Stargazing in Paradise at Anantara Kihavah’s Overwater Observatory

Description:

Sip champagne and savour Asian tapas whilst Sky Guru Ali

Shameem points out Sirius, the brightest star in the night

sky, Arcturus, Capella, Spica and Omega Centauri, the

brightest and largest known globular cluster in the Milky

Way galaxy. If you’re lucky you’ll see the pale-yellow rings

of Saturn or the belts of Jupiter. Take a look through the

powerful telescope at the craters on the moon, Orion

nebula and Pleiades, commonly known as seven sisters.

New service and action:

Shameem, a protégé of Italian astronomer Dr. Massimo Tarenghi, former head

of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) Observatory in the Atacama

Desert in Chile, shares his passion for the constellations with star gazing private

sessions.

Looking for the ultimate gift of love? Guests also have an opportunity to name a

star after their loved one.

At the end of your time on the island, when you return home and look up at the

sky, you’ll forever remember your stargazing experience at Anantara Kihavah.

An astronomer’s paradise, Baa Atoll in the Maldives, is one of the best places on

earth to enjoy stargazing due to its proximity to the equator .

Time spent at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is one of great adventure and

discovery. On a private island in the Indian Ocean where the forces of nature

dazzle the imagination, Sky invites you to play out a once in a lifetime journey,

immersed in time and wonder.

Sky, an overwater observatory combined with a unique luxury cocktail bar, a

resident story-telling Sky Guru and housing the most powerful telescope in the

region, gives guests an opportunity to gaze on the stars as they sip champagne

and revel in this window to the Universe.

Light pollution isn’t a problem. Moreover, due to its proximity to the equator, the

Maldives provides spectacular views of both the southern and northern sky.

The Sky Bar Observatory officially opened on December 20, 2019.

Innovative Aspects and Major Assets:

THE SKY BAR

The panorama lounge perched over the lagoon maximises ocean views from

every vantage point. Contemporary yet warm, with raw timber and soft lighting

throughout, this is the place to take in Indian Ocean sunsets. A circular bar

serves as the centrepiece, with bar tenders busy at work. Sip on island cocktails

such as Kihavah Island Tea, a blend of white rum and arak with lychee, peach,

lemon and a dash of Earl Grey tea. Laze on low oversized daybeds that wrap

around the terrace, enjoy delicious tapas, fragrant shisha and mellow music.

THE SKY OBSERVATORY

The custom-built Ash-dome observatory sits on the roof deck of the Sky Bar

surrounded by nothing but open skies and the ocean waves below. The

observatory houses a research-grade Meade 16” LX200 telescope mounted on

a super-giant field tripod. Digitally controlled with 360˚ movement, the powerful

telescope opens up the night sky.

Design:

• This project was the vision/brainchild of our Sky Guru Shameem who presented the idea to the GM. Our Chairman William E. Heinecke agreed to the suggestion and approved for the project to move ahead, citing this as a unique guest experience for Anantara Kihavah.

• Our Director of Food and Beverage Hamzath Abdulla oversees the implementation and development of SKY Bar

• The Architectural Firm which conceptualized the Observatory and Sky is SODA Thailand. Led by their Director/Founder Stephen O’Dell. The unique furniture was designed by SODA Senior Interior Designer Phatsorn Wuttiwingphakdee and fabricated by OAsia Concept, a China based furniture company.

• From design, to construction and opening of the facility was 6 months.• Main innovative aspects of customer service, support, customer relations, marketing, human resources,

communication, etc are the following:

o Very personalized and interactive customer service / Private Stargazing sessions / Official registration of stars with the guests’ names

o Resident Sky Guru will take the customers to an astronomical journey o In house Sky Gurus o Communication through website, press releases, in house posters as well

as word of mouth by villa hosts and resort team members

Cost and implementation

• Sky Bar= USD 350,000 / Observatory = USD 220,000

• Maldives’ first over water observatory

• Stargaze through the Maldives’ most powerful telescope

• The most unique experience dining experience

• Recently added the Full moon dinner monthly/astronomical dinner

• Revenues doubled

• Early morning stargazing sessions

• Service enhanced

Evaluation

Revenue 2017 vs 2018 - Monthly

$1

0,3

43

.00

$1

2,1

82

.00

$1

2,1

09

.00

$2

1,1

80

.00

$1

1,3

06

.00

$3

,27

0.0

0

$6

,87

0.0

0

$4

,13

8.0

0

$5

,67

0.0

0

$6

,58

4.0

0

$7

,77

8.0

0

$5

,05

0.0

0

$2

1,7

75

.00

$2

9,6

44

.00

$2

2,0

06

.00

$2

6,5

85

.00

$1

4,1

92

.00

$9

,76

3.0

0

$1

2,2

23

.00

$1

3,4

40

.00

$9

,29

8.0

0

$1

5,8

31

.00

$1

7,1

03

.00

$2

3,9

75

.00

JA N FEB MA R A PR MA Y JUN JUL A UG SEP OCT NOV D EC

REVENUE 2017 VS 2018

2017 2018

Revenue 2017 vs 2018 Yearly

$1

03

,97

1.0

0

$2

12

,67

5.0

0

2017 2018

REVENUE 2017 VS 2018

Schedule and Prices: Videos:

View SKY filmExplore all stargazing experiences

Thank you!