Shaping first impressions: Hussain Waheed on two decades of service at One&Only Reethi Rah
By Maaish Mohamed and Mariyam Saliya Mohamed When Hussain Waheed joined One&Only Reethi Rah in 2002, he could not have imagined that more than two decades later he would still be at the forefront of shaping the guest journey at one of the Maldives’ most recognised resorts. Today, as Airport Manager, he is one of […]
Seven years, one dream: Mariyam Malaak becomes Maldives’ first female pilot cadet from cabin crew
When Mariyam Malaak steps into the cockpit of a Manta Air seaplane on 1 December 2025, she will be doing far more than beginning her first day as a First Officer. She will be closing a seven-year chapter of perseverance—one marked by setbacks, sacrifices, shifting continents, motherhood, and an unwavering belief in the dream she […]
Breaking barriers, building futures: Nus-ha Hassan’s mission to empower Maldivian women
When Nus-ha Hassan left her home island in Addu, a career in hospitality was the last thing on her mind. “I never thought I would be working in a resort,” she said. “But I wanted to get out of my local island because there was nothing for us there. I didn’t want to work in […]
Legacy in Laamu: Marteyne van Well on building culture of care, continuity, commitment
When Six Senses Laamu was named “CSR Programme of the Year” at the 2025 Hotelier Maldives Awards, it was more than just an industry accolade. For Regional General Manager Marteyne van Well, who has been at the helm since the resort’s opening week in 2011, the recognition affirmed over a decade of purpose-driven leadership grounded […]
Finding purpose through wellness: I Gusti Ayu Ariani at Cora Cora Maldives
When I Gusti Ayu Ariani arrived in the Maldives for the first time in 2009, she had little idea that the islands would become her second home. Sixteen years later, she manages MOKSHA® Spa & Wellbeing Centre at Cora Cora Maldives and has been recognised as Wellness Personality of the Year at the Hotelier Maldives […]
JOALI Maldives’ Shameem Ali: Local expertise, global impact for reef conservation
For nearly two decades, Shameem Ali has dedicated his professional life to understanding and protecting the coral reefs of the Maldives. His journey began in 2005, when he joined Banyan Tree as a marine environmental officer. Looking back, he recalls that his interest in marine life started even earlier, when he became concerned about what […]
Nurturing family experiences: JOALI Maldives’ Mariyam Hana on crafting experiences for younger guests
In JOALI Maldives, Mariyam Hana leads the Kids Club with a vision shaped by both professional experience and personal conviction. With a career that has taken her from front office operations to managing one of the most distinctive family programmes in the country, Hana’s career reflects the evolution of Maldivian hospitality and the growing role […]
Chronicling the skies: Ahmed Mohamed’s definitive history of Maldivian aviation
For a nation of over a thousand islands scattered across the vast Indian Ocean, the story of the Maldives is inextricably linked to the story of its connection with the world. While the sea has been its lifeblood for centuries, it is the sky that has truly shaped its modern identity. The roar of a […]
‘Joy of Living’ through Maldivian lens: Shifaz Hassan at JOALI Maldives
When JOALI Maldives opened in 2018, it brought a new dimension to the country’s luxury tourism landscape by embedding art and storytelling into the guest experience. At the centre of this philosophy today is its General Manager, Shifaz Hassan, one of the few Maldivian leaders in the ultra-luxury sector, who carries both the responsibility of […]
Managing a well-living island: Graeme Freeman on balancing joyful transformation at JOALI BEING
Graeme Freeman, General Manager of JOALI BEING, oversees a truly unique destination in the Maldives, a well-living island dedicated to guiding guests on a journey of joyful transformation. Rooted in the resort’s signature Four Pillars of Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy, Freeman’s leadership blends cutting-edge science with ancient wisdom to create personalised experiences that restore […]
Yogeswaran Veerasamy on dusitD2 Feydhoo’s new paradigm for Maldivian hospitality
The opening of a new resort in the Maldives is a regular occurrence, yet the inauguration of dusitD2 Feydhoo Maldives on 27 July 2025 signals a notable shift in the nation’s hospitality landscape. As the second property from the Dusit International portfolio to launch in the country, it brings a distinct proposition to the market, […]
‘Luxury is in the details’: Cheval Blanc Randheli’s Mohamed Aslam on the craft of housekeeping
By Maaish Mohamed and Mariyam Saliya Mohamed When Mohamed Aslam was named Housekeeper of the Year at Hotelier Maldives Awards 2025, his response was marked by gratitude and reflection. “This award means a great deal to me because it is the first major recognition I have received in my career,” he said. “When I heard […]
