(Seychelles News Agency) - Asmallworld AG will be taking over the management of the iconic North Island Resort in the Seychelles in December, the private social network announced on Thursday.

The network will oversee the day-to-day operations of the resort and its integration into Marriott International's Luxury Collection brand portfolio.

"We are very excited to launch the ASmallWorld Hotel Collection with such a world-renowned hotel as North Island. This first step towards building our very own luxury hotel collection will allow us to offer our travel-savvy members a unique destination, while at the same time increasing the occupancy rate and the profitability of the property,” said the chief executive, Jan Luescher.

North Island is a luxury private resort located 27 kilometres north-west of Mahe, the main island of Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. It is an exclusive eco-tourism resort accessible only by helicopter and regularly patronised by the rich and famous. The island welcomed Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Victoria and David Beckham, for their honeymoons.

The island is an exclusive eco-tourism resort accessible only by helicopter and regularly patronised by the rich and famous.  (www.north-island.com) Photo Licence: All Rights Reserved

The resort will be the first hotel in the portfolio of the newly launched ASmallWorldHotel Collection. The announcement came only weeks after ASmallWorldannounced the acquisition of LuxuryBARED, an online luxury travel agency.

ASmallWorld is an exclusive, paid-subscription social network, which relaunched in spring 2013 as a private international travel and social club, with a peer-recommended and verified user base capped membership at 250,000 people.

Through a franchise agreement, North Island will become part of Marriott International's Luxury Collection brand portfolio in December 2019 and will operate as 'North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort.

"We are excited to further expand The Luxury Collection portfolio across the Middle East and Africa with the addition of our first property in one of the world's most desirable destinations, the Seychelles," said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa for Marriott International.

He added that "North Island offers private seclusion along with a truly indigenous experience, making it the ideal destination for global explorers."

North Island features 11 private guest villas, offering each guest an unparalleled sense of exclusivity and luxury. The island also houses a lounge, dining room and library, health spa and gym, an infinity pool and a sunset bar and restaurant located away on the western side of the island.

Since its opening in 1997, North Island has been recognised as a sustainable tourism destination.