Where play shapes the journey: Krakengiri Kids’ Club’s award-winning approach at Hilton Maldives Amingiri
At a resort, a children’s club is often viewed as one part of a wider guest programme. For families, however, it can influence the rhythm of the entire stay. It determines whether children feel settled, whether parents feel comfortable spending time apart and, in many cases, whether a family chooses to return. At Hilton Maldives […]
Beyond operations: Harish Nair on shaping the soul of RAH GILI and DON MAAGA MALDIVES
For Harish Nair, the next chapter of his hospitality career is not simply about opening or operating resorts. It is about helping two Maldivian islands develop distinct identities, building teams that understand the emotional purpose of service and creating places that remain in guests’ memories long after their departure. As Cluster General Manager of SIX […]
In conversation with Chef Tipa: Bringing southern Thai flavours to Maldives
For a limited time, Saffron Maldives at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru invites guests on a culinary journey through the rich flavours of Southern Thailand, till 17 July 2026. Guided by Chef Tipaporn Phianthong (Chef Tipa), Head Chef of Saffron, Banyan Group, the exclusive menu showcases authentic regional recipes thoughtfully reimagined with selected locally sourced ingredients from […]
Fathimath Umar: Shaping Maldivian hospitality through food, teaching and leadership
In every industry, there are professionals whose careers extend beyond their own job titles. They help build people, raise standards and widen the path for those who come after them. In Maldivian hospitality, Fathimath Umar is one of those figures. Known to many across the industry as Chef Fathun, she has spent decades contributing to […]
From billing clerk to materials manager: Ali Shareef’s 25-year journey in procurement, learning at Angsana Velavaru
Procurement rarely takes place in view of the guest. It operates through purchase orders, supplier negotiations, quality checks, stock controls, delivery schedules and the movement of goods between Malé and resort islands. Yet almost every part of a resort operation depends on it. At Angsana Velavaru, the responsibility for coordinating this process rests with Materials […]
Mohamed Hussain Shihab: Building HR leadership through people, succession and service
When Mohamed Hussain Shihab first considered hospitality, it was not part of a long-set career plan. He was looking at colleges in Malaysia when he came across a hotel school. That encounter changed the direction of his studies, and later his career. “I didn’t plan on studying hospitality in the beginning,” Shihab says. “But while […]
Mohamed Mausoom: Making of a Maldivian leader at Velaa Private Island
At Velaa Private Island, Mohamed Mausoom’s appointment as General Manager is more than a promotion. It is the continuation of a journey that began long before titles, long before the resort established itself among the Maldives’ most exclusive addresses, and long before the industry began speaking about local leadership in ultra-luxury hospitality with the urgency […]
Building people, building culture: Ibrahim Hameed on leading HR at Cora Cora Maldives
When Ibrahim Hameed (Ibbe) began his career at just 18, the world of hospitality was unfamiliar territory. Today, more than a decade later, he leads the Human Resources department at Cora Cora Maldives — a role that, as he describes it, “is never the same two days in a row.” “I love HR,” he says […]
Rizan Afeef: Building ‘culture architecture’ from Maldives to the Americas
When Rizan Afeef began his career in the early 2000s, he was working in commercial roles and learning the mechanics of operations and revenue. But the turning point came when he found himself “more curious about people than processes”. “I was fascinated by what made teams perform under pressure and how leadership energy influenced morale,” […]
Abdulla Fathhey: Making a big island feel effortless at Villa Park
By Maaish Mohamed and Mariyam Saliya Mohamed On an island with the scale and recognisability of Sun Island, change is never simply cosmetic. The renaming of a Maldivian mainstay to Villa Park is a high-visibility move, but for Abdulla Fathhey, General Manager of Villa Park, the point is not novelty. It is clarity. Villa Resorts […]
From ship to shore: Neil Shorthouse on Maldives, leadership, and training that changes behaviour
Neil Shorthouse arrived in the Maldives on 26 January 2008 with a career built in one of hospitality’s most demanding “remote” environments: cruise ships. For him, the comparison between shipboard life and island operations is not a metaphor — it is operational reality. “In many ways working at sea and on a remote island, are […]
Balancing tradition and innovation: Award-winning Chef Ahmed Jameel on leading Tapasake at One&Only Reethi Rah
By Maaish Mohamed and Mariyam Saliya Mohamed When asked about the origins of his culinary journey, Ahmed Jameel reflects not on a professional kitchen, but on his home. “My passion for cooking started at home. My mom was an amazing cook and her ability to bring her own unique flavours to every dish truly inspired […]
