The five-star Emerald Zanzibar, recognised as Africa’s Leading New Resort at the World Travel Awards 2023 just a few months after it was opened, is the first resort in the Emerald Collection chain to have been built on the African continent. Splendidly located on a hillside overlooking Muyuni beach in Matemwe, the resort is designed “to create as many sea view rooms as possible while maintaining a low profile with just two above-ground levels”. Guest rooms occupy the higher level, while services are conveniently located on the lower level near the beach, explain the architects from Rome-based practice DeLogu Architecture who were commissioned to design the project. The 250 suites of different sizes and categories have a consistent style that exudes elegance, warmth and relaxation. Along with four restaurants, the resort offers a wide array of amenities, including two large swimming pools, two bars, an ice cream parlour, a diving centre, a kids’ club, a sports centre, a tennis and padel court, a conference centre, and an award-winning spa honoured at the 2023 World Spa Awards. Porcelain tiles from Atlas Concorde were chosen for all the indoor and outdoor spaces, including the suites. The collections, inspired by wood, stone, marble and concrete, were used in alternation to define the different atmospheres and functions of each room, while at the same time ensuring durability, performance and ease of maintenance. Every aspect of the resort, from its culinary offerings to its architecture, was meticulously designed to foster well-being and harmony, while each sensory experience is carefully curated to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. The outdoor walkways and spaces shimmer under the sunlight thanks to the special treatment applied to the natural stone-effect Block collection. Around the pools, textures abound with the use of stone- and marble-inspired Brave, Kliff, and Marvel collections, enhancing the poolside experience. Some of the suites boast the luxury and exclusive aesthetics of marble, while others feature the beauty of stone or the warmth of wood-effect tiles from the Etic Pro collection, enhancing prominent areas such as the Asiatique restaurant, the convention centre, the kids’ club and some of the shops. The concrete-inspired Boost collection was chosen for the spa, the Aqua restaurant and several walkways. Finally, the washbasins in the luxury pool suites feature products from the Atlas Plan brand, which specialises in large slabs for kitchens, tables and furnishings.
The Zanzibar resort has made sustainability a top priority by implementing a comprehensive internal policy that entirely eliminates the use of plastic. Additionally, the resort has adopted innovative eco-friendly systems, including one that converts seawater into drinkable water through osmosis and a solar panel system that provides energy for the entire resort.
