Linsley said he was not worried about the new resort detracting business from the Mahe property.

“It offers a great opportunity to split the trip, so guests can have two different experiences in the same country with one global brand,” he said. “I think Desroches Island is a complement, not a competitor, and will draw more business to Four Seasons.”

Linsley is expecting Desroches Island – the group's 110^th hotel – to attract a similar type of holidaymaker to Four Seasons Mahe, so mainly families, and honeymooners that have spent time in the group’s resorts in the Serengeti or Johannesburg.

“There’s legendary service, families can run all over the place, there are bikes and giant tortoises – people dream about it. It’s a way for them to truly feel detached from the world,” Linsley said.

There are no plans to expand the facilities at Desroches Island, as one of its key selling points is its intimacy and natural beauty.

“It will never get big and commercialised. We want to respect how pristine the Outer Islands are and we want to keep a low footprint and not disturb what Mother Nature has created,” Linsley said.

“I’m happy to say it’s already getting great reviews. Guests are loving the connection with staff and the island, and the food is getting great reviews too. We’ve even had guests crying because they don’t want to leave,” he said.