The winner of the prize – worth approx. £165,000 – will get to take eight people for an ultra-luxurious seven-night stay in a villa at either Soneva Fushi or Soneva Kiri, including full board, as well as business-class flights and resort transfers.

“This is certainly one of the largest prizes offered in the travel industry and we expect significant interest and strong competition,” said Sonu Shivdasani, chief executive and founder of Soneva.

To be in with a chance of winning, agents must confirm bookings between now and December 31 for villas of three bedrooms or larger at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives or Soneva Kiri in Thailand. The bookings must be for stays until March 31 2016.

The agent that generates the highest value of bookings between now and the end of the year will get the prize, with winners announced in March 2016 - Soneva will also publish a weekly-updated leader board.

“This will be the holiday of a lifetime for the winning agent. We will pay for themselves and seven of their friends or family to fly from anywhere around the world on business class flights and spend seven nights in one of our enormous luxury villas in Thailand or the Maldives,” Shivdasani said. “They will live like millionaires with Soneva, as they enjoy private butlers, fine gourmet dining prepared by our award-winning chefs and unforgettable experiences.”

The company’s villas range from three to nine bedrooms (Soneva Fushi) and three to six bedrooms (Soneva Kiri). All villas are made of sustainable materials and comprise detached living areas joined by wooden walkways, infinity pools, outdoor living areas and outdoor bathrooms.

Entries in the competition are on an individual basis (per person) and not per company - for more information, email sales@soneva.com.