The much-anticipated resort development, located on its own exclusive private island overlooking the Emboodhoo Lagoon, has held a ground-breaking ceremony.

Promising to raise the standard of hospitality in the archipelago, the SO/ Maldives scheme is already turning plenty of heads.

SO/ Maldives passes key development milestone

The Accor-backed lifestyle hospitality company Ennismore has staged a ground-breaking ceremony attended by the likes of Tolga Unan, managing director of Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and The Marina @ Crossroads Maldives, SAii Lagoon Maldives general manager Patrick de Staercke and S Hotels & Resorts CEO Dirk De Cuyper to mark the official start of work on SO/ Maldives. Situated on an exclusive Crossroads Maldives private island just 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport in Malé, the scheme will comprise 80 design-led beachfront and overwater villas, alongside an array of dining and entertainment venues with views over Emboodhoo Lagoon.

Ennismore has teamed up with S Hotels & Resorts and WEWD to bring this ambitious project to life.

Chadi Farhat, brand chief operating officer at Ennismore, said: “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.”

De Cuyper added: “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.”

A new lifestyle destination

Due to open in 2023, the luxury resort will incorporate a specialty restaurant serving Levantine cuisine with views over the ocean and an art deco poolside beach club offering seasonal plant-based dishes.

A vivid colour scheme and features such as a secret lawn will help set SO/ Maldives apart from others in the archipelago. And instead of having an all-day buffet concept, the resort will present guests with a range of bespoke culinary concepts, including a chef’s table experience for interactive dining.

Zaw Win Maung, managing director of WEWD, said: “It gives us great pleasure to join hands with S Hotels & Resorts and Accor as we break 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.”

The SO/ brand is part of Ennismore, which now has 87 properties operating across the globe, with 141 more in the pipeline.

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