Why Pontiac’s employees in the Maldives “Life”

Maldives – When it comes to investments in human capital in the Maldives, only a few would deny that the Pontiac Land Group is the gold standard. The developer based in Singapore has Fari Islands, a group of four islands in North Male Atoll. It could turn them into four luxury resorts. Instead, it devoted an entire island to the life of employees -an enriching, enriching environment for the next generation employees with proper urban planning, complete leisure facilities and equipment, career development opportunities and an active social calendar to promote the spirit of the community.

This is a disturbance in the Maldives. In fact, the employee quarters are usually in the middle of the resort to maximize the number of accommodations for the ocean view for guests. In a limited room with back-of-the-house hardware such as generators and fresh and waste water treatment installations, the Maldives is lost for workers.

Designed by Urbnarc, the 12-hectar-staff Island in Fari Campus, designed by Singapore Architecture and Urbnarc. Fari Islands’ final resort is expected to open in 2026, and the Pontiac Land Group uses more investments to expand and improve the campus to accommodate more employees. The four islands are a 50-minute speedboat ride from the country’s main airport bike.

From left: Fari Campus HR director Hassan Rashed, chef Ahmed Rashed and Campus director Nawaz Ahmed

The investment in the life of employees is forward -looking. An ongoing struggle for rents and talent is that luxury hotels come from this segment in the next few years. A second JW Marriott is just open. The upcoming openings between 2025 and 2027 include Nammos, Bvlgari, Corinthia, Mandarin Oriental, Baccarat and Rosenholz – Brands with over higher mening conditions to offer a highly personalized guest experience.

One would think that there is a huge pool of locals who are willing to join the tourism industry. However, a survey by maldive-based people first HR advice shows a worrying knowledge: the industry will need around 78,000 employees by 2027, in addition to the currently 20,000. The number of locals who enter the workforce by 2027 is less than 19,000 and not even 2,500 will join the country’s income earner.

The Maldives promote local employment by determining a quota of 45% Maldivians and 55% foreigners in resorts. However, it seems that hotels, probably out of despair, strikes the rule, with foreign workers in a survey of the Maldive Bureau of Statistics 59% of the workforce in a survey of 2022. Last month, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industries asked the government to increase the quota for foreign workers to 70%.

An important reason for the crunch of employees has to do with place and living conditions. Not all local work in resorts near the capital, the male or the Capital Island of their Atoll, where the employees of employees can take them home every day. The setting of a 10-minute speedboat ride usually costs around $ 80 per person depending on the location, joint transmission or private boat. Like their foreign colleagues, these employees tend to go home every year.

“I worked in the Maldives in the Maldives, on which the employees’ accommodation was very narrow, and there was not enough space to accommodate everyone safely and respectfully,” said Anthony Gill, General Manager of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. “I know . “”

In comes the Fari story

The Fari Campus of Evan Kwan, descendants of the Kweee family, the Pontiac, the Pontiac family belongs, seems to trigger a rethinking for the living conditions of the staff in the Maldives. According to Nawaz Ahmed, the campus director, it has received many inquiries about viewing from a Turkish developer who opened a luxury resort in the country.

The spectators see a green island on which the accommodation of the employees is not a typical, inconspicuous block, but spreads into three three -story buildings, each of which is summarized with an inner courtyard. There are currently 13 buildings and more than 400 single, double and four-sharing rooms.

Buffet in the Fari Campus Staff Restaurant

The rooms have attached toilet and shower as well as WiFi. But “life” not only works, showering, sleeping, repeating. The facilities include a fully equipped gym (with a view), yoga deck, recreation room for multimedia games, billiard and table tennis, personnel restaurant, functional room, training rooms, beauty salon, clinic and retail business. There is even a mosque. And a full size soccer field, volleyball and basketball spots and yes, a beach (with beach beds) for employee-paradoxical, a rarity in the Maldives.

The development of next generation hoteliers is another main purpose of the campus. Pontiac works with EHL to sow young talents on the campus by offering ambitious candidates for three years of EHL-certified diploma courses that combine learning in the classroom and training at the workplace.

“This initiative not only creates a qualified workforce for our two resorts, but also valuable employment opportunities, which contributes to the well -being of local families and the wider community,” said David Tsang, CEO of the Pontiac Land Group in Singapore.

The company refused to discuss Capex and Roi from Fari Campus, but Tsang explained an intangible advantage: “We believe that when our employees thrive, our business too. This approach has led to increased productivity, improved work and extraordinary gaster experiences. In fact, the effectiveness of the Fari campus in the remarkable achievement of Patina Maldives, Fari Islands and the Ritz-Carlton-Maldives, Fari Islands, which earn the respected Forbes Travel Guide five-star rating in their first year of operation ( 2022) (2022). . “”

By investing in a holistic development of the community, we have created a flourishing ecosystem in which employees and the local community can thrive together. Fari Islands has further crystallized and prioritized holistic planning and long -term added value.

David Tsang

Campus management

The Pontiac Land Group transferred Fari Campus to Facility Management Company, but founded its own in the Maldives with a further 176 local jobs such as housekeeping, laundry, food catering, security and Cetera, just like in any other resort. A third -party company could only concentrate on logistics and do not build up a community with belonging and relatives.

But how does Fari Campus meet almost 1,200 people of 48 nationalities who work under one roof for three different brands? Will there not be big and small tensions that are on their respective brand and their feeling of competitiveness? Or employees who compare the comments on advantages and claims of each brand who create new requirements?

Nawaz said on the Fari campus that everyone was treated equally whether they come from Ritz-Carlton, Patina or Campus employees. It is the variety that makes the place unique, interesting and indeed included, he said.

“If it is the Australian national holiday, there will be Australian dishes. Everyone celebrates together and there are many meetings – karaoke, film evenings, outdoor model for sports tournaments (in one place), as they call it. “

The Campus-HR manager Hassan Rashed takes care of community building, leisure programs and the well-being of all employees. Topics such as hotel advantages, training and development, salary statements, if they occur, are treated as usual by the respective staff director of the two hotels. Both live in the campus together with department heads, deputy managers and ranking experiences.

So what is his biggest challenge as a campus director? “Fari campus is like a resort, but the guests are the staff. My biggest challenge is to lead these guests because employees who serve high-end resorts have higher expectations, ”said Nawaz with a laugh.

The effective developments go beyond the physical infrastructure, Tsang said when he was asked about the greatest learning from the Fari campus for the group.

“By investing in a holistic development of the community, we have created a flourishing ecosystem in which employees and the local community can thrive together. Fari Islands has further crystallized and prioritized holistic planning and long -term added value. “