1 December 2024 marks an exciting milestone for Ifuru Island Maldives as the resort celebrates its first anniversary. In just one year, this luxury destination has won the hearts of guests from around the world. It has also earned prestigious awards, including a spot in the Top 100 Luxury Hotels and Resorts of the World 2024 by Luxury Lifestyle Awards. Additionally, the resort received the title of Best Beach Resort, Maldives from the Seven Star Luxury Hotel Awards.
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Marcel Sawyer, the General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives, shared his thoughts on the resort’s first year,
“Our first year has been an incredible journey of welcoming guests, creating unforgettable moments, and achieving recognition on a global scale. These awards affirm our commitment to excellence and our passion for delivering exceptional experiences. We are excited to continue building on this foundation as we look toward the future.”
A Paradise of Luxury and Relaxation
Located in the beautiful Raa Atoll, Ifuru Island Resort offers a peaceful atmosphere with a 1-kilometer stretch of white sandy beach. Guests enjoy breathtaking sunset views every evening. The resort’s design blends social spaces with quiet retreats. It features 147 elegant beach suites and villas. Many of these accommodations offer direct beach access and private pools, making the resort perfect for families or special celebrations.
Guests have enjoyed a rich dining experience at six restaurants and four bars. The 24-hour premium all-inclusive dine-around concept offers a variety of locally inspired Maldivian dishes and international flavors. The luxury resort also offers a range of activities, from dolphin watching and diving to cultural experiences. Visitors can unwind with soothing treatments at the Xanadu Spa. Families can also make the most of the Coconut Kids Club, ensuring the children enjoy their stay just as much as the adults.
As Ifuru Island Maldives celebrates this milestone, it remains focused on offering world-class luxury and exceptional service. The resort is eager to continue providing guests with unforgettable experiences in the years ahead.
Nestled in the heart of the Maldives, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi truly elevates luxury by offering the exclusive Ferrari Testa Rossa J, a rare and beautifully hand-crafted classic sports car. Now, guests can experience and drive this exceptional vehicle on the resort’s private island. This unique collaboration effectively unites high-end hospitality with automotive heritage, creating a one-of-a-kind attraction for car enthusiasts, collectors, and travelers seeking unforgettable moments. Hedley Studios, known for creating the world’s finest drivable automotive art, proudly partners with Waldorf Astoria to permanently display the Ferrari Testa Rossa J at Ithaafushi, combining luxury automotive art with one of the world’s most exclusive destinations
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Ben Hedley, Founder & CEO of Hedley Studios, expressed his admiration for the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, calling it a uniquely exciting piece of automotive art that finds its perfect home in one of the world’s most stunning and exclusive destinations:
“By partnering with Waldorf Astoria and their team at Ithaafushi, we have been able to combine luxury automotive artwork with the ultimate luxury hospitality and wellness destination. Our team of craftspeople spend over 300 hours hand-beating the aluminium body of the Ferrari Testa Rossa J; a demonstration of skill, precision and artistic appreciation, and to see the result of this craft placed in a location as undeniably beautiful as Ithaafushi will be an awe-inspiring experience for guests at the island.”
Discover the Ultimate Island Adventure with the Ferrari Testa Rossa J
Imagine waking up in an overwater villa, stepping into a gleaming silver Ferrari, and cruising along the palm-lined paths of Ithaafushi Private Island. This is no ordinary ride. Hedley Studios meticulously hand-builds the Ferrari Testa Rossa J as a 75% scale replica of the legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa — one of the most iconic race cars in automotive history. With only 299 models worldwide, this collectible masterpiece now calls the Maldives home, seamlessly blending art, performance, and luxury into an exclusive island experience.
Ithaafushi, the private island by Waldorf Astoria, stands as a residence of unparalleled luxury and serenity, spanning over 344,000 square feet. It accommodates 24 guests across overwater villas, along with one detached four-bedroom residence, offering an experience unlike any other in the Maldives.
Why the Ferrari Testa Rossa J is a Must-Experience at Ithaafushi
The Ferrari Testa Rossa J represents more than a vehicle. It serves as a living work of art showcased throughout the year during special island events, seasonal festivities, and private gatherings. Whether the resort includes it in “The Ultimate Island Experience” or elegant festive celebrations, the car enriches Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi’s reputation as a sanctuary for collectors and creatives alike.
Exclusive Access: The resort offers the Ferrari Testa Rossa J only to guests staying on the private island. It remains ready to be driven, further making Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi one of the few resorts worldwide to provide such an immersive automotive experience. As the only vehicle on the island, it allows private island guests to test drive this scaled, electrified icon during their stay.
Bespoke Craftsmanship: Hedley Studios creates the car with hand-beaten aluminum panels, premium leather interiors, and precise engineering rooted in Ferrari’s legendary design archives. The team spends over 300 hours hand-beating the aluminum body, demonstrating skill, precision, and artistic appreciation.
Electric Performance: The car’s fully electric drivetrain combines vintage style with modern sustainability. It reaches speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h) and offers multiple driving modes to suit all skill levels.
Customization Options: Guests inspired by the car’s design can order their own customized Ferrari Testa Rossa J, starting at USD 150,000, featuring authentic racing liveries and color schemes faithful to Ferrari’s heritage. These custom orders offer a truly bespoke and memorable addition to their time on Ithaafushi.
Seamless Blend of Tradition and Modernity
This collaboration exemplifies the resort’s dedication to crafting extraordinary experiences that engage the senses and honor legacy. The Ferrari Testa Rossa J blends tradition with modern innovation, making it a rare collectible that stands out in both design and performance. Designers faithfully recreate it from the original Ferrari Classiche drawings, paying homage to the iconic 1957 250 Testa Rossa with exceptional attention to detail. Inside, the leather-trimmed cockpit, removable Nardi steering wheel, and classic analog dials foster an intimate, tactile connection between the driver and the machine, thus enhancing the emotional appeal of this automotive masterpiece.
While the Ferrari Testa Rossa J will not serve as transportation on the island, its fully electrified design aligns with the resort’s commitment to sustainability and preserving the natural beauty and delicate marine ecosystem of Ithaafushi.
TJ Joulak, General Manager of Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, highlighted how the partnership with Hedley Studios enhances the resort’s commitment to offering guests an elevated experience of private luxury, wellness, and relaxation. Speaking on the collaboration, he said:
“With the finest wellness experiences and world-class cuisine available during their stay, it is only fitting that we offer guests the chance to experience something equally elegant and immersive. While the Ferrari Testa Rossa J will not be used for transportation on the island, its presence reflects our shared values of craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability. Its fully electrified design also aligns with our commitment to preserving the natural beauty and delicate marine ecosystem of Ithaafushi.”
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi: More Than a Resort
Beyond the Ferrari experience, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi boasts 117 luxurious villas spanning three interconnected islands, including the Maldives’ largest private island. Guests access multiple fine dining venues, a world-class spa, water sports, diving, and more, making the resort a comprehensive luxury destination.
Driving the Ferrari Testa Rossa J offers guests a unique way to explore the island’s five swimming pools, yoga pavilions, spas, and scenic restaurants, enhancing every moment of their stay with an exclusive blend of excitement and elegance.
Ithaafushi Island itself represents a haven of tranquility in the heart of the Indian Ocean, featuring a natural reef that the resort actively preserves. An in-house marine biologist leads conservation efforts, maintaining coral nurseries and supporting natural reef growth and reproduction, reflecting the resort’s strong environmental values.
A Rare Ferrari Experience Awaits in the Maldives
Travelers seeking more than just a tropical getaway find the Ferrari Testa Rossa J at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi offers a rare chance to immerse themselves in automotive history, luxury, and innovative design all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldives. This exclusive offering celebrates craftsmanship, timeless beauty, and personal discovery.
Whether guests cruise the island’s palm-fringed paths or attend one of the resort’s signature events featuring the Ferrari, they create lasting memories that combine passion for cars with the serenity of paradise. Those eager to own a piece of this legacy can place custom orders for the Ferrari Testa Rossa J, opening the door to bringing a slice of the Maldives’ luxury lifestyle home.
Guests at the resort can also purchase the Ferrari Testa Rossa J displayed at Ithaafushi, making this exceptional automotive art piece available beyond the island experience.
Experience the perfect fusion of automotive art and island luxury, only at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.
