Discover THE OZEN COLLECTION, a premier brand in the Atmosphere Core portfolio offering indulgent amenities, expansive spaces, and immersive experiences. Monica Coppetta, General Manager, OZEN Reserve Bolifushi, Maldives, discusses the resort’s exclusive RESERVE™ Experience, highlighting its unique appeal. She also elucidates the brand’s strategic trade relations, sustainability initiatives, and market policies that drive its success.
Nestled in the tranquil South Malé Atoll, The OZEN Reserve Bolifushi epitomises exclusive luxury in the Maldives. The private island sanctuary features vast white-sand beaches set against turquoise waters, creating a dreamy, lavish retreat. Renowned for its bespoke services, gastronomy, premium spa facilities, diverse tropical adventures, and one of the region’s largest Kids’ Clubs, it stands out as an ideal destination for family vacations. The brand features two luxurious resorts in the Maldives; OZEN Life Madhoo and OZEN Reserve Bolifushi.
The RESERVE™ Experience
Exclusive to OZEN Reserve Bolifushi, this bespoke experience offers indulgent fine dining, premium beverages, and unique experiences seamlessly integrated into a luxurious stay designed to make the guest feel extremely special. It offers exceptional luxury, flexibility, and personalised service, enabling them to dine anywhere, anytime at the Bolifushi island under the RESERVE™ Experience. Guests can enjoy dedicated butler service, a private buggy, and in-villa dining options, ensuring privacy and convenience. “The RESERVE™ Experience reflects our commitment to tailored dining, inspired by our vision of a personalised culinary journey,” remarks Monica. The ‘Dine by Design’ initiative has been well-received, with guests commending its capacity to offer a wide range of gourmet cuisine in diverse, picturesque island locations, further reflecting the company’s dedication to cater to each guest’s unique preferences.
Culinary experiences are central to guests’ holidays, with offerings tailored to an international clientele. The restaurant Vista del Mar presents vibrant world cuisine with Spanish flair, while Saffron features heritage Indian recipes. ORIGINƎ delivers a contemporary gastronomic experience, while Sangu Beach and Bar specialises in Levantine and Moroccan dishes and offers continuous access to refreshments until late at night. The recent addition of Soyi, a Pan-Asian restaurant, adds another feather to their cap.
Accommodations and Attractions
Monica shares, “Our accommodations are designed to elevate every aspect of the guest experience. We offer 90 exclusive villas and RESERVEs, including the renowned Royal RESERVE, across six distinct categories. Each villa, whether perched over the water or nestled on the beachfront, features a private pool and direct access to the beach or lagoon. The design emphasises spaciousness and sophistication, with high ceilings and panoramic views enhancing the ambience.”
The luxurious OZEN spa, with its elegant overwater and garden treatment rooms, provides holistic treatments and hairdressing, beauty salon, and spa boutique amenities. Families enjoy the Kuda Koli Kids’ Club, featuring engaging activities like island treasure hunts and water polo. The state-of-the-art overwater fitness centre and the outdoor yoga pavilion offer personalised and group training in aqua aerobics and aerial yoga.
Guests can explore the island on bicycles or enjoy a variety of water sports and diving expeditions. “For a unique underwater experience, semi-submarine rides reveal the Maldives’ marine life. With such diverse offerings, we ensure that every guest finds their ideal leisure activity, whether seeking relaxation, family fun, or active pursuits,” shares Monica.
Source Markets and Clientele
Highlighting the importance of the Indian market, Monica says, “We recognise the importance of diverse global markets in sustaining our success. Our primary markets include India, Europe, China, and the Middle East, each playing a crucial role in our guest demographics. India holds a particularly significant position due to its proximity and the increasing interest in luxury travel. Indian guests currently constitute a substantial portion of our clientele, underscoring their importance to our operations.”
The guests typically consist of travellers seeking exclusivity, tranquillity, and bespoke luxury. While families appreciate the comprehensive children’s programmes and family-friendly activities, couples and honeymooners enjoy the romantic ambience and private dining options, while business travellers value the serene environment, ideal for relaxation and discreet meetings.
Travel Trade Partnerships
The brand partners with well-reputed online travel agencies (OTAs), luxury travel advisors, and high-end tour operators to enhance visibility and offer exclusive experiences to its discerning global clientele.
Monica explains, “Our primary channel is direct bookings through our official website, which allows us to offer personalised service from inquiry to stay. We also prioritise strong partnerships to attract new guests and build long-term relationships based on a deep understanding of guest preferences and expectations. We support our partners through comprehensive training programmes and familiarisation (FAM) trips, ensuring they have first-hand knowledge of our accommodations, dining options, and unique amenities to promote their clients effectively. We offer competitive commission structures and exclusive promotional packages to incentivise bookings at our resort, enhancing our partners’ profitability. Open communication and responsive support further strengthen our relationships, allowing us to address inquiries and special requests promptly.”
Sustainability Initiatives
THE OZEN COLLECTION and its resorts are committed to implementing robust sustainability initiatives on food sourcing and waste management. The resort prioritises reducing plastic usage and managing waste effectively. “We have installed glass bottles and water plants across our resorts, significantly decreasing reliance on plastic bottles. In 2022 alone, these plants prevented 2.4 million plastic bottles from reaching landfills, marking a 44 per cent increase from 2021. Furthermore, our resorts have discontinued plastic straws, substituting them with biodegradable alternatives, which saves approximately 1.5 million plastic straws annually from turning to harmful waste,” Monica declares with pride.
Seafood is sourced locally to minimise food waste and support local businesses. Fresh produce is sourced exclusively from farms in India, streamlining the supply chain and ensuring quality. By consolidating the sourcing of dry goods, the resort reduces individual orders, environmental impact, and transportation emissions to ensure responsible supply chain management.
Local Community Development
The brand actively contributes to the local community and environment through various impactful initiatives, such as educational programmes, community development, and charitable collaborations managed by the Atmosphere Foundation. Monica outlines the resort’s community initiatives, “The foundation enhances education through literacy programmes for nearly 5,000 students in 34 Maldivian schools, along with teacher training and parent workshops. We fund vocational training programmes to address local skills shortages and collaborate with Aged Care Maldives to focus on senior citizen outreach programmes, promoting healthy lifestyles, medical consultations, and family support.”
The foundation’s ‘Bamboo for Climate Change Mitigation’ project plants bamboo across nine islands, aiding the Maldives’ goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 by leveraging bamboo’s CO2 sequestration capabilities. Ongoing engagement in coral restoration, species monitoring, and eco-initiatives reflects dedication to environmental preservation.
Future Expansion
With a series of exciting expansions on the horizon, the brand is poised to make a significant impact in the luxury travel sector. The OZEN PRIVÉ ATHIRI GILI will launch in the Maldives in (Q4) 2024. India will welcome three new resorts, OZEN MANSION KOLKATA in (Q2) 2024, OZEN PRIVADO GOA in (Q4) 2024, and OZEN NANDI HILLS BANGALORE in 2025. Additionally, OZEN SECLUDED TANGALLE will debut in Sri Lanka, further enhancing the brand’s global footprint.
