Purchasing Power: Ibrahim ‘Sappé’ Shafeeq, Purchasing Manager, Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli and Naladhu Private Island

In this interview with Hotelier Maldives, Ibrahim ‘Sappé’ Shafeeq, the Purchasing Manager for three properties operated by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas; Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort, Anantara Veli Maldives Resort, and Naladhu Private Island, speaks about his take on an ideal supplier and on the industry.

Hotelier Maldives: How long have you been in purchasing?

Ibrahim Shafeeq: It’s been almost seven years, now.

HM: What do you look for in a product?

IS: Whether it’s a fruit or vegetable, or something else, I look at everything from quality and price, to where it comes from, its style and design. There are always a lot of factors, but weighing the quality with the price is the most important thing.

HM: What area of the hotel are you most proud of?

IS: I am especially proud of our sales and marketing department and the reservations team.

HM: Tell us about one of your most successful deals?

IS: Well, now we are centralised, we have price comparisons for three resorts: Kihavah, Niyama and Dhigu. We’ve streamlined things so that all three resorts buy items at the same price, so we’re making savings that way and it’s more efficient.

HM: What does a supplier have to do to impress you?

IS: When they go above and beyond, service-wise, it impresses me. For example, early or fast delivery with all the documents in order, or if they notice that an item we order with them could be offered at a better price, or if they suggest an alternative that’s better quality and cheaper.