My journey in hospitality began with a dream I had from a very young age — I always wanted to become a hotelier. After graduating from the Ceylon Hotel School in 1995, I started my career in Food and Beverage as an F&B Executive at Bentota Beach Hotel. Looking back, that first step laid the foundation for everything that followed. Over the years, I was fortunate to grow through a number of roles across the industry, each one teaching me something valuable. A major turning point in my career came in 2008, when I joined John Keells Hotels as Assistant Manager – Operations in the Maldives. 

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Today, as General Manager of Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives, I remain deeply passionate about hospitality and grateful for the journey, the people who guided me, and the opportunities that have shaped who I am today.

1. You’ve spent many years in hospitality across the region. What do you think the Maldives does better than anywhere else in the world?

What the Maldives does better than anywhere else in the world is create a true sense of escape. There are many beautiful destinations across the world, but the Maldives offers something very unique. When guests arrive here, they leave behind more than just their routine, they leave behind the noise, the pressure, and the pace of everyday life. What they find here is space, calm, privacy, and time. That is something very powerful.

I feel that the Maldives has a rare ability to connect with people emotionally. Guests do not only come here for the scenery, although of course the natural beauty is extraordinary. They come here for a feeling. For some, it is romance. For others, it is rest, reconnection, healing, or simply the opportunity to breathe again.

That is what makes this destination so special. It is not only about luxury in the traditional sense. It is about how a place makes people feel, and the Maldives does that exceptionally well.

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2. The Maldives is often seen through the lens of island resorts, yet behind that image lies a complex tourism system. From your perspective as a General Manager, what keeps that system running smoothly day after day?

What guests experience is ease, beauty, and tranquillity. What sits behind that is a very detailed and disciplined operation. Running an island resort in the Maldives is like managing a small self-sustained village. You are not only looking after guest rooms and restaurants. You are also responsible for logistics, engineering, utilities, transport, procurement, safety, recreation, sustainability, and colleague welfare, all at once, and all in a remote island setting.

What keeps everything running smoothly is teamwork, preparation, and consistency. In island hospitality, you cannot be reactive. You have to think ahead. You have to anticipate challenges before they affect the guest experience.

For me, however, the real foundation is always people. Strong systems are important, but it is the team that brings those systems to life. When you build the right culture, where people care, communicate openly, and take ownership, the operation becomes strong and stable. That is what keeps the island moving every day.

3. Every island in the Maldives has its own personality. What struck you most when you first arrived at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives?

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The first thing that struck me about Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives was its calmness. 

Every island has its own identity, and Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives has a very gentle and refined character. Some resorts impress you with energy from the moment you arrive.  Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives is different. It welcomes you in a quieter way. There is a softness to the island, a real sense of peace, and that creates a very special atmosphere.

As an adults only resort, it naturally feels more intimate and serene. Guests come here to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy meaningful time together. The island supports that beautifully. The open spaces, the lagoon, the privacy, and the overall rhythm of the place all come together in a very natural way.

What I felt immediately was that  Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives had emotional depth. It is the kind of island where simple moments become very memorable. A walk at sunset, dinner by the water, or even just sitting quietly on the villa deck can become the highlight of someone’s journey. That is what makes the island so special.

4. Running an island resort is often compared to managing a small self-contained world. What has leading a place like this taught you about hospitality and leadership?

It has taught me that leadership in hospitality must always be visible, present, and people-centred.

In an island environment, you cannot lead from a distance. You have to be connected to the operation, accessible to your team, and aware of what is happening across the island. Presence matters. People need to feel that you are there with them, especially during demanding moments.

It has also taught me that no two days are the same. Hospitality, especially in the Maldives, requires adaptability. One day you may be focused on guest experience, the next on logistics, weather, engineering, or a colleague matter. So leadership here is about balance, staying calm under pressure, making clear decisions, and at the same time leading with empathy.

Most importantly, I have learned that the strongest teams are built on trust. In my own career, I was fortunate to be given responsibility, guidance, and opportunities to grow. That shaped me a great deal. So as a leader, I believe in empowering people, trusting them, and giving them room to develop. When that happens, people do not just work harder — they work with pride.

5. Some of the most memorable travel moments happen unexpectedly. Is there a guest moment at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives that has stayed with you?

One guest moment that has stayed with me was our very first arrival after Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives officially became an adults only, five-star resort on 1 November 2025. It was a major milestone for us, and the team had worked tirelessly for nearly six months to prepare for that transition, introducing a number of new facilities and enhancements ahead of the big day.

To mark the occasion, we organised a grand traditional welcome for our first guests, with the team in traditional attire, drums, dancers, and beautiful umbrellas. It was also the first seaplane arrival to the resort that day, so everything came together perfectly. The guests were genuinely surprised and delighted, and it felt like the perfect start to a very important new chapter for the resort.

What makes that memory even more special is that those same guests have since returned to visit us twice and have become wonderful repeat guests in a very short period of time. For me, that moment reflects the kind of meaningful and lasting impression we always hope to create for our guests.

6. Travel now exists in a complicated global moment. How are these wider shifts shaping the future of resorts in destinations like the Maldives?

The industry is evolving very quickly, and guests today are far more conscious and intentional in how they travel.

Luxury is no longer defined only by beautiful villas or premium facilities. Those remain important, of course, but today’s traveller is looking for more. Guests want authenticity, personalisation, meaningful experiences, and a genuine connection to the destination. They want to feel that their stay is not only comfortable, but relevant and memorable.

Sustainability is also becoming central to the future of hospitality, especially in a destination like the Maldives. We have a responsibility to protect the environment around us, and guests increasingly expect that from us. Responsible hospitality is no longer a secondary conversation, it is part of how modern resorts must operate.

At the same time, there are commercial realities that cannot be ignored. Market dynamics shift, travel patterns change, global conditions affect demand, and guest expectations continue to evolve through technology and access to information. This means resort leaders must be both operationally strong and strategically agile.

I believe the future will belong to resorts that can balance excellence in operations with emotional intelligence, sustainability, and a clear sense of purpose.

7. When the island finally quiets down, is there a moment or place at Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives that reminds you why you chose a life in island hospitality?

Yes, there is. For me, it is often in the evening, when the day starts to settle and the island becomes quiet. There is a beautiful stillness at that time. When you look across the lagoon and everything slows down, you are reminded of how special this life really is.

Hospitality in the Maldives is demanding. It requires commitment, resilience, and a great deal of care. But it is also deeply rewarding. In those quiet moments, I often reflect on the fact that we are part of creating memories that people will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

That is what makes this profession meaningful to me. It is not just about running a resort. It is about creating experiences, building people, and being part of something that brings joy, connection, and lasting impact.

That is what continues to inspire me, even after all these years.