Seychelles’ Maia Luxury Hotel and Spa has started the year on a high note after being voted the top hotel for food in Africa by travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller.

The ratings were listed as part of the Gold List Guide to the World’s Greatest Hotels for 2010.

Overlooking the secluded beachfront of south-west Mahé at Anse Louis, this luxury resort has a growing reputation for excellence that will be further enhanced by an award from this widely respected guide to the world’s very best hotels.

Maia comprises 30 thatched villas, each with its own infinity-edged plunge pool, around-the-clock butler service and a distinctive Asian ambiance.

With creativity being at the heart of Maia’s kitchen, the resort ensures that it makes the most of the locally sourced ingredients to create intriguing fusions of flavour, texture, colour and aroma, all with the help of its highly skilled chefs.

The resort recently brought in five head chefs – George Billionis and Manchal Herch from the One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai, Bansani Nawisamphan from Chiva Som, Sebastian Bernis from the Four Seasons George V Paris and home-grown talent Jean-Paul Nourrice.