Business
Onyx Hospitality Group announces second Maldivian resort, OZO Maldives opening in 2020
Onyx Hospitality Group has announced plans to open a second resort in the Maldives, OZO Maldives.
Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2020 under a management agreement with a joint venture company led by Panchshil Realty, the 200-villa private island resort will occupy a secluded island in the Raa atoll, located northwest of the Maldivian capital of Male.
Positioned as a family-oriented resort, OZO Maldives will bear all the signatures which define an OZO, including an enhanced sleep experience, smart connectivity of personal devices in both private spaces and public areas, and curated destination and activity tips by enthusiastic and informed team members.
”We are excited to be taking OZO to the Maldives, a destination once reserved exclusively for the ultra-luxury segment. With the opening of OZO, we look forward to redefining the family-oriented resort experience in the Maldives with a property which combines the best of the three key OZO brand signatures — sleep, connect and explore. OZO Maldives will be a great showcase of locally-sourced craftsmanship and environmental education,” Douglas Martell, President and CEO of Onyx Hospitality Group, was quoted in a statement, as saying.
“Serving as a strong complement to Amari Havodda Maldives located in the south, this new opening will give Onyx Hospitality Group the opportunity of offering two compelling luxury and mid-scale options in this popular paradise destination.”
Featuring design elements and experience touch points inspired by a fictitious castaway explorer named Sebastian King III, an artist and amateur sailor who was shipwrecked and lived alone on the island for eight years before allowing himself to be discovered, OZO Maldives will immerse travellers in a reinterpretation of the legacy he left behind through a series of structures, shelters and landmarks Sebastian creatively constructed from island-sourced raw materials and flotsam washed ashore over the years.
Highlights include an upturned Dhoni shipwreck hidden within a jungle which doubles as an activity centre, a crow’s nest-style observation tower, an abandoned lighthouse, Sebastian’s rustic home located within the kids’ club, educational sundial and weather station, and a mangrove discovery walkway.
The social centre of the island will be the ‘Village’, a collection of rustic driftwood styled retail and dining outlets offering art and craft workshops, bespoke ice cream and refreshments, as well as island-inspired fashions. The island’s large size and natural untouched terrain also offer family-oriented activities including adventure and biking trails, a kids’ campsite, a pitch and putt golf course and various natural and environmental features to appeal to travellers of all ages.
Other facilities include OZO’s signature Eat all-day-dining restaurant best known for energising breakfasts, a specialty ‘sunset experience’ restaurant, a rustic and informal ‘Victory Bar’ and floating lagoon pavilions and jungle tree-decks for private dinners. There will also be an island farm run by Maldivian islanders, offering guests natural and fresh organic produce in a unique market garden dining experience.
The resort will also feature Maai Spa, a signature Thai wellness concept, a gym and yoga facility, dive centre and a large landscaped lagoon swimming pool.
Of the 200 villas at OZO Maldives, 60 villas will be located overwater while 140 villas will be located on the beach, with 50 beach villas offering larger family-friendly layouts and private plunge pools. Many of the villas will also be either interconnecting or configured with dual key access, to offer flexibility for families and groups of friends travelling together.
“OZO Maldives will be a great family-oriented resort with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental education, capped off by all the elements which have made OZO a compelling and high-quality midscale offering. We look forward to adding Onyx to the growing list of international hotel partners we have relationships with, and to working with them on the opening of this property,” Ranjit Batra, President for Hospitality Management at Panchshil Realty, a majority shareholder of the project ownership consortium, said.
OZO is a smart, simple and savvy midscale hotel brand offering an enhanced sleep experience and seamless connectivity for travellers who are keen to embark on a deeper exploration of the destination. Since the opening of the first OZO in Hong Kong, the brand has generated consistently positive feedback and continues to exceed midscale accommodation expectations. OZO is currently available in Hong Kong, Koh Samui, Colombo and Kandy, with new hotels being developed in Pattaya, Phuket, Johor Bahru, Penang and the Maldives.
Within the Indian Ocean region, Onyx Hospitality Group operates four hotels in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with two hotels in the development pipeline.
In the Maldives, Onyx runs the Amari Havodda Maldives resort, which is located in the southern Gaafu Dhaalu atoll, and accessible by a 55-minute domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo domestic airport from the main Velana International Airport, followed by a 10-minute speedboat transfer to the island.
Based in Thai capital Bangkok, Onyx Hospitality Group has a growing regional portfolio of 50 operating properties across three core brands in eight countries. The group has a robust development pipeline of close to 30 new properties in markets such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, and has set a target of having 99 hotels open by 2024 as part of its journey towards being the best medium-sized hospitality player in the region.
Hotelier Maldives has announced Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as the Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 under a multi-year agreement, reaffirming one of the longest-standing partnerships behind the publication’s flagship hospitality recognition platform.
The 2026 edition marks the third consecutive year that BBM has served as Title Partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards, having supported the event in the same capacity since its launch in 2024. BBM has also backed Hotelier Maldives’ second flagship event, GM Forum, every year since 2023, with 2026 set to mark its fourth year as a Silver Partner of the forum.
The continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to recognising the people behind the Maldives’ tourism industry while supporting platforms that encourage industry dialogue, leadership and professional development.
Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 entered its public voting phase on 15 March 2026, with voting set to remain open for one month. Winners will be announced at the gala ceremony on 26 April 2026 at NIVA Kurumba Maldives.
Commenting on the partnership, Ali Naafiz, Editor of Hotelier Maldives, said: “BBM has been a valued partner of Hotelier Maldives Awards since the very beginning, and we are pleased to formalise this continued support through a multi-year agreement. Their decision to return as Title Partner for a third consecutive year reflects not only the strength of our relationship, but also a shared belief in the importance of recognising the people who drive excellence across the Maldives’ hospitality industry.
“BBM has also consistently supported GM Forum over the years, making them one of the most committed partners across our event platforms. We are proud to continue working together as we strengthen both Hotelier Maldives Awards and GM Forum as annual fixtures for the industry.”
AVS Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer of BBM, said: “At BBM, we have always believed that a strong hospitality industry is built by strong people, and Hotelier Maldives Awards provides an important national platform to recognise the professionals whose work often takes place behind the scenes. We are pleased to continue as Title Partner of the awards under this multi-year agreement, while also extending our support to GM Forum for a fourth consecutive year.
“As a company that has grown alongside the Maldives’ hospitality sector, we value opportunities that celebrate talent, encourage professional pride and contribute to the long-term development of the industry. Our continued partnership with Hotelier Maldives reflects that commitment.”
Bestbuy Maldives is one of the country’s leading importers and distributors, serving the hospitality, HORECA and retail sectors with a broad portfolio of international brands. The company positions itself as a partner to the Maldivian hospitality industry, supplying products from around the world across key business verticals including resorts, foodservice and retail.
Hotelier Maldives Awards continues to recognise the contributions of resort-based hospitality professionals across the Maldives, highlighting both individual excellence and team performance. The awards programme remains the country’s only dedicated recognition platform focused on professionals working in resort operations. The current public voting round allows industry stakeholders, colleagues, guests and the wider public to take part in selecting this year’s winners.
The growing list of confirmed partners for Hotelier Maldives Awards 2026 includes Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) as Title Partner, Dhiraagu as Platinum Partner, Storm Events as Organising Partner, NIVA, Kurumba Maldives as Host Partner, Souvenir Marine as Transport Partner, ALIA as Associate Sponsor, and Lightsout Studios as Associate Partner. More partners and sponsors will be announced soon.
Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has announced the opening of Feydhoo Hall, a landmark event venue at dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives, redefining the possibilities for meetings, celebrations, and destination events in the Maldives.
Designed to bring scale, flexibility, and creativity to island gatherings, Feydhoo Hall represents a bold step forward in positioning the Maldives as a dynamic destination for conferences, weddings, and large-scale social occasions.
Feydhoo Hall offers a versatile event complex designed to accommodate a wide range of gatherings, from corporate meetings and conferences to weddings and social celebrations.
At its core is the 390 sqm Main Hall, capable of hosting:
- Up to 300 guests in theatre-style setup
- Up to 240 guests for dining and banquet-style events
- Up to 200 guests for cocktail-style receptions
- Up to 144 guests in cluster-round configuration
Enhancing the flexibility of the venue are additional dedicated spaces, including:
- A 110 sqm Veranda Terrace, ideal for welcome receptions, breakout sessions, and pre-event gatherings, accommodating up to 100 guests for cocktail-style events.
- A spacious 1,000 sqm Lawn Space, perfect for large-scale outdoor celebrations, destination weddings, and open-air events, accommodating up to 400 guests for cocktail receptions and up to 350 guests for dining setups.
- The 55 sqm Ekugai Meeting Room, designed for smaller meetings and executive sessions, accommodating up to 30 guests in theatre or dining setup and 24 guests in cluster-round format.
Together, these integrated spaces create a seamless indoor-outdoor event experience, allowing planners to design dynamic and personalised event journeys.
True to the dusitD2 brand’s lifestyle-driven philosophy, Feydhoo Hall introduces a fresh approach to meetings and events — where productivity meets creativity in an inspiring island setting.
The venue offers flexible meeting formats designed to suit different event needs, including:
- Half-Day Meeting Package (4 hours) — ideal for focused sessions, executive meetings, and creative workshops.
- Full-Day Meeting Package (8 hours) — designed for immersive conferences, extended workshops, and large-scale corporate gatherings.
These thoughtfully structured packages provide planners with the flexibility to create impactful and seamless experiences, whether hosting intimate strategy sessions or dynamic full-day events.
Located just seven minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives combines accessibility with vibrant lifestyle energy, offering event planners and guests a rare balance between convenience and tropical escape.
With the introduction of Feydhoo Hall, the resort strengthens its position as a versatile destination — not only for leisure travellers but also for international conferences, creative retreats, luxury weddings, and large-scale social celebrations seeking something refreshingly different in the Maldives.
Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) opened a new wholesale store in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Monday.
The outlet is located on the ground floor of Lot 20286, Nirolhu Magu, and is intended to improve access to BBM’s imported goods for residents of Hulhumalé Phase 2 and for businesses operating in the area.
According to the company, the opening forms part of its plan to expand services closer to customers in line with population growth in Hulhumalé.
With the opening of the new store, BBM’s full range of imported and distributed products will be available at the Hulhumalé Phase 2 location. These include consumer goods from international brands such as Lifebuoy, Vaseline and Unilever.
The store will also stock wholesale food products from brands including Daily, Cavin’s and Redman.
BBM has supplied goods to resorts, hotels and retail outlets across the Maldives for several years.
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