Leading global hospitality company, Hilton has entered into a franchise agreement with Singha Estate Public Company Limited to open a new boutique resort in the Maldives, which will join the Curio Collection by Hilton portfolio of nearly 50 upper upscale independent hotels around the world. 

The new Curio Collection property forms part of CROSSROADS project, the first-ever integrated leisure and entertainment resort destination that is currently under development in Emboodhoo Lagoon, Maldives. The new resort will be managed by S Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of Singha Estate PCL, and is scheduled to open in end-2018.

"Opening the first Curio Collection hotel in the Maldives is a very exciting milestone for us," said Mark Nogal, global brand head, Curio Collection by Hilton. 

"The Maldives is renowned for being a one-of-a-kind tropical paradise and we are confident that the resort will offer curious travellers seeking an authentic experience truly memorable accommodations." 

The new resort will have 198 spacious guest rooms, beach villas and overwater villas as well as facilities such as a fitness centre and swimming pool. In addition to duty-free shops and multiple restaurants, guests of the resort will also enjoy convenient access to a beach club, water sports, a dive centre, a cultural centre and a kids club - all located within CROSSROADS. 

"As we continue to grow our portfolio across Asia, we are proud to introduce the Curio Collection by Hilton brand in one of the world's most celebrated resort destinations. The Maldives remain a top choice for global travellers today and we are thrilled to be partnering with Singha Estate on this very exciting CROSSROADS project," said Guy Phillips, senior vice president, development, Asia & Australasia, Hilton. 

"With this brand, our owners can benefit from the proven track record and quality of the Hilton engine, also known as the Hilton performance advantage, while staying true to their hotel's individuality."

CROSSROADS spans nine islands in the Emboodhoo Lagoon and will have a plethora of dining, retail, entertainment, recreational and leisure-lifestyle offerings including a 50-berth marina. Set exclusively on one of the islands within the integrated destination, the resort is about 15 minutes away by speedboat to the Velana International Airport in the capital city of Male. 

"CROSSROADS project, the first integrated leisure and entertainment resort in the Maldives, is a reflection to Singha Estate's vision to be the premier lifestyle developer while delivering sustainable growth and creating value for all stakeholders," said Naris Cheyklin, chief executive officer, Singha Estate Public Company Limited.

 "We are delighted to partner with Hilton on this unique, integrated resort and look forward to seeing our exciting collaboration lift Singha Estate's rapidly growing hospitality portfolio to a new level."

One of Hilton's 14 market-leading brands, Curio Collection by Hilton is a global, upper upscale collection of distinctive hotels and resorts that offer guests one-of-a-kind experiences, each unique to the destination they call home. The new Curio Collection by Hilton resort will have its own unique character, appealing to the curious traveler seeking a fun and authentic Maldives vacation experience. 

"S Hotels & Resorts aims to craft quality settings in a sustainable environment where guests can relax, play, work, enjoy and share instant stories, and to meet the travellers' demands at maximum," said Dirk De Cuyper, chief hospitality officer of S Hotels & Resorts. 

"We are very pleased to manage the new lifestyle resort that will be a part of Curio Collection by Hilton."

The Curio Collection Maldives resort joins close to 80 Hilton hotels open and under development across gateway cities and popular destinations across the South East Asia.