Award-winning Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives has crunched the numbers, and ‘All-inclusive’ stays are now the most popular. The 15-hectare private island paradise in South Male Atoll, just a 40-minute boat ride from Velana International Airport, has established itself with families, couples, and groups over several years. In Quarter 1 2024, the resort says 32.19% of total stays booked are an all-inclusive experience. At Kandooma, guests can choose between a soft or alcohol All-inclusive stay, with the latter showing a whopping 40.9% growth since 1 January.
Regarding the growth of All-inclusive stays and customer preferences, Sharon Garrett, Director of Marketing, shares, “Our guests are looking for value, and our all-inclusive dining plan delivers in spades.”
So are we all drinking more, or is it just the comfort of knowing it’s all included?
“We are not necessarily drinking more, but I certainly do think many people like to enjoy a sundowner or a cocktail while on holiday and a fancy coffee. In a remote location, those costs add up quickly, and if there is a great drinks list and a mixologist on the bar with a bit of sparkle, you are more likely to indulge in more than just one on holiday.” She adds that the All-inclusive offering has recently been upgraded.
“I think it’s fair to say that all of the resorts in the Maldives recognise that we can be perceived as a little pricey with everything being transported into the individual islands, most often from abroad. With that in mind and that people in many of our feeder markets are feeling the pinch with greater costs of living at the moment, travellers are becoming more savvy and want to budget their getaways. They are not necessarily cancelling a trip because of tighter budgets or reducing the number of nights, but rather, pricing it up and seeking greater value.”
“As a resort that sits in the mid-market, just beneath the five-star ranking, we are conscious now, as much as ever, that guests use all the digital tools at their disposal to compare the different offerings, and we work hard to remain competitive.”
Kandooma has just refreshed its All-inclusive offering. Though it seems like more of an overhaul than just a simple refresh, it includes everything from more discount privileges at the Spa and speciality dining to afternoon tea snacks, ice cream hours, and much more.
The refreshed All-inclusive plan at Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives includes:
Coming second in the meal plan preference stakes (by less than a percentage point) is the Half Board option, which includes buffet Breakfast and Dinner at the resort’s all-day dining international restaurant, Kandooma Cafe. With 31.42% of all stays opting for Half Board. “The numbers revealed some interesting trends, even for us, with less than a quarter of all guests, 22.83%, choosing bed and breakfast,”
For more information, please visit www.maldives.holidayinnresorts.com
