Magazine Mar/Apr 2018

What are some of your interests and hobbies? Having lived in the Maldives for such a long time, I eventually picked up some of the island’s most popular activities. I enjoy meditation, yoga and diving – all three allow me to relax and diving helps me connect with nature. Fun fact – I love organizing! I have a habit of making sure everything is symmetrical when I arrange my stuff. What can we look forward to at the new spa? I can’t wait for our Members to see the spa’s new look – we’ve got an updated logo, new color scheme and exciting new offerings, such as Bamboo Massage and Hot Stone Massage. We will also feature a new line of oils from Maison Callure. These oils are produced in a traditional farm in France using an ancestral extraction technique (a mill grandstone) by cold press. The oils are in fact so organic that they will not only complement your massages, they can even be drizzled over salads! JULIE ZUL | Thinkspace Manager What are some of your memorable experiences in the hospitality industry? Before joining The Club, I worked for SilkAir (the regional wing of Singapore Airlines) for more than a decade. I started out as a junior crew member and worked my way up to cabin crew trainer before clipping my wings. I had plenty of memorable experiences but getting the opportunity to serve our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Mdm Ho Ching takes the cake! What are some of your interests or hobbies? Call me old-fashioned, but I enjoy watching plays especially those by local theatre company W!LD RICE. The last play I saw was Mama White Snake, a cheeky spin on the classic Chinese folk tale Madam White Snake. What are some of your upcoming plans for Thinkspace & the Libraries? Moving forward, I would like to see the Libraries being utilized more by Members, especially our younger ones. I intend to bring in more engaging and fun activities to spark their love for reading, instead of having them glued to electronic devices all the time!

I should present myself at my best no matter the circumstances. I believe in setting an example for my team – if they see me motivated and happy even in stressful situations, I hope it inspires them to never give up too! MELVIN LAGUITAO | Spa Manager How did you start your journey in the spa industry? I have a degree in physiotherapy and worked as a Wellness therapist, until an opportunity came along for me to be part of the opening team for one of the most luxurious spas in the Maldives. That was 9 years ago, and of course I jumped at the chance. The rest, as they say, is history.

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MAR / APR 2018 THE AMERICAN CLUB