New Resorts — 2021 in review

As has been talked about for quite a while now, 2022 has been lauded as the golden year of tourism for the Maldives. With 50 years of hospitality successfully enjoyed, even through a pandemic with a halting of barely six months, the Maldivian tourism industry is booming. This year had seen the opening of quite a number of chart-toppers in terms of originality and luxury, and it is important to highlight some of them.

While all ‘one-island’ hotels have core similarities, such as beach villas, natural architecture, and unforgettable reefs and lagoons, there are those few resorts that pop up armed with a concept or approach that sets them apart from the rest. This year, this point became crucially important, with nearly all newly opened venues having a component that is truly individualistic.

Siyam World

Siyam World by Sun Siyam Resorts opened up with two main unique features. First, they are one of the largest resorts opened this year, and also has a football pitch for the visitors to enjoy. This has not been seen outside of staff areas in other resorts, and may give the island a uniqueness some people may seek. Second, they also include wellness programs doubled up as Kid’s Clubs, with child-centred yoga and educational activities. The Gaadiyaa concept, deserving an honourable mention, introduces as snack bars reminiscent of local ‘gaadiyaa’, located at various points on the island. Visitors can enjoy sweet and savoury food and drink, made truly authentic.

Joali Being

Joali Being is centred around the concept of wellness. To describe the resort as one specially-tailored spa experience would not be wrong. They introduced skin care and weight-loss packages, in addition to their mental and energy-centred wellness programs. Their ambience also reflect peace and serenity and balance, creating a constant atmosphere of relaxation and healing. With dietary experts and holistic medicine practitioners, Joali Being is standing out as the more luxurious, health conscious destination.

Cora Cora Maldives

Maamigili has always been an island with immense historical importance, and Cora Cora Maldives intends to celebrate this point. Their website reports that excavations at this island has unearthed over sixty remarkable finds, and given the many evolutions of Maldivian culture, this is an impressive fact. They introduce the Museum of Island Heritage at the lobby of the island, housing thousand year old items reflecting cultures from far-away lands. Coupled with memorials dated at over 500 years, and the temple tanks considered 900 years old, the island thrives on the archaeological findings proudly. They also have a traditional house reported to being over a 120 years old, proving that for the history buffs, Cora Cora Maldives is the way to go.

Le Meridien

Le Meridien champions existing concepts and amps them up to high luxury. Located at Lhaviyani Atoll Thilamaafushi, this resorts introduces a multitude of villa options, world-class food, and also easy access to over 50 premium dive spots. Their strength lies in their location and environment, both of which they intend to make the most of. An island that is now part of the Marriot family of companies, Le Meridien occupies the higher-price bracket, amongst the newly opened destinations.

Patina Maldives

Second on the list of Marriot openings would be Patina Maldives. Located on the elusive Farm Islands north of Malé, Patina involves more experience-based packages. They have the Fair Tale package which includes a private yacht transfer and a champagne cruise alongside multiple luxurious amenities, and also the more environment conscious, coral reef revitalising activities.

Ritz-Carlton Maldives

On the same group of islands is the third Marriot opening of this year, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives. They promote their eco-friendly approach to infrastructure by being mostly powered by solar energy. Their rooms ooze modernity and opulence, with every villa having a private pool, a bicycle and a butler, and access to the waterline. Furthermore, they have various food and beverage outlets throughout the chain of islands, connected by picturesque bridges. To top it off, they even have a world-class tennis court, where professional world ranking tennis players conduct workshops when they come to visit.

Kuda Vilingili Resort Maldives

Kuda Vilingili Resort Maldives takes the water like no other. Boasting the largest swimming pool in the country, they also have world-class surf spots within reach for any tourist staying at their hotel. Being 30 minutes of speedboat travel away from Malé also plays an important part in their preferability, yet they invest that attention and advantage into their gastronomical experiences. One of their three main food outlets is designed after the concept of street-food, with open areas and beach dining options.

Cocogiri Island Resort

Cocogiri Island Resort blesses Vaavu Atoll with a truly boutique experience. With twenty water villas sea twenty beach villas, the hotel is considerably small, promising a truly private and serene experience. They also include two main restaurants focused at bringing as wide a variety of food options within their scale of operations. Being situated in such a picturesque and undisturbed atoll, Cocogiri Island Resort promises to bring their visitors closer to the truth of Maldivian natural beauty.

Amingiri by Hilton

Another resort that deserves an honourable mention would the opening of Amingiri by Hilton. Their main selling point is the concept of each room having a private pool, bordering on the cusp of ultra luxury. All these resorts promise to both revitalise and accentuate the truly unique Maldivian hospitality experience for travellers, heralding the coming year with colourful, expansive festive celebrations already.

While COVID-19 had put the brakes on tourism, the early and timely reopening of the Maldivian borders has greatly benefited the economy. Even though the situation with the pandemic grows more and more dire by the day, stringent safety policies and constant testing, as well as the near maximum vaccination rates of the local population, boosts the performance of the industry as a whole. 

In 2022, the Maldives aims to be the place where everyone around the world can take a break away from the hustle and bustle and stress of modern living, and truly reconnect with the sun, sand, and sea in luxury.