In this exclusive conversation, Alexander Chetchikov, President of the World Luxury Chamber of Commerce, delves into the expertise and philosophy of Christopher Baker, General Manager of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi. Recently recognized as one of the TOP 100 Hotel General Managers of the World by Luxury Lifestyle Awards, Christopher shares his thoughts on luxury hospitality, industry trends, and the secrets behind his success.

Alexander Chetchikov: Christopher, congratulations on your recognition as one of the TOP 100 Hotel General Managers of the World! What does this award mean to you personally and professionally?

Christopher Baker: As an individual, it is an absolute privilege to receive such an esteemed recognition, and it was only made possible due to the fantastic support of my team; both the operational team on property and the leadership team’s guidance from the Head Office. On a professional level, it brings a sense of pride and accomplishment, and I am grateful to be able to share this acknowledgment with my team as a reminder of how far we have come since the opening of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi.

AC: OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi is celebrated for family-friendly luxury in the Maldives. What is your vision for maintaining and evolving this unique identity?

CB: Atmosphere Core evolves around the “Joy of Giving”, and we carry this forward to our guests through the service that we provide by anticipating everything that a guest could dream of. Through biweekly meetings with our creative department heads, we try to bring new ideas every quarter by taking every guest’s stay as an opportunity to learn how to refine and elevate the individual experiences we craft for our guests.

AC: How has your global career journey—from Jordan to Vietnam and the Maldives—shaped your approach to leadership in luxury hospitality?

CB: Every one of the 14 destinations I have worked in has been a constant learning curve that has given me a rich understanding in cultural diversity, which allows me to enhance my leadership skills by adapting to the environment.

AC: You emphasize guest-centric experiences. What role does personalization play in delivering meaningful luxury to your guests?

CB: It is the key to have happy guests, just to socialize with them and gain a better understanding of their version of luxury. Everyone has a different perception of luxury. I believe the best way to provide personalized services to guests is to be mindful of individual needs and to simply ask them.

AC: Luxury is often defined differently by each person. How do you interpret luxury, and how do you ensure your team embodies this philosophy?

CB: Luxury is how we experience something and appreciate the way it makes us feel. For instance, I consider luxury as time well spent with my family, and for others, it could mean having their own privacy or personal space, a service, a product, or pampering. My team and I often allocate time to discuss what luxury could mean to them and possibly, for our guests. This really helps us to gather everyone’s point of view on how to best drive luxe service to people.

AC: Technology is rapidly changing the industry. How do you integrate innovation without losing the human touch in luxury hospitality?

CB: Nowadays everything is on an app. But, the human touch is still the best way forward for personalized service. We always try to promote our services of the hotel and offerings to our guests by interacting with them, afterwards, we advise them to make the bookings through the app.

AC: As a seasoned GM, how do you inspire and empower your team to consistently deliver world-class service?

CB: I believe in verbally highlighting and thanking my team when they show exceptional initiative and when they do the right thing. I see that transparent appreciation reinforces positivity and empowers ACERs whilst showing support at the same time.

AC: Looking ahead, what trends or challenges do you foresee shaping the luxury hospitality industry, particularly in the Maldives?

CB: Over the last five years, the industry has been driven by the guest perception of value for money. They will look to see if the resorts’ Green Globe philosophy and sustainable policies are in place as sustainable travel is becoming a significant factor in travel trends.

A special thanks to Christopher Baker for sharing his valuable insights and experiences. Learn more about his work and the exceptional experiences offered at https://www.coloursofoblu.com/oblu-xperience-ailafushi

To follow Christopher’s journey, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-baker-8860028/