Centara Hotels & Resorts will open its second property in the Maldives in late 2012, the Centara Ras Fushi Resort&Spa, set on Giraavaru Island in North Male Atoll just 15 minutes by speedboat from Male International Airport.

The new resort is owned by Centara Hotels & Resorts and represents an investment of US$54 million.

The resort will be adult-focused with its beach villas and over-water villas being scattered around the island and designed to provide privacy for guests.

The Republic of Maldives represented Centara’s first move overseas when the Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives opened in the South Ari Atoll in December 2009.

“We are delighted to announce the opening of our second resort in the Maldives,” said Suthikiati Chirathivat, Chairman of the Executive Board, Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited.

“Our first resort there has been a tremendous success for us, and the Maldives we feel has enormous potential for further tourism growth, which is why we are investing in the ownership of this very fine property.

“Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa complements our existing resort, both in geographical terms and in the markets it will serve, as it is essentially a resort designed for adult guests.”

The local name of the island is Giraavaru and it is located in North Male Atoll about 15 minutes from Male International Airport. The capital island of Male is itself visible from Giraavaru.

Giraavaru was used by a local tribal community called Giraavaru Meehun, or Giraavaru people, before it was developed as a resort. The Giraavaru people have their own very distinctive culture and style, and this will be a feature of the resort, including an adaptation of the traditional Giraavaru costume for the staff uniforms.

The resort’s general manager, Voytek Klasicki, said that ease of transport from and to Male will be an important attraction.

“Guests will have the exotic attraction of staying in luxury on a small island, with the shops, restaurants, museums, and tourist sights of Male a quick and easy boat ride away,” he said.

There is a large lagoon to one side of the island, which is good for swimmers and for snorkeling, and there are some excellent dive sites, including Giraavaru Cave, about 10 minutes away, and Lion Head and Kuda Haa, both within 20 minutes’ distance.

Minimum size of the Beach Villas and the Water Villas is 42s qm, while the Premium Beach Villas feature a romantic outdoor bathtub, and the Spa Deluxe Water Villas are equipped with an outdoor Jacuzzi.

In-room amenities include individually-controlled, air-conditioning; ceiling fans; mini bar; tea and coffee-making facilities; in-room safe; satellite TV; IDD telephone; DVD player; and complimentary wireless Internet access.

There is a PADI diving school and water sports center, a beachfront swimming pool, and a well-being area complete with dedicated beach and fitness center. Spa Cenvaree has nine massage and treatment rooms designed for individuals and couples, as well as a beauty salon with manicure and pedicure. There is also a hair salon and a juice bar.

The resort’s all-day dining venue, Oceans Restaurant, combines an ample choice of daily themed buffets of international and Asian influence, with an ocean-side setting. Arabic cuisine is catered via an authentic Bedouin tent with Middle Eastern style grilled meats and authentic entertainment. Two specialty restaurants, La Brezza and Spice Island, overlook the oceanfront swimming pool and respectively emphasize Italian cuisine and Chinese and Thai cuisine.

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s largest operator of hotels, with 38 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the kingdom. A further 17 resorts in the Maldives; Philippines; Vietnam; Bali, Indonesia; Sri Lanka; and Mauritius Indian Ocean, brings the present total to 55 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs.

Centara operates 25 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, and the company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens are taken care of. Centara Hotels & Resorts also operates two state-of-the-art convention centers in Bangkok and one in Udon Thani in northeastern Thailand.