COMO's Cocoa Island Maldivian resort to reopen following revamp
by Megan Whitby | 27 Dec 2019
– Olivier Jolivet, COMO Group's CEO
COMO Hotels and Resorts is gearing up to reopen their Cocoa Island private island resort in the Maldives on 9 January following a seven-month refurbishment.
“The Maldives has become a highly competitive market,” said Olivier Jolivet, COMO Group’s CEO.
“Luxury hotel companies keep raising the ante, from building ‘reclaimed islands’, to tunnelling out underwater wine cellars. Sometimes we forget that nature is powerful, and simplicity has a very important role to play in modern luxury."
COMO Cocoa Island is home to 34 overwater villas inspired by local Dhoni boats, which have been recast top-to-bottom with clean-lined, contemporary interiors created by Singapore-based Lekker Architects.
The villas reference the island’s nature and now include wood, traditional Maldivian coral walls and Kajan thatched roofs.
The resort has also gained an open-sided Pilates and yoga studio, which sits in an elevated position above the lagoon offering 360-degree views.
COMO owner, Christina Ong, said: “The moment I first encountered Coco, something about its spirit snagged me. When I walked to the end of the island and looked back along its sandbank, it felt so graceful and healing – an effect I wanted to amplify for every guest when I first created the resort.”
A third of the private island is occupied by the COMO Shambhala Retreat, the island’s wellness centre, which offers Asian-based wellness therapies, nutritional advice and exercise.
Set among the palm groves, the retreat has four treatment rooms, two of which can accommodate couples and overlook the rainforest.
The resort also includes a two-floor gym and hydrotherapy pool with purpose-built high-pressure jets used for water-based treatments such as joint-mobilising massages and the treatment of injuries.
COMO Hotels and Resorts Cocoa Island Maldives Olivier Jolivet Lekker Architects Christina Ong COMO Shambhala Retreat Guinot Sundari
The studio will be used for Pilates and yoga classes.
COMO Cocoa Island is reopening following a seven-month refurbishment.
A third of the private island is occupied by the COMO Shambhala Retreat.
The resort includes a two-floor gym and hydrotherapy pool with purpose-built high-pressure jets.
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COMO Hotels and Resorts is gearing up to reopen their Cocoa Island private island resort in the Maldives on 9 January following a seven-month refurbishment. “The Maldives has become a highly competitive market,” said Olivier Jolivet, COMO Group’s CEO. “Luxury hotel companies keep raising the ante, from building ‘reclaimed islands’, to tunnelling out underwater wine cellars. Sometimes we forget that nature is powerful, and simplicity has a very important role
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