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Axel Jarosch: maintaining Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Angsana Ihuru’s appeal amidst growing competition
Axel Jarosch is by all means a hospitality veteran. Turning a childhood dream into a successful career that is marked by high-level postings all over the world with some of the most reputed hotel chains in the world, he still sees hospitality as one of the most gratifying fields.
It is this enthusiasm, coupled with years of experience, that he brings to his current role as General Manager for North Male, responsible for overall operations for Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru.
Before taking up his current posting in the Maldives in January, the German-born hospitality executive, who holds a Bachelors degree in International Hotel Economics and Hospitality from Fritz Gabler Hotelfachschule Heidelberg in Germany, served as the General Manager of Banyan Tree Al Wadi and Banyan Tree Ras Al Kaimah in the United Arab Emirates for almost two and a half year.
Prior to joining Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts in 2014, Axel was the General Manager at Six Senses Zighy Bay. He has previously served as the Operations Director responsible for the hotel openings of Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas in Abu Dhabi, and has also held the position of General Manager with Anantara in Oman, Bali and Indonesia during pre-opening stages. He has also held managerial roles at Per AQUUM, Constance Hotels, InterContinental Hotel Group, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Group. In addition to his time in the Gulf, he has worked in Sri Lanka, the Seychelles, Namibia and Mauritius.
In an interview with Maldives Insider, Axel looks onto the challenges as well as the opportunities of running Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, one of the oldest resorts in the Maldives, and its sister property Angsana Ihuru in North Male Atoll, in the face of ever-increasing competition and changing travel trends.
Maldives Insider: How did you develop an interest in tourism and hospitality?
Axel Jarosch: I started my career at the age of 22. I studied economics, and while going to university in Germany I worked part-time in a number of hotels and restaurants. I started at the very bottom, doing an internship at a business hotel in Germany. I progressed in my career, going into food and beverage. I developed myself from a waiter to a restaurant captain to a supervisor to a manager to Assistant Food and Beverage Manager to Executive Assistant Food and Beverage Manager to Resident Manager and finally becoming a General Manager. My first General Manager posting was with Per AQUUM, opening The Fortress hotel in the Sri Lankan town of Galle.
On my first day itself, I fell in love with the industry. Working in this industry is very gratifying because you make it your day’s work to make other people happy. That for me is very unique.
I have always wanted to work internationally, moving and seeing other countries and cultures. This was a profession that gave me that opportunity. I have been blessed to have been able to work in South East Asia, Middle East, Africa and in the Indian Ocean. I cannot imagine doing any other job!
MI: When was your first visit to the Maldives?
AJ: I visited the Maldives for holiday about 10 years ago, and immediately fell in love with the country. What is there not to like? It really is a paradise.
What I find extremely unique about the Maldives is to have a team of predominantly local associates; in the case of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru, people who have been working in this island for 15-30 years! To keep doing what they do with so much passion after so long is amazing. I am used to working in very remote locations, and I love working on these islands. In our profession, we do not have the same day twice. We are always welcoming different guests and dealing with new challenges. So, it is never boring.
MI: What do you focus mostly on in overseeing the operations of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru?
AJ: My main focus is to continue the successful operation of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Angsana Ihuru in the North Male Atoll, while maintaining the high standards that Banyan Tree is known for. I am also focused on continuously improving the services that we give to our guests. It can only be achieved by overseeing the training programmes and career development opportunities available to the associates, and by succession planning.
It is also my responsibility to increase awareness in the international arena about these two resorts. Banyan Tree was one of the first international brands that came to the Maldives. We were the first to introduce the spa concept to the Maldives. But we cannot live in the past. We can only move forward, evolve and grow the brand as well. We have got three beautiful resorts in the Maldives, but it does not mean that everybody knows about us.
MI: What are the efforts being made to achieve those goals?
AJ: One of my favourite words is consistency; being consistent in providing our guests with brand standards of personalised service. I think this is where we stand out, and Banyan Tree as a hotel group is unique. It is not so much about a guest staying in a villa, but more so about knowing the preferences of the guests and making sure that we personalise everything we do. For example, if you come in the morning for breakfast on your first day here and order a cappuccino, the team takes note of that and offers you a cappuccino the next day at breakfast rather than offering you the full expanse of our coffee menu. Another thing we do is to have the same associate look after you on your every visit and create a bond between the guest and the team here. This is something we are good at, and we see that pay off by the high percentage of repeat guests we have. That is because the guest feels at home here rather than being in a hotel.
MI: What are the programmes conducted to maintain the service standard?
AJ: We look after our team well. As an employer, Banyan Tree is well-known for fair employment; of looking after the interests of the associates and recognising the good work they do. That is reflected in the very low staff turnover that we have. Having that high number of team members that have been loyal to the company speaks for the brand itself.
We make sure that each and everyone of our team is treated fairly and that they can continuously develop themselves. For example, under our cross exposure programme, we send a member of the team to one of our other resorts either in Thailand, Seychelles or elsewhere. We have jop swap; for example, I have right now team members from one of our Thailand properties looking after the main restaurant here. Their counterparts here have gone to Thailand to look after the main dining restaurant in Banyan Tree Phuket.
MI: What are the challenges in running an established property like Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru?
AJ: Logistics is always a challenge when it comes to working in the Maldives, where tourism resolves around the ‘one island, one resort’ concept. You have to know what to buy, when to buy and how much to buy. Everything else is easy because our resorts and our teams are very well-established.
But knowing that you have a 20-year-old product and still maintaining a certain standard that makes guests pay a certain amount of money to stay in is a challenge. In the recent past, we have made minor renovations such as changing the concept of our main restaurant to show some innovation. We have also added pools to the villas.
Since then, it has been about maintaining those standards through what we call a villa maintenance programme. Under this programme, every guest villa is completely redone every single year.
MI: A number of new resorts are opening up across the Maldives, and especially in the Male region. Would this affect the performance of established properties like Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru?
AJ: I welcome competition. I think it is important, especially in hospitality. The moment you have competition, you start to develop your own property because you obviously do not want guests to go to another property.
Our resorts in North Male Atoll are very small; Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru has 48 villas and Angsana Ihuru has 45 villas. We have not seen a downturn in occupancy. We have been very lucky, especially in the first half of this year, as we were able to reach our forecast in terms of occupancy. I do not think a lot of our guests will go to other resorts because guests that come to a Banyan Tree have certain expectations. For example, we do not have any water villas here in the north. We are one of the few resorts still maintaining that original concept. Guests that come here want direct access to the beach and we have kept it that way. There are resorts opening up with over 100 water villas here in this atoll as well, but those are for a different clientele.
We are very lucky, as we have been very successful over the last 20 years. The awareness about Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru amongst our base clients, which is still predominantly Europeans, will continue to give us the exposure. But we need to concentrate on emerging markets that are now discovering the Maldives. Countries with three to four-hour flight distance like India, whose people have more disposable income than before, are now coming to the Maldives as well. So, we need to tap into those markets, and make sure that we are not relying on just one market.
MI: What should be done to tap into those markets?
AJ: We need to find the demands and expectations of guests coming from those markets. For example, Indian guests will have different expectations from Brits. We need to find ways to cater to those demands on a personalised level, be it adapting the restaurant menu, an entertainment concept or different recreational activities.
MI: How would you describe your experience in the Maldives?
AJ: It has been extremely satisfying. I consider myself very fortunate and lucky to be here. I love the brand. I started working for Banyan Tree because of the core values of sustainability that the brand has. We have been adopting several sustainable practices, be it coral planting, turtle programmes and preserving the underwater beauty of the Maldives, which is two thirds of the overall beauty of the country. The fact that Banyan Tree as a group puts such an emphasis on this makes me so proud to be part of this team.
We have guiding values of sustainability, including building green communities. All these values are followed by every Banyan Tree property in the world. We do some things a little bit differently here in the Maldives. For example, every Banyan Tree resort is tasked to plan 2,000 trees per year. Obviously being in the Maldives, there is so much that you can plant. So, instead of trees, we plant corals. Our marine lab, which is one of the first marine labs in the Maldives and has been operating for the past 15 years, puts a lot of emphasis on creating coral gardens, especially following the recent El Nino effect.
We also work together with local ministries and organisations to do studies on fish populations. Our work also extends to educational programmes with local schools.
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Ayada Maldives introduces the sleek Jet Car experience
Ayada Maldives, renowned for its luxury experiences and stunning oceanic paradise, has introduced an exhilarating new way to explore the island’s turquoise waters: the Jet Car. This innovative, sports-car-inspired watercraft offers guests the ultimate blend of luxury and adventure, providing a one-of-a-kind experience in the Maldivian seas.
The Ayada Maldives Jet Car is more than just a ride; it represents an unforgettable thrill. Designed to resemble a sleek sports car, this watercraft glides effortlessly over the lagoon, offering an exhilarating way to explore the island’s pristine waters in style. Perfect for adventure seekers and luxury enthusiasts alike, the Jet Car presents an unmatched opportunity to experience the breathtaking views and vibrant marine life of the Maldives from an entirely new perspective.
Guests embarking on the Jet Car adventure will feel the excitement as they cruise through Ayada’s stunning waters, creating waves and turning heads along the way. This unique watercraft is not only a visual spectacle but also easy to operate, making it accessible for both experienced water sports enthusiasts and those new to water-based adventures.
The Jet Car experience is available for booking at Ayada Maldives’ Watersports Center, with prices starting from $249 per ride. Each ride promises to be a highlight of any guest’s stay, providing an unbeatable blend of adrenaline and beauty that captures the essence of the Maldives.
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Discover unmatched luxury and adventure at Kandolhu Maldives
Kandolhu Maldives is the quintessential honeymoon destination, where intimacy and relaxed luxury harmonise on a tranquil, small island. Featuring only 30 exquisitely designed villas, this enchanting retreat offers couples the ideal setting for privacy and rejuvenation, framed by pristine white sandy beaches and breathtaking turquoise waters that surround one of the Maldives’ most vibrant house reefs.
Dining at Kandolhu is a remarkable experience that enriches every guest’s stay. Visitors can choose from five à la carte restaurants, a bar, and unique beach dining options. They can imagine enjoying a private five-course dinner beneath the stars, with their toes in the soft sand and the gentle sound of waves as their soundtrack. Whether guests opt for an oceanfront meal, a moonlit dinner on the jetty, or the comfort of their villa’s veranda, each culinary creation is expertly tailored to individual preferences. The culinary team is dedicated to ensuring every dish is not only delicious but also meaningful, accommodating dietary needs and special requests. This sets the stage for romantic evenings filled with lasting memories.
For adventure seekers, the house reef at Kandolhu presents some of the finest snorkelling in the Maldives. Home to a diverse array of marine life, including colourful fish, sea turtles, reef sharks, and even eagle rays, this vibrant ecosystem guarantees that each snorkelling excursion is both unique and thrilling. Enthusiasts may even encounter hawksbill turtles gliding gracefully through the water, adding a touch of magic to their underwater adventures. Large schools of fish, such as snappers, fusiliers, and moorish idols, contribute to the stunning marine landscape, and the reef’s accessibility allows guests to explore its wonders at their own pace, with expert guides on hand to enhance the experience.
Relaxation reaches new heights at Kandolhu’s Varu Spa, where exclusive treatments are designed to foster connection and tranquility. Signature experiences like “A Moment in Love” and “Forever in Love” offer indulgent therapies, including aromatherapy, soothing coconut oil massages, and special rituals such as a thread bracelet exchange in a candlelit setting. The serene ambiance of Varu Spa, set against lush surroundings, creates an idyllic environment for couples to reconnect and recharge.
Kandolhu Maldives also provides a variety of experiences for guests to enjoy. Whether indulging in à la carte dining at one of the five restaurants, taking a sunset stroll along the beach, or experiencing a couple’s spa treatment, there’s always something to ignite the senses. For those with a passion for underwater exploration, Kandolhu offers scuba diving and various excursions. Guests can also embark on a private sunset cruise, allowing them to witness the sun dip below the horizon in perfect seclusion with their loved ones.
More than just a stunning island, Kandolhu Maldives is an unforgettable experience crafted to linger in the memories of its visitors. With its breathtaking natural beauty, intimate atmosphere, and laid-back luxury, it provides the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure, making it a dream destination for honeymooners.
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Sun Siyam Resorts launches 24-hour all-inclusive packages
Sun Siyam Resorts is elevating the all-inclusive experience in the Maldives with the introduction of its 24-hour, resort-wide all-inclusive benefits, available across all properties beginning November 1st. Known for its commitment to attainable luxury and product innovation, the Maldivian-owned company is expanding all-inclusive offerings beyond just meals. Guests now have round-the-clock access to dining, drinks, activities, and entertainment, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in island life without restrictions.
This 24-hour all-inclusive plan builds on the success and high demand of Siyam World’s premium all-inclusive model, now extended across all Sun Siyam resorts. Guests can enjoy gourmet dining at various restaurants, premium drinks, and a wide selection of activities, all included in their stay. From snorkelling safaris and dolphin cruises to sunset fishing and spa or watersports credits, each experience is tailored to accommodate every type of traveler, whether they seek relaxation, adventure, or both. With the widest array of accommodation types in the Maldives, guests can customise their stay as they wish. The following 24/7 venues will be available on the islands starting November 1st:
- Siyam World: Kulhivaru Sports Bar offers nonstop drinks and snacks in a lively setting, with national and international sports games broadcasted around the clock.
- Sun Siyam Iru Fushi: The Water’s Edge Bar provides refreshing drinks and light bites, allowing guests to relax with uninterrupted ocean views.
- Sun Siyam Olhuveli: Sunrise Bar features 24/7 service, lagoon views, and activities for all ages, ideal for families.
- Sun Siyam Iru Veli: The Chemistry Bar serves drinks and snacks throughout the day and night, making it a social hub for relaxation and interaction.
- Sun Siyam Vilu Reef: Positive Energy Bar ensures a continuous flow of refreshments, offering everything from poolside cocktails to late-night snacks.
With this new 24-hour all-inclusive concept, Sun Siyam Resorts sets a new standard for flexible and worry-free travel, offering exceptional value and endless ways for guests to experience the beauty and culture of the Maldives without hidden costs. Each resort adds its own unique flair to the all-inclusive experience:
- At Iru Veli, the Premium All-Inclusive Signature Plan includes paddleboarding, windsurfing, and credits for jet skiing or spa services, along with three excursions.
- Siyam World’s WOW! Premium All-Inclusive plan is designed for families and adventure-seekers, featuring unlimited access to Siyam Water World, the Maldives’ largest floating water park, multiple excursions, and 24/7 dining across 18 bars and restaurants.
- Iru Fushi’s All-Inclusive package includes a dine-around meal plan at over 15 restaurants and bars, offering luxurious, day-to-night experiences with drinks and snacks on demand.
- Vilu Reef and Olhuveli each feature All-Inclusive dine-around packages with waterfront bars, open at all hours.
With endless options and personalised service, Sun Siyam Resorts presents an unparalleled opportunity to explore the Maldives without compromise.
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