Hotel planned for Island paradise

150 150 Daniel Fountain
  • 0

A Maldivian Island has come on the market complete with building permits for a luxury hotel resort and spa.

Orivaru is a tropical island paradise in the northern Maldives covering an area of 14 hectares (34.6 acres) and is one of 71 islands forming the Noonu Atoll situated approximately 100 miles north of the Maldivian capital Male. Only 13 of the islands are inhabited the closest of which is home to a luxury Hilton resort and spa on the island of Minaavaru just 5 kilometres away.The Maldives are an extremely popular destination for scuba diving and boast some of the finest corals and ocean life on earth. The romantic charm of the islands have been a favourite with honeymooning celebrities for decades with white sandy beaches and some of the most incredible sunsets over the Indian Ocean imaginable. Orivaru is no exception to this with a natural landscape covered in palms, rich vegetation and wildlife.

Planning permits issued by the Ministry of Tourism pave the way for a luxury island resort including 100 five star private rooms and water villas built around the islands coastline with integrated hotel facilities comprising restaurants, guest lounges, pools and a wellness spa. The island also features a natural port allowing boats and seaplanes to berth without interfering too much with the natural landscape.

Being the lowest lying country in the world with an average of just 1.5 metres of land above water, climate change and rising sea levels are obviously a big concern for the Maldivian government who are working toward becoming carbon neutral by 2020. The administration are already carrying out assessments for the introduction of wind power and with 15% of the country’s GDP spent on fossil fuels are determined to reduce the country’s reliance on diesel powered generators. Maldivian officials are also working in collaboration with Italian designer Michelle Puzzolante to assess the viability of floating resorts powered by solar energy.

The Maldivian registered owners are seeking offers in the region of 14 million dollars for their interest in the island and would be developers literally have a blank canvas to create a luxury resort. The island is held on a long leasehold from the Maldivian government although these are frequently renegotiated and extended. Debutesq Group director Alan O’Connor who is marketing the site says “being just 45 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport, this could no doubt become another very successful tourist destination. A Russian investor recently purchased an island in the northern Atolls for $65m so there is definitely a market out there.”

Daniel Fountain / 05.10.2014

Editor, Hotel Designs

Share

  • 0

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.