ONYX Hospitality Group, one of the region’s leading hotel management companies, has signed an agreement with a joint venture company led by Panchshil Realty to launch OZO Maldives.

Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2020, the 200-villa private island resort will occupy a secluded island in the Raa Atoll, located northwest of the Maldivian capital of Male. ‏

Positioned as a family-oriented resort, OZO Maldives will bear all the signatures which define an OZO 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. ‏

‏Featuring 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 include an upturned Dhoni shipwreck hidden within a jungle which doubles as an activity centre, a crow’s nest-style observation tower, an abandoned lighthouse, Sebastian’s 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 island’s large size and natural untouched terrain also offer family-oriented activities 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 OZO’s signature EAT all-day-dining restaurant best known for energizing 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.