, the Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, the Outrigger Surin Beach Resort in Phuket and the Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort.   Outrigger Resorts & Hotels continues its journey to becoming “The Premier Beach Resort Company in the World”.   Further information and bookings, including very special cyber sale offers, are available at outrigger.com.

  Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has appointed Michael Gaarde-Nielsen General Manager and Rory Campbell Director of Sales and Marketing for the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort.   Gaarde-Nielsen holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Oxford Brookes University in England. He will be responsible for all aspects of resort operations, with an eye to maximising commercial performance while delivering best-in-class service culture, host and guest satisfaction.   Gaarde-Nielsen has several years of resort leadership experience in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He has held general manager positions in both his native Denmark and Thailand, where he served as General Manager for Centara Hotels and Resorts in Phuket and Krabi.   Outrigger has also welcomed back a familiar face in Rory Campbell to oversee sales and marketing for the resort.   Campbell will be responsible for the development and implementation of internal and external sales and marketing strategies and related plans to maximise the resort’s revenue market share and optimise profitability for all source markets.   With several years of Outrigger experience, Campbell was Area Director of Sales and Marketing for the former Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resorts; Director of Sales and Marketing for the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort; and General Manager of the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort.   Before joining Outrigger in 2013, Campbell worked in senior sales and marketing roles for Hilton in Spain, Anantara Hotels and Resorts in Thailand and the Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong.   Campbell is a Bachelor of Commerce graduate from Deakin University in Geelong, Australia.

Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has appointed Michael Gaarde-Nielsen General Manager and Rory Campbell Director of Sales and Marketing for Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort. Gaarde-Nielsen will be responsible for all aspects of resort operations, with an eye on maximising commercial performance. He has several years of resort leadership experience in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He has held GM positions in both his native Denmark and Thailand, where he served as General Manager for Centara Hotels and Resorts in Phuket and Krabi. Outrigger has also welcomed Rory Campbell to oversee sales and marketing. Campbell will be responsible for the development of internal and external sales and marketing strategies. Campbell was previously Area Director of Sales and Marketing for the former Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resorts. Before joining Outrigger in 2013, Campbell worked in senior sales and marketing roles for Hilton in Spain, Anantara Hotels and Resorts in Thailand and the Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong.

Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has unveiled its Christmas and New Year programme, which runs 19 December to 1 January. A diverse range of activities has been designed for guests who love to eat, drink, keep fit - physically and spiritually – chill or dance to music, and learn about marine life. Guests can enjoy chef Christopher Long's Christmas market and can sign up for hands-on classes on making sushi, Vietnamese hand rolls, seafood curing, cake decoration, chocolate and wine pairing. There will also be mojito madness and margarita mash-up sessions. Ideal for couples, guests can request private sunset dinners on the beach and a floating breakfast in their pool villa, which can be over water or on the beach, depending on guest preference. Outrigger guests can enjoy sunset cruises, big game fishing (catch & release), kayaking around the island, snorkelling safaris and guided scuba dives. Apart from leading marine trips, the resort's resident marine biologist, Lynn Jula Kessler, will give presentations on Outrigger's ZONE - OZONE - its global nature conservation initiative. A key feature of the festive period on the island will be physical and spiritual fitness. Outrigger's resident yoga and fitness instructor Ajay Sharma has created a thoughtful and holistic regime of sunrise and sunset hatha yoga, balance and strength sessions, pilates classes, core training, flow yoga, and cross fit. On New Year's Eve, management cocktails early evening will be followed by an around-the-globe gourmet journey and then a DJ session from 10.30pm onwards for guests to dance their way into 2023. The resort will also run a festive Instagram contest. Guests who post images with certain hashtags could win a traditional dhoni sailing boat sunset cocktail for two, a 60-minute couples' massage, or a beach dinner for two. The full list of optional Christmas and New Year guest activities is available here. Only 25 minutes seaplane flight from Male international airport, the newly refurbished Outrigger Maldvies Maafushivaru Resort offers 81 o villas and five dining outlets.

  Ahead of World Manta Day on 17 September, Lynn Jula Kessler, the marine biologist at Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort offers the following advice on viewing the gentle giants.   1. When to go?   The manta rays’ migration pattern is dominated by the two monsoon seasons in the Maldives. From roughly December to May we find the mantas more frequently on the Western atolls. From June to November we mainly focus our search on the eastern sites. In South Ari Atoll around Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort we are extremely lucky to record year-round sightings of manta rays, as the animals don’t leave the atoll when the monsoon is changing (due to the geographical size of the atoll). Most manta sightings have been recorded between October and March.   2. Videos and books to enjoy in preparation   The Manta Trust has published a fantastic Guide to Manta and Devil Rays, which gives a great overview of all the manta species known to science, with helpful identification keys. For a more aesthetic book, I recommend the Secret Life of Manta Rays, co-authored by Dr. Guy Stevens, the founder of Manta Trust. This book has stunning photographs and interesting insights to the conservation efforts, plus it’s a beautiful coffee table book. As one of the biggest threats to manta ray populations around the world is overfishing, I can recommend Seaspiracy on Netlfix to familiarise yourself with overexploitation of the seas.   3. Choose a resort with a dedicated marine biologist or conservationist   Many resorts in the Maldives have a resident marine biologist or conservationist on site. With a bit of research, or by contacting the resort directly, you can find out how well the marine biologist is included in the resort’s ocean activities — and what other types of sustainability efforts are being pursued by the resort. At Outrigger we have our global nature conservation programme called OZONE — Outrigger ZONE.   4. Do a trial snorkel or scuba dive first   This is important, especially if you are not a strong swimmer or have little experience snorkelling in the ocean. Try snorkelling in a safe environment first. This way you can familiarise yourself with the equipment, practice being in open water, and increase the chance of a more enjoyable manta dive or snorkel excursion.   5. Be ready!   If you join a group trip make sure you listen to your guide’s instructions and are ready to get into the water at any moment!   6. Don’t get too close   Manta rays are very curious by nature. We try to stay at about a three to four metre radius. But due to mantas’ inquisitive nature they almost always break this distance themselves. The best advice I can give when it comes to manta ray encounters is to stay as calm as possible. The chances of the manta ray turning around and checking you out from up close are much higher when you remain calm at the surface rather than splashing around and chasing after it. However, don’t try to touch a manta ray. This will most likely end the encounter as mantas are not tactile animals and get scared when being touched.   7. Photography tip   Many times I have seen guests more focused on their camera settings than on the mantas themselves. If you are not familiar with your camera settings or you don’t want the extra pressure of having to take pictures as well as keeping up with mantas, leave the camera behind. However, action cameras such as GoPros are usually a very easy solution and make great footage and can be rented at the dive centre. If you join a trip with me you can be certain that I always carry a camera. I am more than happy to share my pictures.   8. Instagram channels to keep an eye on   If you are interested in manta rays, I recommend the channels from Manta Trust (@mantatrust) and the Maldivian Manta Ray Project (@maldianmantaproject). On the OZONE Maafushivaru (@ozone_maafushivaru) channel, I share information and insights on manta rays as well as other marine projects at Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort.   9. What is Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort doing on Manta Ray Day?   For World Manta Day we have a scheduled manta ray excursion for our guests. I will be joining as well, providing the participants with insights into the manta rays’ life and briefing everyone on proper in-water behaviour. All data collected during this trip will be submitted to the Maldivian Manta Ray Project and the Manta Trust, which is the world’s leading organisation on manta ray research and conservation.   10. Learn more about mantas and the responsible resort approach   Find out more about World Manta Day at WorldMantaDay.com. It’s a great resource with information links, a list of challenges facing mantas, upcoming events, and how to get inolved. The Outrigger OZONE page also gives useful insights on coral protection and propagation initiatives, reducing waste, guest education, and the best eco-activities for responsible travellers.

 

Completely renovated property on Koh Samui’s Lamai Beach in Thailand has been designed for families and couples

  The Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort officially opened 1 August with a group from Germany as its first guests. The fully renovated resort opened with 44 premium category rooms, with the remaining 102 superior rooms to open in November 2022.   Guests checking in from 1 August can enjoy the resort’s main lifestyle features, which are ideal for families, including the beachfront Edgewater beach club with three pool zones and a kids’ water slide. Guests can also enjoy the Outrigger’s signature Voyager 47 Club Lounge, the Coral Kids Club and game room, a fully equipped fitness centre and redesigned main lobby area.   Premium category rooms include 12 Club Garden rooms (57m²), 12 Lamai Garden Suites (70m²) and 20 Premier Lamai Garden Suites (80m²).   Depending on category, premium rooms feature spacious living quarters separate from the rest of the room, a four-poster bed, relaxing tropical decor and a luxurious marble bathroom with separate shower and bathtub.   All guests in premium rooms have exclusive Voyager 47 Club Lounge access with all-day non-alcoholic drinks, afternoon snacks and evening cocktails with the Chef’s tasting plate.   Every room in the resort has a balcony, French-style balcony or terrace. Each room blends contemporary design with soft-colonial accents.   “We are really excited by the whole Edgewater family beach club concept, which is the first of its kind in this part of the island,” said the resort’s General Manager, Leah Matters. “With the Voyager 47 Club and a colonial beach house feel throughout the property, Outrigger has created a truly memorable and unique beach holiday experience,” she said.   Outrigger took over the resort in July 2021. The redesign was led by Bangkok-based architectural firm and longstanding Outrigger design partner, Santhaya + Associates.   In November, an additional 102 superior rooms, an all-day dining restaurant and a fourth swimming pool will open. Each superior room will offer French doors opening onto a private balcony overlooking the resort gardens or swimming pool.   Outrigger has opened four properties in Asia in the last six months: the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, the Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, the Outrigger Surin Beach Resort in Phuket and the Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort.   Outrigger has the aim of becoming the “Premier Beach Resort Company in the World”.