First InterContinental Resort in Maldives opens

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a management agreement with Hotel Properties Limited (“HPL”) to open a new InterContinental resort on the island of Maamunagau in the Maldives.
The 83-room InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will mark the brand’s entry into the Maldives.

With the signing of InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, the company now has 13 resorts in its development pipeline which will open within the next five years.

This is the third resort that IHG has in partnership with HPL. The Singapore-based property owner and developer also owns Holiday Inn Resort Kandooma Maldives and Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu.

Maamunagau island is located at the southern point of Raa Atoll (North Maalhosmadulu Atoll). International travellers can take a seaplane directly to the resort from Male’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

The resort’s bar and restaurants include an all day dining restaurant, the InterContinental Planet Trekkers Menu for children, and a Club Lounge.

Jan Smits, chief executive officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), IHG, said: “Tourism in the Maldives has been a major contributor to its economy, contributing more than 40 percent of the country’s GDP last year, and sentiments are positive as the country continues to be one of the world’s most highly sought after travel destinations. It is a great time to be bringing our InterContinental brand into the Maldives.

“In growing our brands’ presence it is always important we look for the right partner and we are delighted to be working with HPL to bring our luxury brand, InterContinental into the country.”

Stephen Lau, chairman, HPL Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd, said: “As part of our growth strategy we continuously seek the right opportunity to expand our portfolio across the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean region. We see huge potential to grow our resorts business in the Maldives and Maamunagau island is the perfect setting to develop a luxury InterContinental resort.

“We’ve been working with IHG for almost seven years and they have been excellent partners. We look forward to bringing another great resort to life, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, in partnership with IHG.

by TravelDailyMedia