The Muraka, an Underwater Hotel Room at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Nov 9, 2018, 12:56 pm
#31
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Absolutely. And weirdly, I think I enjoy it more at altitude than I do on the ground. But I am merely a drinker of champagne, not a connoisseur.
The worst is when people catch sea life and use the tea kettle to boil it. I've never witnessed this myself, but there are a number of PFTPOTW posts in the CMRI thread.
The worst is when people catch sea life and use the tea kettle to boil it. I've never witnessed this myself, but there are a number of PFTPOTW posts in the CMRI thread.
Nov 9, 2018, 6:02 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
includes charter boat and staff
may include charter transfer flights
may include all excursions etc
first underwater room = can charge anything
more underwater = all rates decrease
this is not casino with gambler revenue
maldives exclusive use islands >
FS is same with charter boat
cheval does not include boat
coco prive costs a lot less
submarine >
FS charges
laucala includes
atlantis dubai and resort world sentosa have 'underwater' suites
maldives is popular with mideast, increasingly popular with china
there was media coverage of mideast buyout of 3 anantara islands
per night is dirt cheap vs cost of heavy/widebody/jumbo jet charter
can avoid hotel entirely, like buying airport VVIP on commercial flight
newsroom.hilton.com/conradhotels/news/conrad-maldives-rangali-island-unveils-collection-of-luxury-experiences-exclusive-to-guests-of-the-muraka
may include charter transfer flights
may include all excursions etc
A few more details about it that I’ve recalled them mention while showing us around,
- sounds like they’re thinking there won’t be a quoted price (they’re clearly however thinking in the range of $50k per night from the indications they have us) because they intend to make eveything bespoke and tailored etc
- intention is a private seaplane, landing at its own jetty point (although presumably customised so you don’t have to if you don’t want that $20k element, but if you’re paying $50k p/n I doubt you’ll opt-out!)
- full bar, with bespoke bottles (full size) sourced to include everything rare and unusual, but intention is for it to be treated as an included (in the price) mini-bar
- private speed boat on hand (of course!)
- the chief engineer / project manager was adamant it would be finished by November (and mentioned a specific celeb that had already enquirer and made a tentative booking for then)
- there’s a cool escape hatch from the bedroom and we joked withe the engineer that he’d have to keep it locked or it’ll get used for fun all the time - and he said ‘yes, we’ve been loving that ourselves - and then pointed out they’d have little prospect of stopping a $50k a night guest doing what they damn well please’!
- they’re doing a daily fish feeding cycle and have been putting in new corals etc etc so it should be quite something for attracting the best sea life
- sounds like they’re thinking there won’t be a quoted price (they’re clearly however thinking in the range of $50k per night from the indications they have us) because they intend to make eveything bespoke and tailored etc
- intention is a private seaplane, landing at its own jetty point (although presumably customised so you don’t have to if you don’t want that $20k element, but if you’re paying $50k p/n I doubt you’ll opt-out!)
- full bar, with bespoke bottles (full size) sourced to include everything rare and unusual, but intention is for it to be treated as an included (in the price) mini-bar
- private speed boat on hand (of course!)
- the chief engineer / project manager was adamant it would be finished by November (and mentioned a specific celeb that had already enquirer and made a tentative booking for then)
- there’s a cool escape hatch from the bedroom and we joked withe the engineer that he’d have to keep it locked or it’ll get used for fun all the time - and he said ‘yes, we’ve been loving that ourselves - and then pointed out they’d have little prospect of stopping a $50k a night guest doing what they damn well please’!
- they’re doing a daily fish feeding cycle and have been putting in new corals etc etc so it should be quite something for attracting the best sea life
first underwater room = can charge anything
more underwater = all rates decrease
this is not casino with gambler revenue
maldives exclusive use islands >
FS is same with charter boat
cheval does not include boat
coco prive costs a lot less
submarine >
FS charges
laucala includes
atlantis dubai and resort world sentosa have 'underwater' suites
maldives is popular with mideast, increasingly popular with china
there was media coverage of mideast buyout of 3 anantara islands
per night is dirt cheap vs cost of heavy/widebody/jumbo jet charter
can avoid hotel entirely, like buying airport VVIP on commercial flight
newsroom.hilton.com/conradhotels/news/conrad-maldives-rangali-island-unveils-collection-of-luxury-experiences-exclusive-to-guests-of-the-muraka
four experience menus
The Wanderers ... film crew
The Flavors ... chef available 24 hours a day
“off-the-menu” experiences
The Wanderers ... film crew
The Flavors ... chef available 24 hours a day
“off-the-menu” experiences
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Nov 10, 2018 at 11:42 am
Nov 9, 2018, 10:38 pm
#33
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
Nov 11, 2018, 6:01 am
#34
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
We did not bring our own noodles, but the first time we stayed at Jiwo and Kila we really could not afford it but still really really wanted to stay theere, so we had absolutely all meals outside at cheap local places and bought snacks to take back and enjoy in the room. And then we splurged on one beach BBQ at Kila and a sunrise Borobudur plus elephant ride back at Jiwo. Staying there and the experience of those two activities mentioned were far more special and important to us than having meals there so we saved where we could save.
Nov 11, 2018, 7:28 am
#35
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
We did not bring our own noodles, but the first time we stayed at Jiwo and Kila we really could not afford it but still really really wanted to stay theere, so we had absolutely all meals outside at cheap local places and bought snacks to take back and enjoy in the room. And then we splurged on one beach BBQ at Kila and a sunrise Borobudur plus elephant ride back at Jiwo. Staying there and the experience of those two activities mentioned were far more special and important to us than having meals there so we saved where we could save.
Nov 11, 2018, 7:29 am
#36
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
Nov 11, 2018, 10:43 am
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
coco prive was 8K low 32K xmas/nye few years ago
peak rates are irrelevant, often press quote that
and FS island (etc) did not open in low season
with elephant ride no longer done, and sunrise much more crowded now, making those things even more special and something that can never be done again
i can identify some with Musken, i would not go to maldives and take food. well i guess there could something like taking the equivalent of MREs or some kind of diet/supplement thing where one is eating some kind of non perishable thing. but not relying on cooking elements. for a long stay i would not be opposed to working with a luxury property on what kind of things i can have in "room" if they do not have accommodations with kitchens. anyone who does not think luxury properties will accommodate this for big spenders or guest requirements is being naive.
clearly a problem factor is award removing cost of paying for accommodations. but the bigger issue is social media and internet in terms of communicating this to large audience. and the audience is led by trends, rather than coming up with strong desire to book by themselves. audience is influenced, it's just that it is overstatement to attribute to single source and completely ignore the social, societal, other aspects and changes.
i may be alone in this opinion here, but i think the ideal is that a property does not spend in areas other than hotel/resort operations. villa feltrinelli had a very small PR company at one point, but that was it. they redid their website, but not $18m to increase mobile revenue. (FS new mobile revenue probably a lot more than $18m.) i do not really care about the details, how a loyalty program works if there is one. i would just rather properties do not have anything that is separate like that. loyalty programs are designed to be internally profitable and be used for marketing purposes. if they only rewarded guests they would not exist, kind of like virtuoso, ensemble, signature, etc. LHW and SLH similarly have fancy NYC offices. whereas best western only has a call center or two.
seems likely many luxury hotel brands (mostly sold) were not highly profitable in past.
to me it does not really matter what other people and guests may or may not do. what becomes a factor for many here is how a luxury property handles atmosphere overall. without getting into perceived brand identities, worst cases are absolutely part of service.
peak rates are irrelevant, often press quote that
and FS island (etc) did not open in low season
i can identify some with Musken, i would not go to maldives and take food. well i guess there could something like taking the equivalent of MREs or some kind of diet/supplement thing where one is eating some kind of non perishable thing. but not relying on cooking elements. for a long stay i would not be opposed to working with a luxury property on what kind of things i can have in "room" if they do not have accommodations with kitchens. anyone who does not think luxury properties will accommodate this for big spenders or guest requirements is being naive.
clearly a problem factor is award removing cost of paying for accommodations. but the bigger issue is social media and internet in terms of communicating this to large audience. and the audience is led by trends, rather than coming up with strong desire to book by themselves. audience is influenced, it's just that it is overstatement to attribute to single source and completely ignore the social, societal, other aspects and changes.
i may be alone in this opinion here, but i think the ideal is that a property does not spend in areas other than hotel/resort operations. villa feltrinelli had a very small PR company at one point, but that was it. they redid their website, but not $18m to increase mobile revenue. (FS new mobile revenue probably a lot more than $18m.) i do not really care about the details, how a loyalty program works if there is one. i would just rather properties do not have anything that is separate like that. loyalty programs are designed to be internally profitable and be used for marketing purposes. if they only rewarded guests they would not exist, kind of like virtuoso, ensemble, signature, etc. LHW and SLH similarly have fancy NYC offices. whereas best western only has a call center or two.
seems likely many luxury hotel brands (mostly sold) were not highly profitable in past.
to me it does not really matter what other people and guests may or may not do. what becomes a factor for many here is how a luxury property handles atmosphere overall. without getting into perceived brand identities, worst cases are absolutely part of service.
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Nov 12, 2018 at 7:13 am
Nov 11, 2018, 12:43 pm
#38
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
Nov 12, 2018, 3:52 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy LT Plat, Hilton Gold, GHA Tit, BA Gold, Turkish Elite
Posts: 8,717
Nov 13, 2018, 5:48 am
#41
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: France
Posts: 971
We did not bring our own noodles, but the first time we stayed at Jiwo and Kila we really could not afford it but still really really wanted to stay theere, so we had absolutely all meals outside at cheap local places and bought snacks to take back and enjoy in the room. And then we splurged on one beach BBQ at Kila and a sunrise Borobudur plus elephant ride back at Jiwo. Staying there and the experience of those two activities mentioned were far more special and important to us than having meals there so we saved where we could save.
Nov 13, 2018, 9:33 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
It reminds me of our first stays at luxury properties. We would pay for the private transfer from airport to hotel and a spa treatment, but we would save as much as possible on F&B. I can't believe we've been discussing all together with the same people for more than 10 years on FT
But when going back 10 years later, WE were that woman.
Jan 5, 2019, 7:41 am
#44
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: TPE, LAX
Programs: LH Senator, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 596
When we were at Conrad Rangali a few weeks ago, there was a guest staying in the Muraka from Dec 25 to 31. They had guards posting on all the entrances, and no photos, lest to say drones. The VIP turned down the Toyota Alphard at the airport, and I think Conrad bought them something way nicer, probably a MB or something like that. They flew in on their own sea plane, docked at the private jetty for Muraka, brought in their own security forces, and chef.
50k is only the minimum of what is paid. could be much more.
Got all these info when I was given a back of the house tour by their director of engineering. The house tour is great, I highly recommend it!
50k is only the minimum of what is paid. could be much more.
Got all these info when I was given a back of the house tour by their director of engineering. The house tour is great, I highly recommend it!