The resort is the first all-Club IHG property in the world, offering guests access to a dedicated ‘Island Curator’ (butler), daily afternoon tea, after-dinner drinks and all-day refreshments by the pool or beach
Following the opening of InterContinental Hayman Island in the Whistundays in July and ANA InterContinental Beppu in Japan in August comes the latest opening from IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) as it continues to hone in on the resort market.
InterContinental Maldives marks the first property in the Asian region for the brand, opening in one of the most secluded locations in the Maldives on the southernmost tip of the Raa Atoll near Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The resort boasts 81 Beach, Lagoon and Overwater Villas and Residences.
Like InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, the new Maldives property is being positioned as an ‘immersive’ resort: “The opening of the InterContinental Maldives signals a new era for the brand and further raises the bar in terms of luxury and immersive experiences here in the Raa Atoll,” said Stefan O.Huemer, General Manager of InterContinental Maldives. “We are truly privileged to open this resort…[with an] offering that enriches guests’ stay through education, exploration and relaxation, whilst ensuring the preservation of this ocean idyll for generations to come.”
Catering to both families and couples, InterContinental Maldives’ design was conceptualised by Singapore-based architects’ Eco-ID to be in synergy with the natural surroundings. The private villas feature contemporary Maldivian interiors by Avalon Collective Interior Design Studio and offer expansive areas with breath-taking vistas of the Indian Ocean.
In a first of its kind for the paradisiacal Maldives, the two-story Lagoon Villas combine overwater views with direct beach and lagoon access, as well as private infinity and jacuzzi pools. Overwater Villas offer expansive outdoor decks and Beach Villas provide direct beach access. The resort also has four exclusive two and three-bedroom Residences, with the largest, the three-bedroom Royal Beachfront Residence, offering 790 square metres of luxurious privacy.
The resort’s signature AVI Spa features six overwater treatment villas along with steam rooms, ice fountains, a yoga pavilion and a fitness centre. A leading Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, who is specialised in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, is also on-hand for various treatments.
As the first and only all-Club InterContinental resort, InterContinental Maldives provides guests with access to exclusive benefits and personalised service throughout their stay. A dedicated ‘Island Curator’ (butler) is also on offer. Club InterContinental benefits include afternoon tea with rare loose-leaf varietals selected by the in-house tea sommelier, after-dinner drinks and all-day refreshments by the pool or beach.
The resort offers six distinct restaurants and bars including The Retreat, an adults-only enclave with a private bar and its own infinity pool at the water’s edge; Café Umi, a Japanese-inspired restaurant; Fish Market, which blends the best Maldivian seafood with aromatic flavours from South East Asia; The Lighthouse, with its 360-degree views of the Indian Ocean; The Collective for for grab-and-go options and Sunset Bar – the hottest seat in the house when day turns to dusk.
Perhaps one of the biggest draw-cards for the resort is its location. Enclaved within Maldives’ largest natural lagoon, InterContinental Maldives is positioned near the country’s only UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, home to Hanifaru Bay, one of the few places in the world where you can snorkel amongst feeding congregations of whale sharks and large groups of reef manta rays.
With the need for sustainable tourism practises ever more pressing, InterContinental Maldives has also launched two key conservation initiatives: a dedicated manta ray sanctuary in partnership with the Manta Trust; and a commitment to reducing plastic and glass waste, composting and recycling bio waste with the IHG Green Engage system. The resort has also entered into an agreement with Parley Maldives, which works to reduce reliance on single-use plastics.
Beach pool villas at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort start from USD $1,250 per night.