Best of the Maldives: Open Community – Oaga

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Oaga - open community1

Happy staff make happy customers and I applaud a range of efforts by resorts to make the staff area as appealing as the rest of the island. Oaga invests so much into making its staff area and restaurant top notch that it is completely open to guests who are welcome to eat there with the staff if they like. They call it their “Open Community” concept. They take as much pride in the staff chef Aboo (see photo below) as they do any of chefs at their guest F&B outlets. Lori and I had a delightful lunch and were very welcomed by the staff taking their own midday refreshment there.

With the post, I’ve added the new tag of “Staff Area”.

Oaga - open community 2

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Best of the Maldives: Staff Island – Sun Siyam Iru Veli

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Iruveli - staff island

The Maldives is famous for its “one resort, one island” set up of most properties, but Sun Siyam Iru Veli also dedicates an entire island to its staff.

The conventional location for staff quarters is sequestered in the centre of the island (to preserve the beach and ocean views for as many guests as possible). They are typically shrouded with large, claustrophobic fences to keep views of the sausage machine out of sight from the tourists (as well as to allow the staff a bit of their own privacy).

On its own plot of land, the staff enjoy their own beaches, sea views from their quarters and a more open residential area.

With two sister properties near each other, its own two garden islands, and this dedicated staff island for one, Sun Siyam has its own little mini-atoll.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli - staff island

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Best of the Maldives: Operations Documentary–Joali / Joali Being

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World Tourism Day today! And one of the best portrayals of the world of Maldivian tourism is BBC’s “Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby” series (available on iPlayer in the UK for another year) hosted by Joali and Joali Being resorts. Yes, the show does have much of the contrived, shilling lifestyle porn vibe to it. But what makes it distinctive is its “peek behind the scenes”. And while the “work” that the two bubbly hosts roll their sleeves up to do is also a bit contrived (Monica Galetti less so then tv personality Rob Rinder because Monica is an actual chef), it is still a lovely portrayal of the efforts made by the staff to keep the property running smoothly. And I must say that the tour of Joali’s staff area was most impressive and surely one of the finest areas in the Maldives. Stay tuned for some added posts about a few distinctive aspect’s of Joali’s operations revealed by the show.

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Best of the Maldives: Football Pitch Profile – Hurawalhi

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Hurawalhi - football pitch

Everyone will be clamouring for the best seat in the house (or pub) to watch the culmination of the football season with the Tottenham vs. Man City Champions League game today (though it will be tough to match the excitement of the semis which got them both here). Fortunately, at Hurawalhi, all the guests are treated to a fine view of the periodic staff matches. Unlike most resorts, the pitch is not segregated in the back out of sight in a sequestered staff area, but front and (literally) center (of the fitness facilities) that makes it all the more encouraging for guests to join in or watch. And the grounds themselves are as high standard as the 5-star property itself with state of the art flood lit astro turf.

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Best of the Maldives: Green Divides – Hurawalhi

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 Hurawalhi - green divides

“Going green” is common practice for Maldives resorts who very existence if so dependent on and interwoven with the surrounding natural beauty. But I’ve never seen quite as much “green” as Hurawalhi’s staff compound wall. Nearly all resorts have segregated staff areas where a lot of the machinery of the resort is situated and the staff can conduct their lives freely (eg. walk around in their casual clothes instead of smart uniforms). A number of resorts make an effort to dress these walls or fences up a bit so they blend into the surrounding a bit more, but few have gone to the length of Hurawalhi with their greenery wrapped enclosure.

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Best of the Maldives: Staff Community – Rihiveli

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Rihiveliu staff quarters

From a vibrant online ‘tribe’ to one of the most distinctive resort communities – Rihiveli Beach. Another gem from Francisco (from the same email as the sandbank) also highlights the spirit of openness. In this case, the Rihiveli staff quarters.

“Staff quarters are open to the guests and make a sort of real maldivian villages (only men though) that you can actually go to and interact with the maldivian staff. Like having a local island visit on your resort island.”

We do enjoy the abundant hospitality that flows effortlessly from the Maldivian staff who work tirelessly to make our visits memorable and flawless. We enjoy our chats with them to appreciate more about their lives and their community. Rihiveli’s approach of opening up their quarters would seem to make a subtle but significant difference to the resort ambience where everyone on the island is together.

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