General Manager, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa and The Signature Collection by Hideaway. Christophe Adam is a French national and a leader with a genuine passion for the hospitality industry. His career so far is a testament to his progressive rise in the industry with global exposure – Europe, Asia and Africa. Successively he rose through different roles on the strength of talent and potential from operations, marketing and executive roles. He had the opportunity to work with world-class hotels and resorts such as Relais & Châteaux, Barrière, Accor Hotels, LUX* Resorts & Hotels and others. Hotel Insider has a chat with him about his work and the beautiful resort he oversees.
Hotel Insider: Tell me a bit about yourself and your career.
Christophe Adam: I’m a French native with two degrees in international hotel management and business management. The hospitality industry is not in my family’s bloodline, I wasn’t born into it. And even while studying hospitality, I was unsure of what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. However, from the moment I set foot in hotels to work, various leaders immediately made an impact on me. At that point, I knew how I wanted to spend the rest of my career: to lead amazing teams, take care of and meet wonderful guests. Since then, I have not looked back, and I know that finding a job you’re so passionate about is rare nowadays.
I have had the opportunity to experience a wide range of roles in this industry during my 27 years of experience, including consulting, hotel management as well as being a director of sales & marketing. As a passionate hotelier, I have earned a reputation as someone who is driven by challenge, undeterred by obstacles, and dedicated to furthering excellence.
Hotel Insider: Now, could you talk to us about Hideaway and how it stands out from other luxury hotels here.
Christophe Adam: Hideaway has been acknowledged as one of the most beautiful natural island resorts in the Maldives.
Our objective now is to stay at the top of that list and, at the same time, to keep on being recognised as one of the very best. Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa deserves to take its place among the best because it is indeed a unique resort; it offers world-class refinements in an enchanting setting, an exceptional cuisine, a cutting-edge spa, a bespoke welcome and service, a large pool of activities and finally because of the human touch that sets us apart.
Hotel Insider: Hideaway is fairly remote, and a little hard to get to compared to a lot of resorts. How do those affect its desirability?
Christophe Adam: Hideaway is a luxury private island where our team members are dedicated to tailor your dreams and make your stay in the Maldives unforgettable.
Remote destinations and luxury private escapes are becoming increasingly popular and accessible due to several other trends. First, these days, people need to get away from it all – technology, advertising, clocks, cars, and crowds – not just away from home. Secondly, today’s seasoned travellers want a unique experience and one that’s sustainable and socially responsible, two things that remote destinations often cover well. And this trend will continue to grow as travel to remote destinations becomes logistically smoother and more affordable than ever before.
Hideaway offers one of the best balances of laidback luxury. While undoubtedly five-star, you can still kick off your shoes and chill out on this private island paradise. To explore, your butler can whizz you around in a buggy, or you can take your own bike for a ride. Offering lot of privacy, Hideaway is the place to go for an ultimate relaxation and a perfect escape with your love ones, your friends or family. Hideaway is a God-given beautiful island that deserves to be protected and preserved.
Hotel Insider: We’re still seeing growth in the tourism sector, new resorts continue to crop up. It has to slow down at some point though, when do you see this happening? When will things settle down in the resort sector?
Christophe Adam: Considering the importance of tourism development for the Maldives and challenges confronted, sustainable innovation is needed to improve the positive impacts of tourism while lowering its negative impacts on the environment, society and culture.
Hoteliers have realised that competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism industry go hand-in-hand as the quality of tourist destinations is strongly influenced by their natural and cultural environment and their integration into the local community. One can achieve sustainable tourism without compromising on the level of service. Such practices can be implemented while maintaining a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensuring a meaningful experience to tourists, raising their awareness about issues surrounding sustainability and promoting sustainable practices.
Hotel Insider: How do you see the resilience of Maldives tourism in light of the shocks it has experienced? What do you think is likely for us in the near future?
Christophe Adam: Over the past couple of years, the Maldives faced unprecedented uncertainties on the international front due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian crisis. The Maldives has demonstrated resilience, adaptability and provides a safe, easy, low-risk environment like no other in the world thus making the country a trusted brand worldwide.
Rebuilding the tourism sector in a safe, equitable, and climate-friendly manner is crucial, to ensure that tourism again serves as a source of decent jobs, stable incomes, and protects the cultural and natural heritage for the coming generation.
Hotel Insider: Thank you, Christophe.