Business
Maldives welcomes first butler training academy
Maldives has welcomed its first ever indigenous butler training academy.
The Maldives Butler Academy says it aims to develop professional butlers in country’s lucrative the tourism and hospitality industry.
At a special function held Thursday afternoon, the tourism ministry officially recognised the academy through a partnership agreement. Tourism minister Dr Abdulla Mausoom and Mohamed Yamany, the Principal and Trainer of Maldives Butler Academy, signed the agreement.
The tourism minister expressed his gratitude on the initiative taken by Maldives Butler Academy to provide certified courses for hospitality and tourism professionals.
“This initiative will be a game changer to the tourism industry. As part of the ministry’s master plan to provide more opportunities for locals, we believe the Maldives Butler Academy will assist us in producing top level butlers for the industry,” he said.
“The ministry intends to introduce new tourism sectors to Maldives such as real estate tourism and private island tourism under the new act. Hence, there is a need for more local certified butlers as we want more locals to be involved in higher paying positions.”
The Minister also noted that the Ministry of Tourism endorse the trained butlers and discussion are taking place with Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) to get an approved certification level.
Yamany said that each year there are a number of butler trainings conducted by foreign firms whose programmes are more designed towards city hotels. There is a need for an indigenous butler training programme, he added.
“The butler training course by Maldives Butler Academy has been designed with the input of many of the veterans of the Maldives hospitality industry,” he said.
“Through this academy, we hope to accentuate the growth of Butlers in the Maldives, providing structure to training that helps the talented hoteliers to take the step to the next level in personalised service.”
The initiative is in line with the Maldivian government’s efforts to improve and provide opportunities for the locals here in Maldives and assist them in growing in their respective careers.
Yamany has almost two decades of extensive hospitality experience, having worked with several international hotel brands such as Soneva, Six Senses, Four Seasons and Anantara to name a few. He has worked in locations like Vietnam, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and the Maldives.
Throughout his career, Yamany held top positions within Learning and Development, Quality Management, Operational Excellence and recently overall Human Resources departments.
He also lectured at the Maldives National University and has conducted training programmes on topics such as time management, coaching, and leadership development both at resorts and colleges throughout the Maldives.
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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