Message from the Chairman

by Steven Ferry

It is with a sad heart that we report the passing of Dr. Maniku, who’s vision, people- and administrative-skills were largely responsible for making available the beauty of the Maldives to millions of people seeking a respite from the stresses and strains of their everyday lives to experience one of the paradises we are so fortunate to have in this world.

From the pioneering Baros resort where guests and staff roughed it as they started to define tourism in the country almost five decades ago, Dr. Maniku and his family built numerous excellent resorts and even an airline, always remaining exemplary and caring employers for the staff. His last project, The Nautilus, was his dream, and we are grateful to have had the opportunity to help him achieve it—one of the top 3-4 resorts in the world where whatever the guest wanted, he or she received, no hotel rules to stand in the way. That meant, for instance, no restaurant hours and no menus—whatever the guest felt like eating or drinking was provided. Located on a small, private island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, that was quite a promise and a challenge, but Dr. Maniku recognized that if we are truly to pamper guests and make them the entire focus of the service, fully personalized, then anything less would be a compromise, putting the hotel or resort’s interests or difficulties ahead of the guests’ wishes. We saw his vision as the nexus of hospitality and private-service butlers, and training the butlers for The Nautilus became a key goal reached for myself—raising the bar for hotel butler service to the same level as private service.

We thank you, Dr. Maniku, for everything you have done to make the world a better place.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people- skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.