Mantis has announced its latest project will be the development of a five star hotel on the island of St. Helena, a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean.

As one of the most remote places in the world, more than 2,000 kilometres from the nearest major landmass, and with its rich flora and fauna, the island certainly fits with Mantis’ mantra of ‘unearthing the exceptional’.

A team of six from Mantis including founder and chairman, Adrian Gardiner, visited the island in January of this year and identified Ladder Hill Fort as the location for the five star hotel, which will have 45 bedrooms including ten self-catering units, as well as a restaurant, spa and fitness facilities.

Over the next six months Mantis with Enterprise St. Helena will be carrying out a feasibility and costing exercise with the aim of commencing building towards the end 2013 and opening the hotel in 2015.

The island, which is currently accessed by the last commercially operating Royal Mail Ship, will be opening its own airport in January 2016.

A major priority for the project will be the restoration of the building, ensuring it is sensitive to its history, the environment and the local community, something which Mantis has experience of from the 2011 refurbishment of 16th century country house hotel, Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham.

As well as its development knowledge, Mantis will also be bringing its hospitality, education and conservation experience to the island with initiatives to develop skills in the community as well as support the natural environment.

The 47 square mile island has a population of 4,257.

Adrian Gardiner, founder and chairman of Mantis, said: “St. Helena is unique - the waters that surround it, the forest, the potential for the hospitality industry - and I am hugely excited for our brand to be involved in this major tourism development for the island.

“The Mantis mantra is unearthing the exceptional and St. Helena is no doubt one of the exceptional.

“We plan to add value wherever we can to make the tourism industry on this island a success drawing on our own experience, from supporting the island’s marketing plans to training its community and championing conservation work, an issue very close to my heart.”