ONYX Hospitality Group, one of Asia's leading hotel management companies, has signed an agreement with a joint venture company led by Panchshil Realty to launch "OZO Maldives," a  200-villa private island resort on a secluded island in the Raa Atoll, located northwest of the Maldivian capital of Male.

Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2020, OZO Maldives will bear all the signatures which define an OZO property 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. OZO Maldives will be a great showcase of locally sourced craftsmanship and environmental education. 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." Said Douglas Martell, President and Chief Executive Officer, ONYX Hospitality Group.

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.

The resort will feature 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 of the resort includes an upturned Dhoni shipwreck hidden within a jungle which doubles as an activity centre, a crows nest-style observation tower, an abandoned lighthouse, Sebastians 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 islands large size and natural untouched terrain also offer activities that are especially tailored for families including adventure and biking trails, a kids camp site, a pitch and putt golf course and various natural and environmental features to appeal to travellers of all ages.

Other facilities include OZOs 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.

"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 has 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." Said Ranjit Batra, President, Hospitality Management of Panchshil Realty, a majority shareholder of the project ownership consortium.

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.

Based in 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 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.