Rok & Vuly


Maldives
Interviews
Rok & Vuly
PUBLISHED December 01, 2018

<p class="MsoNormal">The Island chief Introduces its readers a very special interview with a unique Duo that runs a boutique beach side hotel in Hulhumale. We bring you an inspirational story from a couple running their dream beach side property together in the Maldives. Mr.Rok and Ms.Vuly share their unique insight into running a hotel together, the ideas behind their property and the challenges that they face.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Tell us a little bit about you guys. How did you guys meet?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: We met in UK eight years ago. We were studying Tourism Hospitality at University College Birmingham and we were there for six years, studying together and then we got married when i was 23. We moved to Maldives three years ago, I was 26 back then.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Where did you work before starting up your hotel here?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: I started when I was 15, Initially working in the restaurants. After I got to the UK I worked for 6 years in the second largest hotel in the country, Hilton Birmingham Metropole.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>How did you get Inspired to build a hotel for yourselves?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: Building a hotel for ourselves has always been our dream.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Yes, it was since we met actually. We were both studying this field as well as working in it. I was working in Conrad previously and I also worked in Crown Plaza NEC in UK for 3 years. So we always thought to our self, if we could have a property in the beach, We would go for it. So when the opportunity came up, we didn&rsquo;t take long before deciding that we wanted to come here and start this business.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>So tell us a little bit about H78, what was the design concept, how did you choose it&rsquo;s location.</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Well, it was an essential point to us that our property should be a beach front hotel. When we did the market evaluation, we found out that beach front properties are most desired. So even if we had to spend a little more, it was better for the long run. Looking at the design concept, we wanted to bring out casual elegance in everything. So we chose a design concept that brought out a wood and stone ambience to create a casual yet elegant environment throughout our property. Casual elegance is what we like so thats what we decided.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: We really focused our design elements and placed it in a way so that the guests can feel relaxed, comfortable and at home. Everything from the natural elements to the colour scheme have all been carefully thought over and as Vuly said Casual elegance is what we like and thats what we have created here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>What sort of management philosophies do you uphold at H78?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Well, we try to be understanding with the guests. For our team as well, because both of us started from the bottom and we worked our way up. We were waiters and waitresses when we were working in the UK. As a result we have a pretty good understanding on work outside of management as well. We do our best to be friendly and understanding but of course strict when we need to be. We conduct staff meetings quite often to remind them of our vision. We always tell them to remember that the guests pay their salary. We are not the ones, So work for the guests.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>What is the hotel&rsquo;s vision?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: To deliver the best customer services. To achieve this, We teach our staff that the guest experience starts with the transportation and when guests arrive there is the check-in. Following this is leading guests to the room. Breakfast in the morning and there is the check-out and finally there is the transportation again when guests leave. All of these work as a cycle, and everybody will have to work together to make this cycle work.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Efficiency is also on the top of our list because this a transit hotel so we have a lot of in and outs, a lot of coordinations that need to be done with the resorts and airlines hence, we have to be very efficient.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: For us, staffs are important as well as the guests. Because they play a big part to make our business successful. So we work as family. We try to build on that so that our staff are also relaxed and happy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: We have one of the mostmultinational teams in Hulhumale&rsquo;. We have staff from seven different countries. We have a strict notolerance policy towards any sort of discrimination. Everybody here works very well together. Sometimes we forget that we are from different nationalities.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Tell us little bit about the challenges you face, operating a hotel in Hulhumale&rsquo;?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: One of the main challenge is maintenance! Because its hard to prepare things done with the lack of workers and the lack of materials. Its also very hard to transport things because its very hard to get hold of vehicles or vessels. Another thing is keeping guests happy due to the rubbish areas around the city.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Yes, this is a big issue that we face because we cant control the surrounding factors, all the construction areas and the rubbish. We try to keep our area as nice and clean as possible. This is one of the major issues we face here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>With so many development taking place, how do you foresee the future of tourism in Hulhumale city?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: I think it will get bigger and better with more developments. The only down thing, apart from the rubbish, is that it&rsquo;s getting hard to get spots here to snorkel, because the corals here are not very good. Apart from that I think it will get better development wise.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: I guess we all have to work together as especially amongst the hotelier community as sustainability is a little bit difficult here. Sometimes its difficult for people with different mentalities to work together. I can speak only for us here and we do find that the best three guesthouses including us are very well kept and we all work well together. And this is what we want for the future as well. When we all work together, this city will get better because the tourism here will keep on expanding and getting better.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>How do you cater to the needs of different inbound nationalities from different tourists?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: We have a multi cultural team working here so we are able to provide for the needs of our guests. Even at the restaurant we have different cuisines available.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: There are days when we have guests that are from 7 continents! It&rsquo;s a challenge to cater to the food needs but we manage it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>So what would you say are the top three aspects of H78?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Customer service, our staffs and we always we try and bring out something different in our hotel, so yeah that&rsquo;s the difference compared to the other guesthouses.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>What sort of a role does social media play for you guys? Do you think this is a big segment?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: Its getting much more important then I personally expected.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Especially Facebook, we even use this platform as a booking engine sometimes. We get loads of bookings through Facebook. We didn&rsquo;t expect this but it is a good tool. Social media is very important for us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>How do you divide the roles and the responsibilities of the hotel between you two?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: Well its basically like this, I do the morning shift and Vuly does the evening shift. I look after the operations and maintenance while she looks after the human resources, finance and marketing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Well mostly I do administration, and him the operations and maintenance.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Do you ever feel like you want to do a morning shift and switch?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: No, I love morning shifts and she loves the evening shifts.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: We do this only if needed and sometimes we do have to cover each others shifts on normal or off days. And then we have an off day together if we feel so. We also have a handover inbetween our shifts, like a coffee for half an hour.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: We try to keep it that way when we divide the two shifts between us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Rok doesn&rsquo;t like administration which I do and he likes to be involved in daily operations and maintenance which I don&rsquo;t. So thats what we decided at the beginning when we were making the plan of how we will manage the hotel.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>How is the experience of working together? It&rsquo;s not something most couples get to enjoy. What are the ups and downs?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: Its great really. The thing is sometimes even though we work together, we don&rsquo;t really get a lot of time to see each other. I mean as we handle two shifts, We usually see each other in between the hand over of the two shifts and an hour or two after I am really too tired to stay longer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: Yes we rarely do get time to see each other but other then that it&rsquo;s actually very fun working together. I mean as we handle two shift, we see each other in between the handover of the two shifts and an hour or two after which makes our time together more special.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: Its easier too as sometimes its difficult to settle matters or talk between colleagues. But between us its easier to talk, we can say anything and it&rsquo;s okay. But we also try not to have any work related conversations at home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: There is a fine line between work life and our personal life. Otherwise we really wouldn&rsquo;t be able to have any time for us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Any advice for couples running a business together in the hospitality industry?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rok: I feel that open communication is the key when running a businesstogether. You must always share with your partner all the issues, no matter how small it is and resolve them immediately. It will help in both your personal andprofessional lives.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vuly: I agree with rok. I also feel that keeping personal and professional lives separate is important. Like we said before, we don&rsquo;t talk about work at home. It&rsquo;s important to have that distinction in order to have a wholesome and happy life .</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
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