ONYX Hospitality Group, Thailand's leading hotel management company has been appointed by the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation Plc (MTDC) to manage the Herathera Island Resort commencing 1 December 2010.

Set on Addu, the southern-most atoll in the Maldives, approximately 480km south of the capital Male, the 273-villa resort features three natural lagoons, a turtle hatchery and a unique 4 km beach, the longest of any resort within the archipelago.

Recreational facilities at Herathera Island Resort include three swimming pools, a range of restaurants and bars, a spa and dive centre. It is a 20-minute speedboat ride from Gan International Airport.

During the course of 2011, the resort will undergo significant upgrades including enhancements to the beach and villas as well as the addition of numerous sports and children's facilities.

The resort will then be re-launched as an Amari, the centrepiece brand of the ONYX portfolio and be positioned as a leading destination in the Maldives for activity and family holidays.

"We are thrilled that our first international management agreement is in such a renowned tourist destination as the Maldives," said Peter Henley, Chief Executive Officer of ONYX Hospitality Group.

"We look forward to working closely with MTDC on a range of exciting improvements so that this wonderful resort will be able to showcase its full potential."

MTDC's Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Mihad noted: "We are focused on further developing the southern part the Maldives with Gan International Airport as the hub. The re-launch of Herathera under new management will play a significant part in this."

ONYX Hospitality Group is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing hospitality companies in the region. We are delighted to have brought them on board as our partners in the rejuvenation of this special island," Mihad added.

About MTDC:

MTDC as a publicly listed company in the Maldives Stock Exchange was incepted by the Government of Maldives on 9th April 2006 with the aim of providing an avenue for average Maldivian citizen to gain a direct benefit from the tourism industry. Government of Maldives allotted 9 islands to MTDC to be developed as tourist resort hotels. MTDC develops these islands under different modalities along with international and local partners. Visit www.mtdc.com.mv for more details of the Company.

About ONYX

ONYX Hospitality Group operates four diverse yet complementary brands – Saffron, Amari, Shama and OZO - each catering to the distinctive requirements of today's business and leisure travellers. The group reaches beyond its Thai roots to offer innovative management solutions across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf and Asia-Pacific regions. Visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.

Shamini Murugan
Director, Communications
+66 (0) 2255 3767, +66 (0) 2255 4588
Onyx