Centara Hotels and Resorts, operated under Thailand’s Central Holding, has signed an agreement to operate another resort in the Maldives.

Centara already runs two properties in the country – the Grand and Ras Fushi, the latter was last year’s winner of the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

The conglomerate signed on earlier this week with Well Land Investments and a subsidiary of Antrac Holding – a shipping giant with an arm in tourism and travel services tracing its roots to 1985 – to operate Muthaafushi Island in Baa atoll, now being developed into a resort.

Water Solutions began collecting data on Muthaafushi under instruction from Well Land to conduct environmental impact assessments focusing specifically focused on maintaining the ‘natural state’ of the island.

Well Land Investments is an import-export company that primarily deals with fast-moving consumer goods.

The property, reported to hold 24 land and 77 water villas with an underwater restaurant, will have its soft-opening in 2018.  

Centara has 23 hotels across Asia, including Sri Lanka, and recently bought COSI Hotels, which provides highly catered travel management services.