Interview with Resort Manager Mohamed Imthiyaz

Mohamed Imthiyaz (Inthi) is the Resort Manager of You and Me by Cocoon. He began his career in the hospitality industry in 2004 as a billing clerk. Over the past 18 years, he has gained extensive knowledge of and experience in hospitality. Mohamed Imthiyaz sat down with Hotelier Maldives to share his expertise to inspire others in the industry.

HM: Tell us a bit about yourself and how you started your career in hospitality.

Mohamed Imthiyaz: I started in the hospitality industry right after my studies in 2004 as a Billing and Accounts Clerk at Vilamendhoo Island Resort. After witnessing the excitement and opportunity in the Food & Beverage department, I looked for a chance to transfer. I was offered a position as a Food & Beverage Attendant at Hilton Maldives Rangali Island in 2005. I gained experience in different roles at Conrad Maldives and One & Only Reethi Rah Maldives. In 2017, I became the F&B Operations Manager at Huvafen Fushi. During my 15 years in the F&B department, I received many awards and frequent promotions. As a manager, I developed and inspired future hoteliers by making their career journey exciting and fulfilling.

Today I am in the beautiful resort, You & Me Maldives. I was hired as the Operations Manager. Within a year, I was promoted to Resort Manager under the guidance of our Corporate General Manager Mr. Jay (Ahmed Jihad, a well-known hotelier in the industry).

HM: What is it like to be the resort manager at You & Me Maldives?

MI: This is the best job because I contribute to the development of the organization. As Resort Manager, my role is to plan strategic business plans and support departmental heads with business decisions and operational targets. The most crucial responsibility is to ensure that all the guests at You & Me have a pleasant and meaningful stay and experience the warmth of Maldivian Hospitality.

HM: How long have you been at the job? Tell us a bit about your experience with You & Me Maldives.

MI: I joined You & Me in 2021. Managing this unique adult-only island has been an amazing experience. We focus on providing memorable moments in a calm and cozy environment. We take great pleasure in seeing the smiles on the guests’ faces. Every day, I make an effort to connect with guests to ask about their stay. Offering a wonderful guest experience is the passion I find in my work.

HM: How was the festive season at You & Me Maldives?

MI: We had a fantastic festive season! The theme of our celebrations was the Hollywood movie, James Bond 007. Gentlemen dressed handsomely in black and white suits and the ladies dressed elegantly. The season was packed with exciting activities and entertainment. We ended the year 2022 with a firework countdown, marking another successful year at You & Me.

HM: Describe a day in your life as the resort manager at You & Me Maldives. 

MI: I start the day at 7:00 am. After early morning departures, I continue with a walk around the island before proceeding with meetings. After that, I conduct the morning briefing with all the heads of the departments to receive an update on the previous day and operational plans for the day. Throughout the day, I make time to meet all the guests arriving and departing. I also have one-on-one meetings with the heads of each department to address the operational tasks of that specific department. During sunset hours, I also host VIP guests and repeaters. I meet the rest of the guests during dinner at the restaurant.

HM: What are some challenges you face at work and what are some things you enjoy?

MI: Since we are dealing with people, the most challenging task is the management of colleagues and customers. Managing the requirements of our guests and maintaining the quality of our team members is a complex task. To offset the challenges, I enjoy sharing a laugh and stories with others. I try to maintain a close bond with guests. It is something I have done for the past 18 years, and I feel it is very important in the hospitality industry.

HM: What advice would you give to young people looking to work in the industry? 

MI: My advice for hoteliers is to have patience and work hard with discipline. The industry needs a lot of talent in the future to sustain the level of service. Only with the right attitude and behavior can we continue to live up to our name and compete with the global hospitality giants. Success is possible with the right approach and efforts.

HM: What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

MI: Football has always interested me. It gives me the energy and enthusiasm to continue. Careers are like a match; you have every chance to play it right and reach the goal. It also reminds me of the importance of having the right people on your team to succeed.

HM: How have you seen the industry change over the course of your career? 

MI: There have been significant changes in the world, like technology and human behaviour. We have had to respond and reconfigure and adapt the services we focus on. For example, previously it was unnecessary to have Wi-Fi throughout the island, but now it is a requirement to have high-speed internet in every nook and cranny of the island, as most people wish to update their social media pages without interruption. As leaders in the industry, we need to keep our eyes and ears open, closely monitor the changes in the market, and respond to guest demands.