It has been announced that of SO/ Maldives, an 80-villa luxury resort, will debut in 2023.
Executives from CROSSROADS Maldives and S Hotels & Resorts gathered for the ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the new destination located on the private third island of Crossroads Maldives, just 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé’s Velana International Airport.
SO/ Maldives brings together a statement collection of bespoke beachfront and over-water villas imagined by renowned designers, alongside a vibrant array of dining and entertainment experiences.
The villa only resort will be nestled on its own exclusive island overlooking the azure Emboodhoo near to the country’s international airport.
The resort’s speciality restaurant will serve up colourful Levantine cuisine, celebrating the atmosphere and aromatic flavours of an Arabian night, to be savoured against panoramic ocean views. Poolside, guests can lounge by the Art-Deco inspired beach club and indulge in seasonal plant-based dishes. The vivid colour scheme and secret lawn is set to make it one of the most stylish places to be seen in the Maldives archipelago.
The traditional all-day-buffet concept has been replaced to give guests more bespoke culinary concepts. A chef’s table offers a more interactive dining experience, whilst perfectly framed open-air spaces with neutral terracotta palettes and rattan furniture allow guests to enjoy unforgettable evenings under the Maldivan skies.
The resort also boasts an oceanfront wedding venue and well-dressed meeting spaces.
“We are delighted to see development kick-off for the audacious SO/ Maldives, a resort which will be the place to see and be seen for travellers that live vibrant lives and are seeking something truly avant-garde on their journeys around the world. We look forward to seeing this high-energy resort come to life and working alongside S Hotels & Resorts and WEWD,” said
Chadi Farhat, Brand Chief Operating Officer at Ennismore.
“This is a momentous day as we officially launch SO/ Maldives, the latest jewel in the Maldivian tourism crown. With SO/ Hotels & Resorts, Accor has created one of the hotel industry’s most expressive and individual luxury brands, catering to style-conscious travellers in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations. This makes it a great fit for CROSSROADS Maldives, our game-changing multi-island leisure complex. SO/ Maldives will complement our two other five-star resorts and further raise the standard of hospitality in this idyllic archipelago,” said Dirk De Cuyper, Chief Executive Officer, S Hotels & Accor as they broke ground on such a prestigious project.
“CROSSROADS Maldives is one of the most significant developments in the history of the country – and the entire Indian Ocean region – so we are honoured to have been tasked with the wonderful transformation of its third island. SO/ Maldives will attract trendsetters from all around the world and I look forward to bringing this remarkable resort to life in the coming months,” added Zaw Win Maung, Managing Director, WEWD.
SO/ Maldives comes as the brand’s 5th address in Asia, with other locations in vibrant destinations such as Bangkok and Singapore. SO/ is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Ennismore has 87 operating properties globally, with a further 141 hotels in the pipeline.
