JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa announces November 2018 opening

1024 683 Katy Phillips
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JW Marriott has confirmed that its JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa will be opening on the island of Vagaru, Shaviyani Atoll, Maldives in November 2018.

The 61-villa property will be headed up by General Manager Marc Gussing, with highlights including a private pool with every villa, a treetop restaurant, an expansive wine cellar, a house reef rich in marine life, a Kid’s Club by JW and Spa by JW.

Set to open on the northern Maldivian island of Vagaru in the Shaviyani Atoll, the resort will be a 55-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport on Male.

Private Beach Areas

Guests will have a choice between five villa categories ranging from 234sqm to 638sqm, all of which come with private pools and wooden decks. There will be 29 secluded one- and two-bedroom beach villas nestled amongst the island’s greenery, each with its own private beach area.

There will also be 32 villas standing on stilts over the Laccadive Sea and one four-bedroom Royal Water Villa that will come with nanny’s quarters.

A serene Spa by JW will have six treatments rooms, one Royal Treatment Suite, a gym, yoga pavilion and beauty salon. Five restaurants and three fully-serviced bars, along with a chef’s garden and extensive wine cellar, will provide guests with their dining experiences.

Additionally, the resort will offer The Pier, a pop-up dining concept open at differing times throughout the year, the Curry Pit, which will offer spices of the Indian Ocean and will only be open on chosen evenings subject to reservations, 24-hour in-villa dining and private dining in select locations.

Katy Phillips / 28.03.2018

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, and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.

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

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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 atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
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