Guest servicing & Island Hosting

Normally when you throw a party you also have to host it. By hosting I dont just mean in the verb sense of 'be the one throwing it'. You see hosting also involves checking on your guests, making sure they know where what is, if they want more of less of something and things like that. This could be for any kind of party, not just the dance one. It could be a dinner, a lunch, a baby shower..anything.

You see good hosting means the guests leave the party feeling so happy and impressed with everything. Basically fall in love with you, make them want to add you on Facebook, or finally save your number when they are so tired and hungry and can't cook it just put your name down on their next party list.

Similarly on an island resort you need hosts. You of course have the basic departments covered (reception, food and beverage, transport, IT, reservations and things). What is novel in a place like this is the role of an island host. An island host will greet you when you get off the seaplane, escort you to the reception, help you get checked in, take you to your room, give you a tour of the island, broker deals and transactions if necessary and answer any question you have. Sort of like a buddy. It's amazing how the resort has an entire department dedicated to just serving guests and making sure their holiday is even better than they imagined it would be.

That's where I interened for my first two weeks here. The whole team consists of people from across the globe, in case language becomes a barrier. So we have Germans, Chinese, French, Maldivians and me Indian. (haha!). Now 5 weeks into the internship this department is like my home base. I made my first friends here, my first mistakes. I learnt about work culture over here. Understood the resort and the environment here. All my firsts were here, which is probably why I am still attached to this one department. My body clock is even accustomed to their site schedules. Mentally I'm always placing what they would be doing at this point of the day or later today. I guess it's my way of make this place home like or familiar for me. So strange how despite the fact that I hate routine, I find myself making one up to stabilise and solidify this place for me.

The most amazing piece of chocolate cake ever

Last night, at the Koamas buffet restaurant I had the most delicious dessert platter ever. There was cheesecake (not the solidified with a base one, kind of like a tiramisu in the bowl), an éclair and the most heavenly piece of chocolate cake. It was the perfect kind of moist, the very delicious kind of chocolate ganache with little pieces of chocolate shaving with a strawberry on top. So good! (say it in your head like the song!)

Of course before dessert there was the meal course. It was a french themes buffet dinner. I was spoilt for choice when it came to the salad, the meat, the bread, fruits and even the main course. Finally I settled on red sauce pasta, it was not arrabiata because there was no parsley.

Why am I making a post out of my dinner? I do not normally give detailed accounts on my meal but this was a special one because I was eating at the guest restaurant. Normally I have dinner at the staff canteen which is also buffet, but like a canteen buffet.

Since its low season, the resort is kicking into training mode. As part of product knowledge, employee also get something called 'room experience' where for one night the employees are treated like guests. They get alloted a roommate and randomly a room category.

I was lucky to be involved in the program as a trainee. I was paired with my existing roommate and given a Jacuzzi beach villa. The Jacuzzi beach villa is normally a repeater favourite because it's beach facing and obviously because it has a Jacuzzi! It's a mid-range category. Not super expensive and not super cheap. Around 200-300 dollars a night.

Every room category is alloted a buffet restaurant based on their location. Of course guests can eat in any restaurant but for dinner you need to make a reservation. However meals at these restaurants are normally including in your meal plan (depending on which you pick).

So we were treated just like guests. We got our welcome drink, cold wet face towels, an island host checking us in,.giving us the room tour, the buggy ride, the whole deal. It was hilarious and we pretended to be guests with a back story and things. Now and then we ended up laughing when we saw our fellow colleagues try really hard to treat us like guests.

I would most definitely recommend this resort to holiday makers. The destination: ideal for beach, marine life, quite life lovers. The stay: is medium range in terms of price and quality stuff. The staff: is so warm and hospitable. (not because I know them personally but they are like that with the guests too!) and they pay attention to the small details. Finally just because it is the Maldives! So come soon, yeah?

No shoes no shirt and I still get service. Wow!

Okay that isn't completely true. In the bars and restaurants here you need to wear a tshirt in order to be served. Because it's awkward and annoying when you have a half naked and wet customer. Imagine?

On the other hand, I mean on the  feet side you don't need anything of footwear here.We call it barefoot paradise here and strongly encourage this practise. In order to have a more relaxed atmosphere and for obvious reasons. Shoes and other footwear make walking on soft, white powdery sand quite hard. So you need a pretty good reason (like a bandaged toe) to be wearing footwear on this island.

The uniform here is quite relaxed as well. In fact I feel like the higher up the ladder you get, the more comfortable your clothes get. So for instance the general manger wear shorts and  a white shirt. In fact so do the other managers. While the front office, island host and food and beverage staff have sarongs and shirts. The sarongs are not like your beach ones, although the girl versions have slits, they are kind of like a-line skirts. Housekeeping, excursions and transfers also get to wear shorts cause sarongs are inconvenient for doing some real labour. Then you have engineering staff and other mechanical people who have to wear those race car driver kind of rompers.

However what we all have in common is lack of footwear. Almost every staff member eventually gives up on footwear after a point. It's just simpler.

In fact one of the things I love most about here is, unlike the city you need to travel minimal. Just your phone and room keys (unless you can find a place to hide them). Somedays like when I go for a swim or snorkel I don't take anything with me except the clothes and swimsuit on my body. This feels so much more relaxing because I'm not thinking about where I put my possessions all the time.

The island also has this system where you don't pay in cash anywhere except the receptions. This includes staff as well. Every human creature on this island has something known as a 'sign-in' number which is sort of like your account on the island. So everywhere you go, just name, sign in number and sign. Simple! No money hassle. Of course this can make you spend more. Good sales strategy, but so much more relaxing.

The ocean breeze, soft white sand, nice comfy clothes (it's fine if they don't have pockets) and just your free hands and legs. No need to lug a bag with essentials for the day. Just yourself. It's so liberating to walk around like that.

It's one of the things that struck me and I'm probably going to miss most when I go to a city. The entire island feels like home. Everything is just a walk away. Work, rooms, canteen, bars, restaurants, cafe, tea house, shop, everything is literally a few trees, sky and feet away.

Little white dresses are essential too!

For long time, okay until the 16th of may I believed it best to avoid owning white clothing. I do have a few whites to go with some of my more colorful prints but normally I avoid this color. The problem with white is that it tends to get quite dirty and you can see the dirty. I hate that.

Strange thing to live by right? So what changed that? White party! Here on the island, every Friday they have a white theme party. This means you have to wear something white in order to maximise your partying experience at Babuna Bar, which is where this party is hosted.

The first time I got away by wearing just a white top, but upon arriving there I realised all white works out even better. This is because of the flashy, colorful and psychedelic lighting at the bar. So this lighting makes all things white glow. Some of my later investigations of the bar interiors indicated that black tubelights had a hand in this. I cannot explain the science of this phenomenon right now, perhaps in a later post.

One Friday later, lesson learnt. I borrowed all white from a friend/colleague (this is the profile for everyone on this island you see)- skirt and top for the event! It was perfect. As I put on the garments it dawned upon me how wonderful this shade looks. Also my paranoia was silly. All clothes can get dirty, not just white and lighter shades can also show evidence of stains. Pfft!

With each step and later movement on the dance floor I gained confidence in wearing white. So you see every wardrobe needs white.

You need to let go of that one silly fear you often try to pass off as OCD behaviour. The more inhibitions and fears you have the more you loose out on. I rest my case here. The flipside of this argument, I will leave it for you to contemplate and prepare for the next time you happen to strike a conversation with me.

Everybody has those days

Everybody makes mistakes. I am not sure if these are lyrics from an actual song or just something someone made up but it rings in my head sometimes. Today was one of 'those days'. I woke up feeling tired and aching everywhere because I danced all night.

I had a great time but the morning after was terrible because I also happened to have a stubbed my toe, which became big purple and painful. So I had a nasty mood in the morning. Normally I would go back to bed but the bed here is my least favourite place.

Everything is great here. I am having a great time but now and then I have little valleys where my emotions spiral downwards and I get gloomy. Usually off days, relaxing with music and a book keep these low periods in check but this time it didn't work.

No, this is not a rant to make me feel better. It's one of those life discovery, advise type posts. So I found myself in a new area if work today- transfers. They basically coordinate sea planes in and out of the islands. They decide who goes on which plane, tally the luggage and coordinate with the aircraft team. I found it thoroughly fascinating how such an onerous task is run by two people, for two islands not one (Kuredu and Koomandoo). The best bit was that I completely forgot about everything that was annoying me and all the parts of my body that were aching. I was so engrossed in learning about everything and applying it.

In the midst of this I thought about how sometimes we feel like a vacation will fix everything. A break, an escape from work. Actually its sort of like fooling your mind getting lazy for a short periods. Sort of like a making a compromise with your mind. I found that working, with a fresh perspective and more relaxed pace actually cheers you up. As opposed to a day off with you trying to figure out what to do and finally realising at dinner time that you havent done anything, just bummed about and you still don't feel ready to work again. Why?

Sometimes a routine and being active helps improve your mood two fold rather than breaks and no work days. It reminds me again of why you do what you do. Imagine your work in slow motion, if you were to observe each small bit, every cog turn and see how everything fits in to make a something larger work. It would suddenly make you more aware of what you do and why you love what you do and the little connections it has to satisfying you and making you happy.

Koomandoo trip, in for the joy ride

Kuredu resort island and spa is one of the 6 resorts owned by a company called Crown and Champa Resorts, sort of like a conglomerate. Each of the 6 are owned by people who are related and maldivian. Some of the resorts are co-owned by foreigners. For instance, kuredu is co-owned by two Swedish gentlemen.

Of the 6 Koomandoo is one if them and lovingly the management refers to these islands as sister islands. One of the most interesting and exciting thing about this sort of joint venture is that the benefits it offers it employees. In one of my earlier post I talked about cross training. Cross training can be of two kinds - within the resort but different departments and within the resort. I find both quite exciting. The latter however is cooler, keeps it exciting for employees. So if you are bored of one, you can spend a brief period of time somewhere else.

Another benefit is that employees can get discounted rates at these sister resorts. This was novel to me but this happens with all chain hotels. Quite a perk!

My internship period turned out to be quite ideal because I got to see peak and low. Although not really peak, just the end of peak. The benefit of coming in low season is that a lot of employee training happens in this period. So product knowledge, employee activities and vacation time. So overall relaxed and kind of like quality time for employees. (haha pun intended!). So I wad fortunate to come now because new hire training is happening at kuredu. This involves resort orientation and things for new hires. I didn't attend the whole three day circus, just the last day.

I overheard about the trip to a sister island and decided to try my luck. The staff is super friendly and helpful so it was not a problem for me. This way I got to make a trip to Koomandoo.

This island is about 25-30 minutes by boat from here. It's much much smaller and quitet than kuredu. It has about 50 villas which is a seventh of the number here. I was surprised that we finished a fully island tour in about fifteen minutes. In fact while walking we could see both ends of the island. It was sort if like a main road with buildings on two ends, just a much better scenery and land condition.

The size and sister aspect is the reason why kuredu and Koomandoo staff and responsibilities are kind of shared. By this I mean some of our management handles work for them, their guests sea plan transfers is handled from kuredu and so in. I was quite excited to have visited another island.

Koomando is more a honeymooners who want a lot of peace and quite. Very niche tourist taste. They have a lot less happening in terms of activities on their island. The staff is smaller. Also it's an above 18 island. So cool doh?

I sound a bit negative here because I was constantly comparing it to kuredu. It's kind of like when you live in a big chalet and then visit a studio when your house hunting. Involuntary reactions in your head. The island was gorgeous and my favourite bit was the swimming pool. They have one sea facing pools which kind of is part of ocean. One end of it sea facing. Picture a tea cup floating on the ocean? Yup, so if you stick your arms and head on one end of the pool, you can look down into ocean water. Insane and unreal right? That's what I felt.

So if you plan to head here for your honeymoon, annual holiday and want some peace and quiet Koomandoo. Think of it like taking a walk in the neighbourhood park after working long hours and partying hard. Quiet life of temporary abstinance from all things material. Sounds like something you need-head to.... (you know where. I feel like I have typed the name too many times)

Koomandoo trip, in for the joy ride

Kuredu resort island and spa is one of the 6 resorts owned by a company called Crown and Champa Resorts, sort of like a conglomerate. Each of the 6 are owned by people who are related and maldivian. Some of the resorts are co-owned by foreigners. For instance, kuredu is co-owned by two Swedish gentlemen.

Of the 6 Koomandoo is one if them and lovingly the management refers to these islands as sister islands. One of the most interesting and exciting thing about this sort of joint venture is that the benefits it offers it employees. In one of my earlier post I talked about cross training. Cross training can be of two kinds - within the resort but different departments and within the resort. I find both quite exciting. The latter however is cooler, keeps it exciting for employees. So if you are bored of one, you can spend a brief period of time somewhere else.

Another benefit is that employees can get discounted rates at these sister resorts. This was novel to me but this happens with all chain hotels. Quite a perk!

My internship period turned out to be quite ideal because I got to see peak and low. Although not really peak, just the end of peak. The benefit of coming in low season is that a lot of employee training happens in this period. So product knowledge, employee activities and vacation time. So overall relaxed and kind of like quality time for employees. (haha pun intended!). So I wad fortunate to come now because new hire training is happening at kuredu. This involves resort orientation and things for new hires. I didn't attend the whole three day circus, just the last day.

I overheard about the trip to a sister island and decided to try my luck. The staff is super friendly and helpful so it was not a problem for me. This way I got to make a trip to Koomandoo.

This island is about 25-30 minutes by boat from here. It's much much smaller and quitet than kuredu. It has about 50 villas which is a seventh of the number here. I was surprised that we finished a fully island tour in about fifteen minutes. In fact while walking we could see both ends of the island. It was sort if like a main road with buildings on two ends, just a much better scenery and land condition.

The size and sister aspect is the reason why kuredu and Koomandoo staff and responsibilities are kind of shared. By this I mean some of our management handles work for them, their guests sea plan transfers is handled from kuredu and so in. I was quite excited to have visited another island.

Koomando is more a honeymooners who want a lot of peace and quite. Very niche tourist taste. They have a lot less happening in terms of activities on their island. The staff is smaller. Also it's an above 18 island. So cool doh?

I sound a bit negative here because I was constantly comparing it to kuredu. It's kind of like when you live in a big chalet and then visit a studio when your house hunting. Involuntary reactions in your head. The island was gorgeous and my favourite bit was the swimming pool. They have one sea facing pools which kind of is part of ocean. One end of it sea facing. Picture a tea cup floating on the ocean? Yup, so if you stick your arms and head on one end of the pool, you can look down into ocean water. Insane and unreal right? That's what I felt.

So if you plan to head here for your honeymoon, annual holiday and want some peace and quiet Koomandoo. Think of it like taking a walk in the neighbourhood park after working long hours and partying hard. Quiet life of temporary abstinance from all things material. Sounds like something you need-head to.... (you know where. I feel like I have typed the name too many times)