The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has landed in the Maldives with the highly-anticipated opening of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands this week.
The resort, which happens to be designed by an Australian firm and its day-to-day operation overseen by another Aussie, features 100 luxurious one- to three-bedroom villas, set over crystal clear waters, or positioned along pristine beach coves, each offering spacious living spaces, a sun deck with a private infinity pool and ocean vistas.
Award-winning Kerry Hill Architects from Fremantle and Singapore designed The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, which is inspired by the resorts natural surroundings, including the elements of swirling water and ocean breezes, which are incorporated into a design narrative rooted in the shape of a circle that also represents the flow of island life.
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The Fari Islands, an archipelago on the north-eastern tip of North Malé Atol, an area is famous for its untouched white-sand beaches and brilliant azure waters teeming with marine life. Featuring stunning minimalist architecture, the resort invites guests to embrace the beru, or circle of island life, and welcomes them into a world of exceptional luxury and memorable experiences.
As part of The Ritz-Carlton’s acclaimed service standards, and inspired by the ancient royal customs of the Maldivian royal courts, each room is assigned an ‘Aris Meeha’ or island butler to fulfil a guest’s every wish.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands offers seven culinary venues including the onsite overwater Summer Pavilion serving contemporary Cantonese cuisine, the casual La Locanda for Italian, Iwau (Japanese), Beach Shack for Mediterranean, and the Eau Bar which dishes up fresh oysters, caviar and cocktails. Offsite, two resort venues are located at the Fari Marina, an eight-minute journey in a dhoni (traditional wooden fishing boat), from the resort island – Arabesque, a traditional Bedouin tent where serving cuisine inspired from Lebanon to North India, and the Tum Tum food truck serving light Asian fare.
“This latest addition perfectly complements the Marriott International luxury portfolio, as we continually strive to meet the increasing demand for luxury offerings and experiences from affluent international travellers. This is an extremely monumental day for us, and is set to renew confidence in international travel,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International.
Guests can enjoy an array of experiences designed to immerse themselves in the best of Maldivian island life and culture, including adventures with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment Program. Activated for the first time in Asia-Pacific, this unique brand program inspires guests to connect with nature and ocean life, and to safeguard it for future generations.
They can also snorkel and scuba dive, or take a leisurely cruise on a dhoni for a chance encounter with dolphins, or swim with turtles and mantra rays. The Ritz Kids program also offers a total of 30 activities for youngsters. The Ritz-Carlton Spa features nine treatment rooms including a spa suite with its own relaxation lounge, a salon and boutique.
Leading the new resort’s operation as General Manager is Mark Hehir, a seasoned hotelier with over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry. The Australian has worked in his home country and around the world, in Europe, Asia and the Indian Ocean, the latter where he has previously managed properties including Conrad Maldives, Huvafen Fushi by Per Aquum (in the Maldives) and One&Only Reethi Rah. Hehir was most recently the CEO, Partner and Curator of The Small Maldives Island Co.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands is accessible via a ten-minute seaplane ride, or a 45-minute luxury boat ride from Velana International Airport in the North Malé Atoll.
More at ritzcarlton.com/Maldives.