Condé Nast Traveller 2007 Gold List for Best Service

The winner is Huvafen Fushi;

"Huvafen Fushi has been marked by Conde Nast Traveller for the second year running. The trend setting island resort has been chosen for the Best Service award with a remarkable score of 91.47 in the 2007 Gold List...

Mark Hehir, Area General Manager Maldives, commented on this wonderful news: “We are delighted to be recognized in the Gold List, especially in the category for Best Service. It reflects the hard work and dedication of the team at Huvafen Fushi. It is service from the heart. Every hotel operates on service standards and that is what we have implemented here. From Food and Beverage to Housekeeping, Front Office, Kitchen and all other departments, everyone plays a part to ensure the operation is run smoothly and all guests’ needs are met or exceeded in expectation”.

Recently implemented, FISH ( Fast Island Service Host ), which consists of Food and Beverage, Front Office and Housekeeping specialists, working together as a team to provide our guests with anything, anytime, anywhere”. “With just a touch of a button, expect to get extra towels, pillows, restaurant reservations, pick-up, CD’s & DVD’s, In-Bungalow Dining and so much more!”, says Mark. The Pavilions on the other hand come with a 24-hour Butler service.

The brainchild of Mark Hehir himself, FISH is conceptualized around the idea of providing guests with a one-touch access to anything, to be delivered anywhere and at anytime. Guests communicate with only one team member and the action takes place behind the scenes to get the food and beverage request, delivered within 30 minutes and everything else within 10 minutes. Even the FISH collateral has a life of its own, written with a touch of quirkiness. EAR CANDY for CD’s and DVD’s, SLIPPERY WHEN WET for soap and shampoo, FLUFF for extra pillows and towels and MIDNIGHT MUNCHIES for In-Bungalow Dining.

Totally in a league of its own, Huvafen which translates as ‘Dream’ in Dhivehi, the Maldivian language, is indeed a waking dream. Set within its own lagoon, it is a pristine island resort offering 43 naturally-modern bungalows and pavilions and home to the world's first underwater spa. Huvafen Fushi is also listed in Conde Nast Traveller 2005 Hot List.

Huvafen Fushi is managed by Per Aquum Resorts • Spas • Residences, a division of Universal Enterprises, which is extensively involved in the tourism industry of the Maldives. Tom McLoughlin, CEO of Per Aquum, attributes Huvafen Fushi’s deserved recognition to The Per Aquum Difference. “From the beginning we decided that we didn’t want to be another big brand with ‘cookie-cutter’ resorts. We are a young company with a lot of fresh ideas, passion and enthusiasm and we wanted this zeal to come through in our properties. Our passion is within our belief that we make a difference, not only to guests and shareholders but to our team members as well. This Per Aquum Difference is what really sets us apart.

The Per Aquum Difference is made up of four key elements – Passion, Vision, Naturally Modern Design and Imagination. These elements ensure we offer the utmost in guest experience which in turn means that our partners and stakeholders will realise unprecedented returns from this vision.”

When asked about the way forward for Per Aquum, Tom McLoughlin reiterates, “This is just the beginning. We will continue to refine the original Huvafen Fushi concept, while constantly pushing the boundaries in delivering the ultimate guest experience.”

*The pic shows the design for the world's first zero carbon resort in Zanzibar