UAE residents can meet Kate Winslet, Beckham for Dh2,200

Hollywood celebs such as Kate Winslet and Kate Moss come often to these Maldives resorts.

You no longer have to travel the long distance to Hollywood for a celeb encounter. A small island in the Maldives is crawling with A-list stars. Be in the lap of luxury and enjoy the experience for as less as Dh2,200 ($600)! 
Mark Hehir, CEO of The Small Maldives Island Company (TSMIC), was in Dubai last week for the Arabian Travel Market, where he presented the two luxury resorts his firm manages in Maldives. 
Hollywood celebs such as Kate Winslet and Kate Moss come often to these resorts, called Amilla Fushi and Finolhu. Music star Robin Thicke is a frequent performer there. The resort has also partnered with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey to bring restaurant pop-ups to the venue. 
"Kate Winslet has been a fan of Maldives for many years and we've known each other for quite a while, so we've networked that relationship. It's the same relationship I have with Gordon Ramsey and David Beckham who have been coming with us for 12 years," Hehir said. 
"The Beckham family has been very supportive. This year, in fact, Victoria worked with me to bring Mel C to the stage and perform. So, families like that are coming out to spend time with us and welcoming their friends. 
"There are Russians and Australian supermodels who stay with us. From the music world, just last week, we had Robin Thicke on the island. He got up and sang in the bar a few times. It was very impromptu and wasn't planned at all. In fact, Robin and I are working on ways to bring music to the island in the long term." 
Hehir said the team participated in the Arabian Travel Market this year to shed light on these two resorts, as Maldives is a popular spot among UAE residents.  However, not enough people in the country are yet fully aware of the star-studded island. 
"What we want to do with our relationship with the UAE is to announce what we do on our islands because a lot of people don't know, I think. People from the UAE are coming, but not enough," he said. 
Hehir said that Amilla Fushi starts at the price of $1,000 (Dh3,670) per night, however, if UAE residents want a more affordable option, the second resort, Finolhu, starts at $600 (Dh2,200) per night. 
If UAE residents want a "celeb experience" and "luxurious stay", Amilla offers a 'Miami meets Maldives' theme, framed in lush jungle interiors, pristine sands, and crystalline lagoons," points out Hehir. 
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com