Keong Hong’s Maldives Two Resorts To Be Managed By Accor

French hotel group Accor has been appointed to manage Singapore’s Keong Hong Holdings' first two resorts in the Maldives. The resorts are being developed by Pristine Islands Investments, a joint venture company of Keong Hong Construction which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Keong Hong Holdings.
Accor is to provide the full spectrum of management services starting with consultancy during the design and construction phase of the two properties, Pullman Maldives Maamuta Resort and Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort.
“The upscale Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort and mid-scale Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort will be our first two hotel developments in the Maldives and we are pleased to partner with Accor, which has a large brand portfolio catering to different market segments and a strong brand presence in Europe and Asia Pacific. We believe that this partnership, with our collective experience, will create a new and very exciting holiday destination in the Maldives.” said Mr. Ronald Leo, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Keong Hong who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the JV company Pristine Islands Investments.
Pristine Islands Investments was formed on 17th July 2014 to own develop and operate Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort (Pullman Maamutaa), Mercure Maldives Kooddoo Resort (Mercure Kooddoo) as well as a domestic airport in Kooddoo in Gaafu Alifu atoll in the Maldives. Keong Hong Construction owns 45% of the shareholding in Pristine with BRC, Sansui and L3 owing 15% each and the remaining 10% by HRC. The project is estimated to cost US $120 million.

The Mercure Kooddoo will include 68 villas including 43 located over water and 25 scattered along the white sandy beach. To give the local feeling the resort is planned to be built using local materials, bright colours and stylish furniture with the interiors designed reflecting the Maldivian culture and the spirit of travel. Facilities planned are an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge, pool and pool bar, sunset bar, spa and gym as well as a range of watersports including a dive centre.This will be the first beach resort directly accessible by domestic plane, without the need of an additional speedboat journey as is in Kooddoo where the domestic airport is located.
The 120-villa Pullman Maamutaa, will be a ‘one-island, one-resort project’ located just 10 minutes by speedboat from Kooddoo airport on the gorgeous, unspoilt Maamutaa Island which spans 195,000 square metres. Pullman Maamutaa is designed to be one of the most modern resorts in the Maldives. Guests can indulge in five-star services and facilities including 80 spacious bungalows set over the water and 40 dotted around the pristine beach, two swimming pools, a lounge, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a sunset bar perched over the lagoon, spa and fitness centre, organic gardens, tennis court, kids club, beach playground as well as a dive centre and water sports centre.
“We are thrilled to announce our first two hotels in the Maldives at a time when the region is enjoying excellent growth, especially with travellers from the Asia Pacific,” said Michael Issenberg, Chairman and CEO Accor Asia Pacific.
“The Mercure and Pullman resorts will provide great options for travellers looking for world-class accommodation in the middle of this unspoilt lagoon and we look forward to working with Pristine to bring these exciting projects to fruition.”
The 68-villa Mercure Kooddoo resort and 120-villa Pullman Maamutaa resort is scheduled to open in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
Keong Hong added that besides the Maldives, it is also looking to expand its hotel business in countries like Japan and Australia.