Assets Group is to add a dedicated fleet of 18 Azimut yachts to its operations in the Maldives as part of a new partnership with Azimut.
The yachts will serve guests at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi and Rosewood Ranfaru Maldives, with the agreement also including a new Azimut Service Centre in Malé.
The partnership was formally signed on Sunday 13 September during the Cannes Yachting Festival, aboard Azimut’s Grande 44M flagship.
Marco Valle, CEO of Azimut-Benetti Group, said the agreement would expand Azimut’s business model beyond traditional yacht distribution.
“This partnership represents a major strategic milestone for Azimut across two key dimensions. First, regarding our business model, which expands into new distribution channels. Second, with respect to our brand positioning: by partnering with leaders in ultra-luxury hospitality, we elevate the ecosystem of yacht-related experiences for a discerning audience, in a highly compelling hub.”
15 Magellano yachts
Of the 18 yachts joining the fleet, 15 will come from Azimut’s Magellano series.
The fleet is intended to extend the resort experience onto the water, with yachts providing guests with access to cruising around the Maldivian islands.
Assets Group is a subsidiary of Power International Holding, a Qatar-based group involved in destination development, real estate, hospitality, commerce and social infrastructure.
Khaled Zi Alnon, group chief executive of Assets Group, said the investment in the 18-yacht fleet would make the company the operator of what it describes as the largest private luxury yacht fleet in the Indian Ocean.
“Our investment in 18 Azimut yachts brings that vision onto the water, combining world-class craftsmanship, personalised service and seamless mobility.”
The company says the fleet will form part of a broader approach to integrating its resort and marine operations.
New service centre in Malé
The new Azimut Service Centre in Malé will provide local support for the fleet. It will be supported by Azimut’s Italian team and Azimut Yachts Maldives, powered by Elite Yachts.
Elite Yachts has been a longstanding Azimut partner in the Middle East and will now support the brand’s operations in the Maldives.
Enrico Chiaussa, chief commercial officer EMEA APAC of Azimut Yachts, said the Maldives represented a high-potential market for the brand.
“The opening of a local service centre” would help Azimut consolidate its position in the market, he said, while maintaining the service standards required to support its expansion.
The partnership forms part of a wider move by Assets Group to combine its hospitality operations with yacht-based experiences, with the 18-vessel fleet due to operate from its Maldivian resorts.
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