Integrated Resorts May be the Next Big Thing for Maldives
A moving Boduberu experience at Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, inviting guests, including the couple, for a photograph after the performance. The hotel is one of three upper luxury resorts at Fari Islands, Maldives
21 February 2025
Ultra luxury room rates have soared globally, raising the expectations of seasoned travelers. This puts pressure on investors and operators to innovate, pushing the boundaries of hotel design. But these boundaries seem stretched. What’s next beyond incremental improvements?
In the Maldives, integrated resort developments offer a promising solution, breaking the “one island, one resort” mould. Why offer a single product when you can offer several?
Pontiac Land Group, a Singapore-based real estate developer accustomed to integrated projects, has pioneered this model in the ultra luxury segment with its Fari Islands, Maldives project. This “four islands, one destination” concept features four distinct products, a short boat ride apart. Three are high-end resorts: the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, and the Patina Maldives, Fari Islands (both opened in mid-2021), and a third opening in 2026. The fourth island is dedicated to staff accommodation, training, education and community living, offering unparalleled employee facilities in the Maldives (read more about this here).
Located in the North Male Atoll, Fari Islands is a 45-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. My recent two-night stays at the Ritz-Carlton and Patina provided insight into why integrated developments could be the future of Maldivian hospitality.
First, choice. Traditionally, guests are confined to a single island in the Maldives. Fari Islands offers 17 dining concepts (and more to come with the third resort’s opening this year), catering to diverse tastes. The interplay between the Ritz-Carlton (five restaurants plus two at Patina) and Patina (10 restaurants) creates a world-class culinary destination in the Maldives. Twelve of these outlets are located in Fari Marina Village at Patina. Complimentary transfers between the two resorts require restaurant reservations.
Second, resort variety. Guests can choose one resort for this trip, another for the next, or combine their stay – without too much precious vacation time lost in changing resorts. No need for long speedboat rides or seaplane transfers. My own dual experience proved rewarding.
And the more distinct the resorts, the more meaningful the choice. The Ritz-Carlton, designed by Kerry Hill Architects, features a “Circle of Life” concept, using curves and circular forms instead of the usual rectilinear structures, creating iconic villas and facilities such as the EAU Bar. Suffice to say it’s an architecture that runs circles around competitors. Patina, designed by Marcio Kogan, emphasizes contemporary biophilic architecture. My beach villa evoked “restorative,” “nurturing,” “natural” and “sustainable” senses. It wasn’t just the verdant landscaping surrounding the villa, or its earthy color palette, but the use of natural materials such as wood, linen, rattan, paper cord, stone and natural fibre.
The Ritz-Carlton excels in its inimitable “Ladies & Gentlemen Serving Ladies & Gentlemen’ service, which is astonishingly consistent throughout the stay. Patina, a newer brand launched by Pontiac Land in 2020, showcases its “transformative luxury” philosophy, connecting guests through art, design and enriching experiences. Patina will soon expand with openings in Osaka (2025) and Tianjin (2026).
Pontiac Land’s signature commissioned art installations are prominent at Patina Maldives, with over a dozen outdoor and indoor artwork and sculptures, including James Turrell’s “Amarta,” an uplifting installation that mixes natural light with artificial color through openings in the ceilings, transforming the color of the installation’s internal space.
Economies of scale
From an investment perspective, integrated developments offer economies of scale that single resorts will find hard to match. Fari Islands’ centralized laundry and staff food production for all its resorts, located on the dedicated staff island, are examples.
Integrated resorts are a growing trend in the Maldives, spurred by 2020 legislation recognizing them as a distinct tourism product. Developers can now combine resorts, marinas, guesthouses and other tourism offerings on one or more islands or lagoons. Proposed regulatory changes allowing foreign villa ownership could further enhance integrated developments.
While Pontiac Land leads in the ultra luxury segment, Thailand-based S Hotels & Resorts pioneered the upscale and luxury space with its integrated development Crossroads Maldives, featuring three resorts and 18 dining options. Atoll Estates, a new player based in Abu Dhabi, has announced a mega-project that will include three resorts, 26 dining venues, a convention center, a super yacht marina and a medical spa across eight islands.
Maldivian vacations are now more expensive due to increased taxes impacting high-end jet setters the most. With luxury and ultra luxury average daily rates (including service charge) in the destination reaching $1,400 and $3,250 respectively in the first half of 2024 (STR Global/JLL data), guests are reasonable in expecting a lot more value.
Integrated resorts may offer that solution.
Gallery: Photos courtesy of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands and Ritz-Carlton, Fari Islands.
First row from left: Contemporary biophilic design of one-bedroom beach pool villa at Patina; Fari Beach Club at Patina, one of 17 F&B offerings at Fari Islands; wellness at Patina
Second row: Ritz-Carlton’s circular architecture; one bedroom ocean pool villa at Ritz-Carlton; EAU Bar at Ritz-Carlton
