Shangri-La Malé bound with high-rise hotel takeover

It will be all change at the end of the month for one of the most prominent features in the Malé skyline as resort operator Shangri-La brings its Traders Hotel brand and signage to the capital as part of a takeover deal with its previous tenants, Inter Continental Hotels Group.A spokesperson for Shangri-La tells Maldives Traveller that the site, operated as a Holiday Inn property since its original opening back in late 2009, has been acquired by the company and will be rebranded by the end of November.

Shangri-La already operates the Villingili Resort and Spa in the southerly-lying Addu Atoll, though the company hopes that the addition of its four-star Traders Hotel brand to the country will act as a popular hub for both business and leisure travel in the island-based capital.

“At this point, Traders Hotel Malé [in the] Maldives will be a stopover point for visitors to the outer flung islands and atolls,” says a spokesperson for the company. “We also expect [to host] some local meetings and social business.”

In taking up management of the site, Shangri-La says that it hopes to take its time before deciding on any major operational changes that its need to implement at the hotel. As a result of this ongoing preparation and planning, the company says it was unable to reveal any more details of the site at present in regards to future developments.

“We are aiming to retain as many staff as possible and we have issued letters of intent to the team there” adds the spokesperson.

Despite not being able to serve alcohol on Malé due to its status as an inhabited island, the existing hotel does boast a popular roof top restaurant and cafe that offers views of the surrounding atoll from the comfort of poolside daybeds.