On 18 June 2019 Sandies Bathala Resort, formerly managed by AAA Hotels & Resorts, officially reopened its doors in the heart of the Maldives, more precisely north-east Ari Atoll, several nautical miles away from the nearest island. It is one of the most classic lost islands, a true natural paradise characterized by very white beaches, palm trees, crystal clear waters, and a marvelous coral reef, which the designers and workers of the Marlegno - Italian company from Bolgare (Bergamo) - wanted to safeguard as much as possible, using innovative construction techniques.

In the resort, there are 3 garden villas immersed in the rich tropical vegetation of the island, 46 beach villas distributed on the outer perimeter directly facing the sea, and 24 newly built water villas suspended over the water and accessible from a wooden pier, designed by the famous architect Ettore Mochetti, to satisfy different desires and needs. All the different villas are united by large spaces, attention to detail and a " total white " look, typical of the Sandies style.

The resort is complete with a reception, two restaurants one of these is the Island Gallery, which serves tempting Italian and international cuisine, with a Mediterranean touch, created by Executive Chef Giacomo Gaspari. Next, is the Beach Grill Restaurant, a unique location where you can dine under the stars), the Island Bar, an infinity swimming pool, a gym, the MVUA Spa, a boutique and the Warner Lau Diving center that offers nitrox dives, underwater scooters and excursions to the best dive sites of the Maldives, like Fishhead, Maaya Thila, Maaga Thila and Manta Point. Sandies Bathala offers endless possibilities for relaxation and fun.

The uniqueness of this resort, lies in the construction philosophy: the villas and other structures have been designed as if they were Lego constructions, or Ikea furniture, easy to assemble but, above all, easy to dismantle, so that when the concession obtained by the company that will manage the structure comes to an end. All this is made possible by a dry construction technique: every single part fits in with the other, without the need for any sort of binder. The eco-resort, in fact, was made internally with lamellar conifer wood, particularly appreciated for its lightness, and externally with a composite wood-plastic material, because it is very effective in resisting any weather.

Sandies is operated by Planhotel Hospitality Group. "The opening of this new eco-resort perfectly represents the Sandies style of a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, attention to quality and service.", declared Sara Rosso, President of Planhotel Hospitality Group. Planhotel already runs two resorts in the Maldives under its luxury all-inclusive brand, Diamonds Hotels & Resorts. The two resorts operated by Diamond, Thudufushi and Athuruga are located in the magnificent South Ari Atoll.