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Luis Riu and the Maldives holiday that marked the expansion of the group to this idyllic archipelago
22 February, 2019 Share
Luis Rui, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, visits the construction works of the group´s two new hotels in Maldives.
The days fly by and once again it’s time to for me to catch up with you. I am just back from the Maldives where I was supervising the progress of our project there. It seemed to me the ideal opportunity to share an anecdote about our new destination that comes on line this summer.
The Maldives: a recurrent dream for Luis Riu over the years
It was seven years ago that we started looking for an opportunity to open a RIU hotel in the Maldives. Our Director for Expansion was given this responsibility and our network of contacts was put on the alert, but the months went by and it seemed there was no way of taking the idea forward. We just couldn’t find what we were looking for.
Current situation of the Riu Palace Maldivas overwater Suites.
From my perspective, I obviously have to weigh up the numbers when it comes to committing to a new destination. We studied the statistics, the forecasts, the feedback from our partners in the potential source markets… and yet instinct plays a very important place in choosing the right location. I believe that this is a feeling we all share. When you are looking for a house, there comes a day where you go into one and you think: “this is it”. It’s part gut feeling and part instinct. Maybe it’s smaller than ideal, maybe it’s a bit above budget, but you have felt the wow factor that dictates your decision.
Riu Atoll hotel facilities on the Maafushi islet in Maldivas.
Summer holidays in the Maldives with a surprise thrown in
In June 2014, I got home one day and suggested to my wife Isabel that we should go on holiday to the Maldives. She couldn’t believe it. A real holiday at last! In a destination where there are no RIU hotels, with time to get away from it all, enjoy enchanting islands in a spectacular hotel overlooking the turquoise waters…
I was delighted with her enthusiasm, little jumps of joy included, but I also had a slightly guilty conscience knowing that it wasn’t 100% true. Although, for my own good, I kept that aspect well hidden.
It wasn’t until we got there that I announced that we needed to spend one day of the holiday -just one, promise- hopping over to Dhaalu Atoll to see the islands of Maafushi and Kedhigandu as someone had told me of an investment opportunity there.
Entrance to the hotels Riu Atoll and Riu Palace Maldivas, located in Atolon Dhaalu, Maldives.
Luis Riu and his wife make an amazing discovery
On the chosen day we took a seaplane, flew over the islands, and needed no more to convince us that we had found the ideal spot for our first RIU hotels on the archipelago. Both Isabel and I felt that determining sensation that means you have found what you were looking for.
We landed to explore the islets which is how Isabel took part, literally, in the first steps of this project, becoming part of the expansion team by giving me her immediate approval even though it had cost a day of her holiday.
Riu Atoll hotel future suite rooms design which were built on the water of the Indian Ocean in Maldives.
Two new RIU hotels in the Maldives, ready for summer 2019
I very much like to be guided by my instincts in business and, fortunately, up until now it has served me well. I am very excited about how the work is progressing, because the dream of opening our first hotels in the Maldives is getting ever closer. After coming back from my trip I can confirm you that the two hotels will open on May 17 of this year:
- The Riu Atoll hotel is located on Maafushi and will be a four-star Riu Classic with 264 bedrooms offering an all-inclusive service.
- The Riu Palace Maldivas is on Kedhigandu and will be a 5-star property with 176 bedrooms, also all-inclusive.
See you this summer in the Maldives!
Fdo. Luis Riu
16 Comments
I can’t wait !
Many thanks for your comment Rosa 🙂
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
It sounds like l have some l have something in common with Luis l to tend to only book Rui …because l will probably be going to the Maldives now that you have a resort there for my retirement next year lm commited to the Riu beuna vista and the Riu palace Boa Vista for 2019 glad that Riu have spread there wings …well done
My Riu class number 91413277
Hi Brian!
Many thanks for your comment!
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
Congratulations to RIU top management.These hotels can be enhanced the tourism industry of Maldives.It will be the first Spanish company in Maldives.Good luck.
Hi Prabhash!
Many thanks for your comment!
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
May I kindly request for a direct contact number of the recruitment team of Maldives
Hi Iyan!
Please, contact them directly by this e-mail address: [email protected]
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
Dear Mr. Riu, we just booked for April 2020 to celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary in your brand new hotel on the Maldives Riu Atoll. We are very exited to learn that because of your and your wife’s intuition our dream will become true staying at the Maldives! We can’t wait as it looks impressive on paper already. Just 337 days…..
Hi Jeannette & Ronald!
Congratulations and thank you for choosing our hotel to celebrate your anniversary!
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
We love the RIU hotels and go twice a year to the RIU Touareg Boa Vista, Cape Verde with our family and have an amazing time every time!
We were over the moon when we found out that RIU had ventured into the Maldives so we have just booked our honeymoon for April 2020 at the RIU Palace Maldives in one of your over water bungalows with private pool. It looks amazing and cannot wait ……. Only 310 days to go 🙂
Hi Mark!
Thank you for choosing RIU Hotels & Resorts once again for your vacation and for you kind comment. It will be a pleasure to have you here!
Enjoy your stay to the fullest!
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
We have booked and can’t wait to celebrate our 30th Anniversary here at the Riu Palace Maldivas in Feb 2020
Hi Linda!
We wish you a pleasant trip! Thank you for having chosen our hotel for your anniversary.
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts
Can’t wait to celebrate our 10th anniversary in one of the stunning over water bungalows with private pool at the Riu Palace Maldivas in Jan 2020. We fell in love with the Riu Palace Riviera Maya years ago and can’t wait to see the Riu magic combined with the Maldives natural beauty. Counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds. 🙂
Hi Diane!
First of all, thank you for having chosen our hotel for your 10th anniversary and for sharing your experience with us. It will be a pleasure to have you here!
Kind Regards
RIU Hotels & Resorts