You took on the role of GM at JA Manafaru last summer – what was it that drew you to the island (and the job!)?
The priority when I was looking for my next role was to find a resort that had a team of open and enthusiastic individuals, as well as a place where I could work with those people to give the resort its own identity and story. A natural (not man-made) island was also a must.
You’ve worked in some pretty spectacular places (Maldives, Bali, Malaysia, Fiji…). What are some of the highlights and challenges of tropical island resorts?
Working in these places allows the team to craft a more personalised journey for the guests. From the team perspective, we all live together which creates a family feeling. Also, I prefer the island style of commuting where I walk 50 metres along a sandy path from home to the office and say hello to the team and to guests on the way!
When you joined JA Manafaru last summer, what was your vision for the property?
Firstly, to greatly improve the reputation of the resort by making sure that every guest leaves happy and with a feeling of wow. Secondly, to improve the life of the island team to better retain great staff. And lastly, to create a unique proposition on the island to differentiate the resort. This incorporates sustainability so that we can have a positive impact on the environment and the local community.
I understand your wife has also joined JA Manafaru as a Sustainability & Environmental Advisor. What’s your joint mission for the resort?
We are very fortunate to be able to work harmoniously side by side and complement each other. Working together means we can pitch and work out ideas and innovations, and have a balanced approach with the team. Victoria has a very varied background and offers insight into a wide array of subjects. It is also good for the female staff to have a ‘champion’, which helps our goal of increasing the number of female staff, particularly Maldivian, in the resort.
What would be your ‘elevator pitch’ for the resort for someone yet to visit?
Peace and plenty. Being the only resort in this atoll means there is so little noise, no aircraft flying over, and little boat traffic, and this contributes to the peace. It is like going back in time to the way things were here, the ‘Real Maldives’. We also offer plenty of choice for guests with our large villas and wellness offerings.
The resort has peace and privacy on its side due to its remoteness. But for guests just wanting a quick ‘Fly & Flop’ to the Maldives from the UAE, how do you spin the additional travel time to tempt guests?
While it might take an hour or so more to reach us, we do a lot more for our guests. We don’t charge for things like water and offer many complimentary activities for guests. And as you say, the peace level is so much higher that you get more relaxation bang for your buck.
Talking guests, what is your current demographic and what do your guests looks for when staying on the island?
We are fortunate to have a balanced guest nationality profile with a good representation of the main Maldives travellers. We are very popular with couples (not to mention seeming to have a high number of proposals), however we are also seeing the family market develop. The average length of stay and booking trends are very country-specific and in line with the norm here.
Tell us a little about the resort, in particular, what’s new around the property…
I think we need a separate article for all our new developments! Let’s cover three main areas… Firstly, as mentioned above, we are doing more for our guests, and offer a great activity program, Majaa Times, with an intro to diving, workshops, games and more. We do not charge guests for house-made water, tennis rackets, life vests, bicycles, and such things that many resorts do.
Our sustainability program is underway with the homegrown program growing as we speak. Using our naturally lush island to grow our own food offers guests the freshest of foods and the ability to interact with nature in a different way, such as collecting their own eggs. We have also introduced the use of Ocean Bound Plastic material, with wet cloth bags gifted to guests the night before departure. However, I believe it is vital to implement sustainability initiatives across the resort, not only where guests can see, so I am proud to say that we have initiatives such as compostable plastic wrap in our kitchens and energy-saving measures, as well as training and education for our team that they can translate back into their communities.
We have also just launched our Wellness Your Way (WYW) program. This program is all about offering choices to guests, wellness offerings that enhance their vacation but still allow for indulgences. The launch was held in October last year and saw the start of our WYW menus. This means that all of our restaurants will offer menus for different eating lifestyles, allowing guests to effortlessly find a wide range of dishes whether they are vegan/vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free or low-carb carb.
Lastly, I understand that one of your core focuses is to expand the resort’s reputation as ‘an authentic Maldivian escape’ – what’s your vision in doing this and how?
We are a small boutique property, and our aim is to make our guests feel at home. This is an important part of the Maldivian culture, to welcome people and host them. Food is an important part of that, and we are very proud to have a high number of Maldivian staff and leaders. This includes having a Maldivian Executive Chef which is rare to find. Having a traditional-style resort combined with the serenity of our location and the warmth and engagement of our team is what makes us the ‘Real Maldives’.