luxury indian ocean
A JW Marriott with beach and overwater villas opens in November. Early 2019 brings a Waldorf Astoria with 138 villas and treehouse dining, spanning three islands in the South Male Atoll. Even more ambitious is the Emboodhoo Lagoon project across nine islands, of which the Hard Rock forms part of phase one. Besides several hotels, there will be a marina and a township, shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The Hon. Moosa Zameer, minister of tourism for the Maldives says: “The Maldives is undergoing several major infrastructure developments this year including expansion plans at the Velana International airport and the opening of the Hulhumale Bridge in July. We’ve already seen an impressive rise in visitor figures during the last few months, including a 17.5% increase in March from the UK, and these new developments will help to support the increasing demand we’re seeing for tourism to the Maldives.”
BA return to Seychelles The Seychelles, meanwhile, scored a
coup in March with the return of British Airways flights after 14 years, although Air Seychelles axed Paris flights in April ahead of the launch of Air France’s Joon service in May. Joon and Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air, which launches flights from Zurich in September, may bring a younger market to the islands. It is a welcome boost for the destination, which last year saw visitor numbers rise 18% to around 360,000 and is aiming for 400,000 in 2018.
The Seychelles saw its second Four Seasons property open in March at Desroches Island, the sole resort on the 4 mile-long coral island famous for the Desroches Drop, a sheer underwater cliff
that is among the world’s most famous dive destinations. It is a 35-minute flight from Mahe and has 71 bungalows, villas and suites. An organic spa and Discovery Centre, with exhibits about local flora and fauna, are among highlights, along with an activities programme that includes fishing and diving. Guests will also be able to pick up deli picnics ready for island exploration.
Club Med class
Club Med is planning its first Seychelles property for 2020. It will take over management of the current 87-room Beachcomber Seychelles Sainte Anne Resort and Spa hotel to create a Club Med 5 Trident Exclusive Collection Resort of around 300 rooms. At Banyan Tree Seychelles, this year a quarter of villas have been upgraded and a pool bar added along with a new immersive outdoor dining experience, Moutya, that involves guests at live cooking stations helping create meals with resort-grown produce. There’s also an intimate new Indian dining experience at the Wetlands Centre, named Thirty Three 1/3 – after sometime-resident George Harrison’s solo album. Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa on Silhouette Island is claiming the Indian Ocean’s first hotel museum. Grann Kaz, set in a restored plantation house, tells the story of the island from the 12th century. Highlights include a map from 1519 when explorer Vasco de Gama positioned the Seychelles for the
1. Water villas at Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi 2. The Muraka underwater hotel suite at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, five metres below the sea 3. Anantara Kihavah Maldives’ observatory, by the Sky bar 4. Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island, one of the world’s most famous dive destinations
Aerial view of Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi
first time and the original journals from 1770 documenting the discovery of Silhouette Island. Environmental issues are also to
the fore in the Seychelles with resorts making efforts to reduce plastic; Hilton, for instance, this year started bottling its own water in reusable glass. DoubleTree Resort & Spa by Hilton Hotel Seychelles Allamanda has meanwhile launched a Coral Reef Restoration Programme. Guests can get involved in helping at the resort’s land and sea-based coral nurseries. It seems that Indian Ocean resorts now have an eye on the future well beyond 2018.
4 1 2 3 28 wtm insights summer 2018
wtm.com
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