Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives

The Shangri-la Maldives Resort and Spa is one of the latest spa resorts to be constructed in the Maldives. Situated on the southern-most tip of Addu Atoll, the resort is expected to open during the first quarter of 2008 and will feature 184 guest rooms and a luxury spa.

The resort is being developed by Addu Investment Private Limited (70%) and the Maldivian Government (30%). The resort has cost an estimated $150m (2007 figures) and is being built in two phases, with the first phase involving the construction of 42 villas and the second phase (beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008) completing the remainder.

The island will be 80mins away from Malé International Airport by seaplane, but will also be accessible from the Gan International Airport.

ACCOMODATION

The accommodation will feature a range of villas including Water Villas, Water Pool Villas, Beach Villas, Twin Beach Villas, Presidential Beach Villa and Presidential Water Villa.

The villas are attached to three different ‘village’ concepts. There are also the Lost Horizon Villas, the Waterford Villas (water bungalows), the Whispering Palms Villas and the Windance Villas.

The land-based villas will all have their own private plunge pool.

Each villa will also open to a private terrace overlooking the beach and will have a partial open-air shower. The resort is based on 5km of coastline, of which 2km will be white sand beach.

FACILITIES

Facilities will include a range of restaurants and bars including the Island Piazza, Whispering Palms Lounge, Soft Rock Cafe (Windance Lounge), Italian Restaurant (Lost Horizon Lounge), Pool Bar, Spice Market & Silk Lounge, Naner’s Juice Bar and Pier Bar.

Other facilities will include a five-star range of spa treatments and lifestyle programmes (based on ancient philosophies and Chinese treatments).

The village will feature a range of shops and entertainment, a fitness centre with beauty salon, kids' club, a sea sports and dive centre, private pool for Lost Horizon guests, a piazza with a central guest pool and slide, three freshwater lagoons and a range of outdoor sports including three artificial surface tennis courts.

There are also meeting facilities, a ballroom and karaoke facilities. Other features will include a medical centre, a wedding pavilion and a special dine by design service (three venues) for couples looking to tailor meals to their own specification.

CONTRACTOR

The contractor for the construction of the resort is Alyson Service Private Limited. It has been contracted to build the resort, facilities and infrastructure including the 142 villas, restaurants, spa, dive centre, power house (electricity), desalination plant (for fresh water), as well as staff accommodation.

As of August 2007, around 60% of the first phase work had been completed with the majority of the villa structures and the water bungalows complete. The second phase of construction began in September 2007 and should be completed by May/June 2008 (fitting out will then take the final project completion into late 2008 when all of the resort should be open for business).

The villas were designed by Singapore-based Design Bube. The Plantation Village, which will form part of the resort, will open in the latter part of the development so that the contractor can carry out soil rebuilding and present a mature organic garden.