Resort openings in 2022

2022 marked the year that Maldives celebrated the 50-year anniversary of their tourism industry. Along with this celebration also came major success as the country celebrated the arrival of 1.6 million tourists and major developments in the country’s tourism industry. In order to make the year even more successful there were quite a few resort openings in 2022.

This was a highly anticipated opening for Hilton lovers, especially those who want hassle-free travel. Due to the close proximity, Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa with its 109 beach or overwater villa made for the perfect spot. In addition to a point system that allowed Hilton Honors Elite members to get their fifth nights to stay for free, the resort also had a teens-only zone, allowing family vacations to be more stress-free than ever.

2022 also marked the year Emerald opened their second property in the Maldives, Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa located in Raa Atoll. Featuring 80 Villas, 39 water villas, and 27 beach villas, this resort acts as a sanctuary to get away from the hectic city life and settle into the joyful island life. Embracing the barefoot concept, Emerald Faarafushi resort & Spa provides guests with a modern minimalistic touch on their private 7- hectare island.

Following the COVID-19 lockdown, many travellers started looking for a vacation where they can have fun and build real connections, and Nova Maldives brought this traveller wish to a reality with their resort opening in 2022. This resort is designed around a modern, all-inclusive community concept that is built to make guests feel at home with their abundance of fun activities and plans. Brought to the Maldives by pulse Hotels & Resorts, Nova Maldives offers guests water villas, beach villas as well as villas with private pools.

With offers such as all-inclusive packages and soul food, Nova Maldives aims to act as a home away from home for guests who want to take a day for themselves and unwind in the tropical paradise of the Maldives.

There is nothing better than an adults-only getaway for the thousands of honeymooners that book their memorable trip to the Maldives. With the opening of Oblu Select Lobigili, the selection of adults-only resorts expanded. The concept of this resort was built around the Dhivehi word ‘loabi’ meaning love and ‘Gili’ meaning island, literally making the island a love island. This resort not only brings guests all the romantic vibes that they are looking for on their honeymoon, but they also have the biggest underwater restaurant in the Maldives, ONLY BLU.

Providing guests with the option to choose from beach water villas, nest water villas or sunset water pool villas, Lobigili has created a picture-perfect romantic getaway in the Maldives.

Another chain to debut its second opening in the Maldives in 2022 is COLORS OF OBLU, with the grand opening of Oblu Xperience Ailafushi. While ‘Aila’ directly translates to family in Dhivehi, Oblu Xperience Ailafushi is yet another adults-only resort, that caters not only to couples but families and friends as well. This resort comes with 268 villas that are divided into three categories: over-water, beach or garden villas.

In addition to offering guests a space to unwind and enjoy their exotic vacation, Oblu Xperience also offers underwater dining at the Only BLU Underwater Restaurant.

Just like a lot of resorts that were set out to open in 2020 and got pushed back, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives officially opened their doors to guests in 2022. Officially opening on May 12, 2022, Alila Kothaifaru soft-launched in early April with 44 beachfront villas and 36 overwater villas.

Incorporating simplicity and greenery into the resort concept, this brand new resort took sustainability to another level as the resort was built around the natural vegetation of the island in addition to their sustainable water consumption practices, the inclusion of recyclable energy, as well as inclusion waste management measures such as converting paper products and vegetable waste into fertiliser and the use of an on-site bottle crusher and garbage compactor.

In addition to their sustainable front, Alila Kothaifaru also opened up with a wide range of delicacies for guests to try out, creating a sustainable getaway for those who want to get in touch with nature on their next vacation.