Business
Hotelier Maldives hosts Maldives first Wellness Summit
Local hospitality publication Hotelier Maldives has hosted the first ever Wellness Summit in the Maldives.
The summit, held at Kurumba Maldives on Wednesday, brought together leaders in the spa and wellness industry, both in the country and from around the region, and featured discussions and debate on opportunities as well as key challenges faced by both wellness and hospitality industries alike.
The first keynote address was delivered by Jesper Hougaard, Founder and Managing Director of Serena Spa.
“We have an opportunity to add value to what we’re offering in spas,” Hougaard said.
“The global wellness industry is valued at 3.7 trillion dollars. It’s big money and we need to discover how we can tap into that and get a slice of the pie.”
Jesper Hougaard, Founder and Managing Director of Serena Spa, speaks at the Hotelier Maldives Wellness Summit held at Kurumba Maldives on Wednesday. PHOTO/ HOTELIER MALDIVES
The summit’s first panel, which was moderated by Hougaard, was on how wellness can enhance revenue for resorts. Panellists were Herchell Cabrera, Associate Spa Director at One&Only Reethi Rah, Ana Marques, Spa Director at Niyama Private Islands Maldives, and Bradley Calder, General Manager at Hurawalhi Island Resort.
Hougaard went over different sorts of spa experiences, highlighting ones that are not available in the Maldives. Marques touched on the importance of adapting to guests’ needs, saying the main motivation for coming to the Maldives was relaxation and activities.
“We’ve to cater to all these markets. It has to be done in a professional and genuine way, and it begins with educating your staff,” Marques said.
Herchell added: “We focus on educating staff who aren’t only from the spa. If members of our team experiences and appreciates wellness and taking care of themselves, then they’re in a better position to inform guests on such matters.”
First panel hosted as part of the Hotelier Maldives Wellness Summit held at Kurumba Maldives on Wednesday. PHOTO/ HOTELIER MALDIVES
The second keynote speech was delivered by Anni Hood, the Managing Partner at WELL Intelligence and Managing Director at WELL Business Solutions.
“Today, in 2017, as we move on to 2020, the interconnectivity, the interdependence of everything that’s happening in the world will have an effect on your business,” she said.
She admitted that technology plays a great role in the business, to do without technology is to be left out.
“The currency of wellness is a connection; how we connect to ourselves, to other people, to nature,” she added.
She also stressed the importance of authenticity, predicting that inauthentic fads, contained within bubbles, are likely to burst.
Her speech was followed by a networking lunch.
Anni Hood, Managing Partner at WELL Intelligence and Managing Director at WELL Business Solutions, speaks at the Hotelier Maldives Wellness Summit held at Kurumba Maldives on Wednesday. PHOTO/ HOTELIER MALDIVES
Following that, the second panel discussion focused on wellness trends. Panellists included Anni Hood, Trent Munday, Senior Vice President of the International Steiner Spa Consulting/Mandara Spa, Hussain Zinan, CEO at Total Fitness Group. The panel was moderated by Renate Hermes, Group Spa Director at Duniye Spa.
Hermes made observations on the human condition and how it affects the people who seek wellness.
“People want to be touched and connected at a deeper level. They want to feel significant. And this provides a lot of opportunity for us as service providers,” she said.
Munday questioned the current conception of the spa: “A consumer 20 years ago didn’t know what a spa was, but now consumers can have a spa treatment wherever they want; at home, at work. I think the whole concept of the spa has to be re-evaluated. Wellness is all around us; it’s in the restaurant, in the bed. If that’s how it is, why do we need a spa?”
Zinan stressed the importance of integrating various elements that contribute to mental, physical and spiritual well-being into wellness.
“We have to have a broader focus, and integrate the pillar of rejuvenation with the pillar of activity,” he said.
Second panel hosted as part of the Hotelier Maldives Wellness Summit held at Kurumba Maldives on Wednesday. PHOTO/ HOTELIER MALDIVES
Once the panel concluded, Hougaard taught the audience a simple meditation technique.
Next was a case study on sustainability by two Soneva Fushi personnel, Gordon Jackson, Waste to Wealth Manager, and Ahmed Moomin, Community Engagement Manager.
Gordon explained how pruned branches were turned into sawdust for growing mushrooms, composting food waste that goes to organic gardens and reusing Styrofoam with glass to build lightweight bricks to support new structures.
Moomin went over Soneva’s community engagement projects, including holding learn to swim programmes and water sports festivals, beach clean-ups, and the exchange of knowledge between the resort and local communities.
“We learn from each other as equals,” he said.
Their presentation was followed by an introduction to sleep therapy by Shosil Mahato, the Spa Manager at Velaa Private Island.
“Sleep therapy will enhance your productivity, as productivity depends on a clear mind,” he said, after several minutes of lulling attendees to tranquillity.
Renate Hermes, Group Spa Director at Duniye Spa, speaks at the Hotelier Maldives Wellness Summit held at Kurumba Maldives on Wednesday. PHOTO/ HOTELIER MALDIVES
On behalf of the organisers, Mohamed Mamduh, Managing Director of Perspective Pvt Ltd (the publisher of Hotelier Maldives), extended his thanks to participants and sponsors, noting that the event had been a success as a number of issues around wellness was covered and would be fuel for further discourse on the subject.
Hotelier Maldives’ Wellness Summit 2017 was supported by Warisan Hospitality and COSMERC as Gold Sponsors. The Silver Sponsor of the event was Scubaspa and Morteza Capital joined the event as Knowledge Partner.
Maldives on Thursday welcomed the one millionth tourist to visit this year.
The one millionth tourist is a Thai named Sutapa Amonwivat, who arrived from Singapore with her husband and two children. This is her second visit to Maldives.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Ministry of Tourism gave a warm welcome to Sutapa at the Velana International Airport (VIA) Thursday afternoon. She was welcomed at the VIA by tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal, MMPRC Managing Director Ibrahim Shiury and senior officials of various relevant agencies.
After welcoming her with traditional offerings, she was presented with various gifts by the ministry, MMPRC, customs, immigration, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).
Maldives reached one million tourists in June, three weeks earlier than last year. The number of tourists reached one million on July 16, 2023.
Maldives expects to reach 2 million tourists this year.
Chongqing Airlines on Monday began its inaugural flights to Maldives.
The Chongqing-Male route, scheduled three times a week, is expected to strengthen the bonds between China and the Maldives, opening up exciting new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.
The inaugural flight was welcomed upon its arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) in Maldives, where local officials and tourism representatives expressed their enthusiasm for this new development.
“We warmly welcome our friends from China to our beautiful islands. This new connection strengthens our bonds and opens up new opportunities for tourism,” the tourism ministry said on X.
Maldives currently welcomes four airlines from China, including China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.
In January, Maldives government urged tourism stakeholders in both Maldives and China to ramp up efforts to restore China’s position as the primary source market for Maldives tourism, a status held before the onset of Covid-19.
China, being the largest source market for Maldives tourism before the pandemic, saw a resumption of tourist arrivals from January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In 2023, the Maldives welcomed 187,118 Chinese tourists, marking a significant recovery in numbers. This year, the Maldives has welcomed the most number of tourists from China, with over 107,940 or 11.5 percent of total arrivals by June 12.
CROSSROADS Maldives has introduced WeChat Pay, widely known as Weixin Pay in China, across its world-class resorts, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. This payment option is made available to enhance the convenience and overall experience for guests from China, making their stay in the Maldives more enjoyable and hassle-free.
Understanding the needs of the diverse guests, CROSSROADS Maldives has integrated WeChat Pay into operations, allowing guests from China to easily and securely conduct transactions using a payment method familiar to them. The introduction of WeChat Pay is a testament to CROSSROADS Maldives’ dedication to enhancing guest satisfaction by offering exceptional experiences at every turn. What is also expected through this initiative is that the guests could benefit from better foreign exchange rates, translating to better savings on their expenditures during their stay.
The option is available for guests in-house conveniently at both resorts as well as across the Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives where a wider variety of unparalleled dining and retail experiences are available for all guests. The day visitors from China will also therefore equally benefit from this new introduction at the Maldives’ premier multi-island integrated leisure destination.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a vibrant tropical escape that offers unique and locally inspired experiences. The resort features spacious rooms and villas, a variety of dining options, and an array of recreational activities designed to cater to the desires of modern travellers. Guests can escape to the island’s SAiisational natural beauty, enjoy water sports, and indulge in spa treatments, all while relishing the personalised service that defines Hilton’s Curio Collection.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives brings the iconic Hard Rock spirit to the tranquil shores of the Maldives. This family-friendly resort offers a perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment, featuring music-inspired experiences, live performances, and the brand’s signature amenities. With luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and a plethora of activities for all ages, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives ensures an unforgettable holiday experience for every guest.
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