InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) upcoming InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has been launched in Los Angeles, California.
Celebrities and travel agents from the US market attended the exclusive event held at Petersen Automotive Museum.
Despite being a relatively new market, the US has over the past two years secured a spot amongst the top source markets to Maldives tourism.
Official figures show that 42,901 Americans visited the Maldives in 2018 — a 9.5 per cent increase over the 39,180 American tourists in 2017. That growth is set to continue this year as well, with arrivals from the US posting an impressive 41.9 per cent growth in the first four months of the year to reach 20,762 from 14,630 in the same period last year.
Set to open on September 1, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort will be the first InterContinental Resort in the Maldives and one of the most exclusive InterContinental hotels in the world. The resort is already building a strong team of distinguished professionals to deliver an exceptional luxury service.
InterContinental Maldives’ 81 luxuriously appointed beach, lagoon and overwater villas and residences offer a new level of InterContinental experience, with contemporary Maldivian design, unobstructed views of breath-taking ocean panoramas and each equipped with their own private terrace and pool.
As the first and only All-Club InterContinental experience, guests will immerse in thoughtfully elevated personalised service and exclusive benefits throughout the island, including complimentary gourmet experiences to surprise and delight throughout the day.
The resort also features six tantalising gastronomic concepts including the Retreat, an adults-only enclave with a private bar and its own infinity pool at the water’s edge; a signature Avi Spa with six overwater treatment villas; and a Planet Trekkers Kids Club for young explorers; all surrounded by the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the atolls.
InterContinental Maldives is located on Maamunagau island, at the southern tip of the northern Raa atoll.
A 35-minute scenic seaplane transfer from Velana International Airport, InterContinental Maldives enjoys an enviable location enclaved within Maldives’ largest natural lagoon, with emerald blue waters all around, unfettered sunset views and pristine white sands.
The island is located near Maldives’ only UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and home to Hanifaru Bay, one of the very few places in the world where visitors can snorkel among feeding congregations of whale sharks and large groups of enigmatic and graceful reef manta rays.
As part of InterContinental Maldives’ conservation initiatives, the resort has partnered with Manta Trust in support of the Maldivian Manta Ray Project, to nurture a safe habitat for the manta rays within the resort’s lagoon as well as providing guests with an invaluable information and opportunity to swim alongside these graceful creatures and snorkel in underwater coral gardens.