Hotelier of the Month: Andrew Jansson
With nearly 30 years of experience as a seasoned hospitality professional, Andrew Jansson has held leadership roles in 14 countries with renowned hotel chains such as Hyatt and Shangri-La. This appointment marks Jansson's fourth resort management position in the Maldives, where he will oversee the pre-opening and strategic development of Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives and Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives. His deep understanding of the local market will be instrumental in setting the strategic and operational objectives for these properties, further strengthening Centara’s expansion in the Maldives, which already includes two successful properties.
How do you see hospitality development evolving in the next few years, particularly in the Maldives?
The Maldives' tourism sector continues to grow at a very healthy pace. The country positioned itself well for the post-pandemic travel surge, and its key markets have rebounded strongly. China recently regained its number one spot and there remains significant potential for further growth.
Looking ahead, growth is likely to come not only from key markets such as China, the UK, Russia, and Germany, but also from secondary markets. The completion of a new international terminal at Velana International Airport, which is scheduled to open by the end of 2024, should encourage a greater volume of flights from a wider range of cities, while also helping to reduce airfares.
Another key trend is the emergence of new traveller types in the Maldives. The country has become one of the most exclusive and luxurious travel destinations in the world, welcoming honeymooners and couples. But this is now expanding to include families and activity-seekers on a wider range of budgets.
With two distinct resorts in the Maldives, Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa caters primarily to couples or groups of friends, and Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa focuses on families, Centara has always created a wide range of options for guests. Now, with the launch of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives and Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives in the coming months, we will continue to create exciting new travel opportunities for all guests in this island paradise.
What have been your challenges managing these two properties and how do you manage them?
The launch of Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives and Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives creates significant opportunities for Centara. Co-located at The Atollia by Centara Hotels & Resorts, a brand-new multi-island destination in the North Malé Atoll, these “sister” resorts will help us to drive significant operational synergies. We can share resources and maximise efficiencies, creating benefits for our company, our guests and the environment.
In terms of challenges, naturally we must clearly establish the identity of each resort to effectively attract and cater to the needs of our guests. Fortunately the upper upscale Centara Grand brand is already known and loved in many markets, including the Maldives, and was even named as "Thailand's Strongest Brand" in 2023. And as for our Mirage concept, this name has become synonymous with action-packed themed family holiday and waterpark experiences, thanks to our unique and much-loved Mirage resorts in Thailand, Vietnam and Dubai, so we are confident that with the evolving tourism landscape of the Maldives, this is exactly the right time to bring this renowned family-centric concept experience to our Indian Ocean paradise.
There are a lot of offerings in the Maldives. Why would someone choose Centara?
For more than 40 years, Centara has built a strong reputation for delivering world-class, Thai-inspired family hospitality to guests from around the world. Complementing our two existing resorts in the Maldives, we will soon be introducing the country's inaugural Centara Mirage resort, which is set to be a real game-changer for the family segment.
Opening on 1st of November 2024, Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives is an underwater world-themed paradise centered around an outdoor water park complete with pools, a lazy river, multiple slides and other aquatic activities. It will also feature our kid-friendly Candy Spa, which we first introduced at Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai and has become hugely popular, plus a range of family-sized beach and overwater villas, and an extensive array of restaurants and activities for parents and kids alike.
Conveniently located in the North Malé Atoll, just a 40-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport, this intuitive concept will reaffirm Centara's position as a leading family-focused hotel group, while creating an exciting new option for parents seeking a tropical family vacation in the Maldives. As a father myself I fully understand the needs of this market and expect Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives to become a popular option for families from around the world.
The neighbouring Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, opening in February 2025, will be connected to the Centara Mirage resort by a bridge, but will feature more refined, Thai-inspired experiences that focus on wellness and gastronomy, with spacious accommodations, private beaches, and breathtaking ocean views. With two complementary resort concepts, both easily accessible and underscored by world-class, heartfelt Thai-inspired service, the question is not “Why would someone choose Centara?”, but “Why would someone not choose Centara?”.
What's your long-term goal for these properties?
The long-term goal for these two new resorts is to establish them as flagship properties and to set the blueprint for future developments, not just in the Maldives, but across all our destinations. I anticipate both of these resorts to become hugely popular in their own markets, while also creating a new generation of Centara fans.
These guests will not only keep returning to us in the Maldives, but will also make Centara their preferred choice when travelling to other destinations. The most successful resorts are those with the highest number of repeat guests, and as long as our guests keep coming back, our longevity is ensured.
How do you maintain a work-life balance in the Maldives?
The Maldives is a wonderful place to work. It immerses you in the environment, culture and island life, and being in such a small community means that everyone knows each other and works together for the positive development of the destination. I approach work more like a lifestyle than a 9-to-5 job. Even though I may put in long hours, I’m able to intertwine my work with my leisure time. I always tell my team: we’re not just here to provide service; we’re here to create memories - for our guests and for ourselves.
I try to find moments throughout the day to step back and appreciate my situation. One of those times is early in the morning when I arrive at the breakfast restaurant. I’m there to check on things and show my presence, but I can also take a few minutes to have a cup of tea, watch the sunrise over the ocean, and sometimes even spot some dolphins passing by. At that moment, I am reminded how lucky I am to experience this every day.
As a father, it is also a great feeling to know that the project I'm working on (Centara Mirage) will be something that my kids are going to love. They are as excited as I am to experience this new resort!
Visit Andrew here