“I predict Robinson Crusoe as the next travel trend,” says Lars Petrie, developer and owner of Kudadoo Maldives Private Island by Hurawalhi, which opened December 10 in Lhaviyani Atoll of the Maldives.
“I got the idea for it after two guests at another of my resorts, Hurawalhi, wanted to spend the day on a nearby deserted island. One of our boatmen dropped them off, and forgot to pick them up. Of course we went back as soon as it was daylight the following morning and found they were actually so happy they wanted more,” he explained with a laugh.
This impromptu happening was the inspiration for Kudadoo, which has 15 overwater villas, with a total of 3,000-4,000 square-feet. Separating the villas from the public-area overwater block is, well, a proper island that is deliberately left untended. Resort guests can wander this acre-big area and get lost at will (but it is small enough for them to be found, if necessary).
The public building, which has restaurants and bars, is roofed with 984 solar panels producing 558kwH, “about the same energy as six Tesla cars, which makes this the only full-sustainable luxury island in the Maldives,” Petre said.
Three decades ago the Swedish shoe tycoon was holidaying in Sri Lanka. He heard about the Maldives, sailed over and got metaphorically hooked. Working in a 50-50 partnership with Maldives-based Crown & Champa Resorts, he is now managing nine resorts in the Maldives, some of which, like Kudadoo, are fully-inclusive.
“Guests like the fact that even spa treatments are included, and that the seven-label complimentary Champagne range lists Louis Roederer and Taittinger,” he said.
Speaking two days before opening, Petre said he expected main business to come from Germany and Scandinavia, with average stay of around two weeks: after 30 years in the industry he knows what these sun-seekers want (they also appreciate having 120 staff members, all living on the island, to look after a maximum of 30 adults – Kudadoo is child-free). He will be opening one more resort in 2019, and a further two in 2020.
“I also have to look after other interests, which include the Commercial Bank of Maldives in Male, and two Hiltons in the Seychelles,” said Petre.
It is resorts, and barefoot luxury, that really interest him most, and his company is entirely financing a new airport to make it easier for guests to get to the shoes-off islands, quickly.
“Adding Robinson Crusoe to all-inclusive makes good marketing and good business sense,” Petre said. “You know ahead how much each guest has invested and then you encourage them to buy an even more exclusive Champagne.”