Embrace the Ocean’s Lullaby
We meet Elisabeth Alleyne, General Manager at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO to find out more about her stunning private island resort in the Maldives
Can you share some of the history of the hotel?
OZEN LIFE MAADHOO is one of two beautiful private island resorts in the Maldives, from THE OZEN COLLECTION, which comprises OZEN LIFE MAADHOO and OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI, each famed for offering one of the most generous, and luxurious, all-encompassing offerings in the world. At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, under the ‘Indulgence Plan’, guests can enjoy an abundance of sophisticated services blended with a grand sense of space.
What are the benefits of your location?
OZEN LIFE MAADHOO is an island situated in the South Male Atoll, 900 metres long and 80 metres wide. Just a 45-minute speedboat ride from the Velana International Airport, which is included for all guests within their stay, our guests can relax on a white sand beach within just a couple of hours of touching down in the airport and might even be lucky enough to spot dolphins on their short boat journey to us.
Close enough to Male for a simple and quick transfer, guests also benefit from a blissful feeling of isolation once they have arrived, with OZEN LIFE MAADHOO a private island resort, with our villas and residences set either on the beach or over water. Expansive white sand beaches and turquoise waters surround the resort, while a pristine lagoon delivers exotic marine life for guests to spot while snorkelling.
How would you describe the hotel’s dining experience?
At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, all guests enjoy the benefits of ‘Indulgence Plan’ which includes delicious dining at the six speciality restaurants. With every guest receiving an itinerary on arrival, the best tables are already secured for you before arrival.
Included for every guest is the chance to enjoy underwater fine dining at the resort’s M6m restaurant, where brightly coloured fish, turtles and black-tip reef sharks swim by as you dine. There’s also the small and intimate Lonu, a signature restaurant serving Maldivian-inspired plates in an intimate setting on the beach, as well as Tradition IndoCeylon and Tradition Peking, serving Indian and Sri Lankan and Chinese cuisines.
In addition, The Palms offers cuisine from all around the world, as well as a juice bar and speciality food stations, while beach club Hudhu Bay is a breezy bohemian beach that is set up to offer lunch and has a relaxing lounge area after dinner. There’s also Joie de Vivre, a vibrant pool bar that also serves light meals, and we even have a dedicated gin bar, Gin Is In, an adults-only space, which is open each evening.
How do you cater to families and group bookings?
Once famed as a destination solely for romantic breaks for couples, the Maldives is now a firm favourite with families too. At OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, we have 94 beautiful villas and one exclusive ‘Residence’, with 46 beachfront ‘Earth’ villas and 49 overwater ‘Wind’ villas. These include one-bedroom villas, some with private pools, while 10 two-bedroom Earth Pool Pavilions are perfect for families, offering plenty of space and large 35sqm private pools with fibre optic mood lighting.
Expansive white sand beaches and turquoise waters surround the resort, with the pristine lagoon home to exotic marine life – the perfect playground for families with any aged children. In addition, included in the Indulgence Plan there is plenty to entertain, including a tennis court and water sports centre where activities such as kayaking, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboards are all included, as well as the option for motorised watersports too. There’s also a brilliant kids club, with its own pool, shaded play areas and cool rooms, perfect for crafts and games, all led by our expert kids’ club team.
If a couple were looking for a romantic stay – what itinerary would you suggest?
Whether you choose to stay on the beach or overwater, there’s plenty of space to escape and find your own private corner at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO. A floating breakfast, served in your own villa pool, could be the perfect romantic way to start the day, then perhaps sunbathe together on the deck of your wind villa, or on the beach just steps from your bed.
In the evening, options are endless – perhaps take a bottle of chilled Champagne from your in-room maxi bar, (included for every guest and replenished daily) to enjoy watching the sun set together, with your feet in the sand, or you could even treat yourself and book your own private dinner on the beach, with a private chef to create your very own menu.
All guests can also enjoy a luxurious spa treatment during their stay, with a choice of indulgent treatments included within the ‘Indulgence Plan’ at the ELE|NA Elements of Nature spa, and for the perfect romantic treat, guests can book this as a couples’ treatment.
In your time at the hotel, how have things evolved?
As the first resort in THE OZEN COLLECTION, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO opened on 15 July 2016, and today still enjoys the same brilliant reputation for generosity and luxury as we did on opening. Our restaurants continually evolve to offer the latest dining trends and flavours, and over time, our villas have had private pools added and treats included to ensure we continue to surprise and delight our guests. Other recent additions have included an expansion of our gardens, with a hydroponic garden and an orchid garden recently added, as well as a new enriched Hudhu Bay area.
For most operators in the UK, we are their most popular luxury all-inclusive resort in the UK, and we are very proud of this. To have guests booking to stay with us for their first stay is wonderful, but to welcome them back as return guests – as we frequently do – is even better.
Do you have any exciting upcoming events scheduled?
We are very proud of our wine list at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO, which includes working with some excellent family-owned vineyards, as well as with the bigger brands that guests will already know. Each year, we invite some of our wine and Champagne partners to visit us in resort and host delicious tastings, where our chefs create menus to be paired with delicious bottles. Keep an eye on our website for 2025 dates for these, as they are a wonderful treat to add to a holiday at OZEN LIFE MAADHOO.
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